United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Stock Price Down 1.1% on Analyst Downgrade

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s share price was down 1.1% on Tuesday 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 $108.35 and last traded at $108.73. Approximately 1,523,779 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 76% from the average daily volume of 6,298,566 shares. The stock had previously closed at $109.99.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group decreased their price target on United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $158.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Truist Financial initiated coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Thursday, March 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $140.00 target price on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $135.83.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Centre Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.6% in the first quarter. Centre Asset Management LLC now owns 76,011 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $8,360,000 after purchasing an additional 440 shares during the period. Cullen Investment Group LTD. increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 553.7% in the 1st quarter. Cullen Investment Group LTD. now owns 60,281 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $6,630,000 after acquiring an additional 51,059 shares during the last quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 6.0% in the 1st quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC now owns 638,607 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $70,240,000 after acquiring an additional 36,135 shares in the last quarter. Neville Rodie & Shaw Inc. boosted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Neville Rodie & Shaw Inc. now owns 15,997 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,760,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Chancellor Financial Group WB LP purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth about $300,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

The company’s 50-day moving average is $117.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $126.15. The company has a market capitalization 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 quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16.

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 analysts’ consensus estimates 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 prior year, the business earned $2.47 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This is an increase from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.00%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 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.