United Parcel Service Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NYSE:UPS)

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Friday. Traders acquired 55,616 call options on the company. This represents an increase of 86% compared to the typical daily volume of 29,953 call options.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 0.6 %

UPS stock traded down $0.71 on Friday, hitting $114.19. 15,842,034 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,941,251. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $128.31 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $130.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. United Parcel Service has a 12-month low of $109.62 and a 12-month high of $158.95. The stock has a market cap of $97.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.00.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.25% and a return on equity of 37.38%. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.47 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that United Parcel Service will post 7.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Investors of record on Monday, November 18th were given a $1.63 dividend. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. United Parcel Service's payout ratio is 98.49%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UPS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Evercore ISI raised their price target on 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of 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 report on Tuesday, December 10th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday. Finally, Oppenheimer upped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $141.95.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at $6,249,229.86. The trade was a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 13,170 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,661,000 after buying an additional 584 shares during the period. Atlas Legacy Advisors LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $264,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth approximately $303,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 867,132 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $109,345,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares during the period. Finally, Mcdonald Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Mcdonald Partners LLC now owns 24,412 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $3,078,000 after purchasing an additional 669 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company's stock.

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.