United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading 0.5% Higher - What's Next?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report)'s stock price rose 0.5% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $111.66 and last traded at $111.52. Approximately 752,158 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 83% from the average daily volume of 4,463,004 shares. The stock had previously closed at $111.01.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently commented on UPS. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Robert W. Baird cut shares of United Parcel Service from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "hold" rating and a $119.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com upgraded United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $137.57.

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United Parcel Service Stock Down 1.2 %

The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $118.52 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $126.42. The firm has a market cap of $93.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 quarter last year, the firm posted $2.47 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a $1.64 dividend. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.98%. United Parcel Service's payout ratio is presently 97.04%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of UPS. IMG Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. IFS Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 232.3% during the fourth quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Pinney & Scofield Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.