United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Cut to Hold at StockNews.com

StockNews.com cut shares of United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Thursday morning.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on United Parcel Service from $128.00 to $120.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. 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 research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Loop Capital dropped their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Truist Financial began coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $119.00 target price on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $131.32.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $96.95 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $82.81 billion, a PE ratio of 14.34, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $112.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $123.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.17. United Parcel Service has a 52-week low of $90.55 and a 52-week high of $153.42.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS 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 period last year, the firm earned $2.47 EPS. On average, analysts predict that United Parcel Service will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a dividend of $1.64 per share. 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.77%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Perkins Coie Trust Co boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 10.8% in the 1st quarter. Perkins Coie Trust Co now owns 22,793 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,507,000 after purchasing an additional 2,217 shares in the last quarter. Godsey & Gibb Inc. boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 9.7% in the first quarter. Godsey & Gibb Inc. now owns 156,136 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $17,173,000 after buying an additional 13,749 shares in the last quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC grew its position in United Parcel Service by 3.3% in the first quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC now owns 212,442 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $23,366,000 after acquiring an additional 6,727 shares during the last quarter. Successful Portfolios LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.0% in the first quarter. Successful Portfolios LLC now owns 2,932 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $322,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Butensky & Cohen Financial Security Inc. grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 10.4% during the 1st quarter. Butensky & Cohen Financial Security Inc. now owns 33,567 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,692,000 after purchasing an additional 3,175 shares during 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.