United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading Down 7.8% Following Analyst Downgrade

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report)'s stock price dropped 7.8% during trading on Thursday after UBS Group lowered their price target on the stock from $141.00 to $127.00. UBS Group currently has a buy rating on the stock. United Parcel Service traded as low as $101.51 and last traded at $101.58. Approximately 3,381,224 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 28% from the average daily volume of 4,665,624 shares. The stock had previously closed at $110.20.

Several other research analysts have also commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets raised United Parcel Service from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and cut their price target for the stock from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Robert W. Baird downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Raymond James lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $133.18.

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Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in United Parcel Service by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 829,280 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $113,064,000 after buying an additional 33,989 shares during the last quarter. Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at $461,000. Synovus Financial Corp boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 8.6% during the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 87,531 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $11,934,000 after acquiring an additional 6,941 shares during the last quarter. HF Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth about $1,305,000. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 27.2% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 131,623 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $16,304,000 after purchasing an additional 28,108 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $83.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.44, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $115.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $125.64.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.47 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.72%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 97.04%.

United Parcel Service Company Profile

United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of express letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States.