StockNews.com Upgrades United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) to Buy

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) was upgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Wolfe Research cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $113.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on United Parcel Service in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "hold" rating and a $119.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Baird R W cut United Parcel Service from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $129.70.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of UPS stock traded up $2.14 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $96.34. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,738,497 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,831,654. United Parcel Service has a fifty-two week low of $90.55 and a fifty-two week high of $153.42. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $110.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $122.74. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The company has a market capitalization of $82.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.25, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results 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 net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.47 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that United Parcel Service will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,075,393,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at $393,680,000. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 15.6% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 10,979,909 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,384,567,000 after acquiring an additional 1,484,452 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 77.7% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,150,901 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $397,329,000 after purchasing an additional 1,378,136 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 23,264,665 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $2,933,674,000 after purchasing an additional 1,337,058 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

About United Parcel Service

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.