United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading Down 2.2% on Analyst Downgrade

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) dropped 2.2% during trading on Monday after Baird R W downgraded the stock from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating. The stock traded as low as $109.40 and last traded at $111.70. Approximately 4,416,383 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 34% from the average daily volume of 6,645,742 shares. The stock had previously closed at $114.23.

Several other research firms have also issued reports on UPS. Citigroup lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $158.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Wolfe Research raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $147.00 target price for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Argus raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Bank of America cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $133.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $141.95.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UPS. Handelsbanken Fonder AB grew its holdings in United Parcel Service by 7.7% during the 4th quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 303,181 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $38,231,000 after acquiring an additional 21,688 shares during the last quarter. Mcdaniel Terry & Co. lifted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Mcdaniel Terry & Co. now owns 26,749 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,373,000 after purchasing an additional 863 shares in the last quarter. Corps Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $315,000. Emerald Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 8.1% in the 4th quarter. Emerald Advisors LLC now owns 6,230 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $786,000 after acquiring an additional 467 shares during the period. Finally, CogentBlue Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at $326,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $128.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $130.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $95.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.98.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.47 EPS. Research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Investors of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.84%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is currently 96.45%.

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.