United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Sets New 12-Month Low on Analyst Downgrade

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) shares reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday after Susquehanna lowered their price target on the stock from $130.00 to $120.00. Susquehanna currently has a neutral rating on the stock. United Parcel Service traded as low as $108.30 and last traded at $109.33, with a volume of 623353 shares. The stock had previously closed at $109.66.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on the company. Barclays decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $90.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Evercore ISI upped their target price on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Wolfe Research raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $147.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $119.00 price target for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $135.83.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UPS. IMG Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. IFS Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 232.3% in the 4th quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the period. Pinney & Scofield Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $117.65 and its 200-day moving average price is $126.15. The stock has a market cap of $93.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.17, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.47 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th were issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 97.04%.

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.