United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Shares Up 0.9% – Here’s Why

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s share price shot up 0.9% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $127.76 and last traded at $126.98. 867,094 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 79% from the average session volume of 4,094,994 shares. The stock had previously closed at $125.84.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have issued reports on UPS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Barclays restated an “underweight” rating and set a $120.00 price objective on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Monday, October 21st. Susquehanna increased their target price on United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Bank of America raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 target price for the company in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $151.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $151.10.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $110.74 billion, a PE ratio of 19.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $129.01 and a 200-day simple moving average of $130.97.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.13. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.25% and a return on equity of 37.38%. The firm had revenue of $22.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.10 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.57 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.02%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 98.49%.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,249,229.86. This trade represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 38.0% during the 2nd quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 245,087 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $33,540,000 after acquiring an additional 67,476 shares during the period. Paces Ferry Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 15.0% during the second quarter. Paces Ferry Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,314 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $590,000 after purchasing an additional 563 shares during the period. Miramar Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 8.6% during the second quarter. Miramar Capital LLC now owns 94,176 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $12,888,000 after purchasing an additional 7,449 shares during the period. Garner Asset Management Corp boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 28.1% in the second quarter. Garner Asset Management Corp now owns 12,452 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,704,000 after buying an additional 2,734 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Palouse Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 37.1% in the 2nd quarter. Palouse Capital Management Inc. now owns 18,319 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $2,507,000 after buying an additional 4,955 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.