United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading Down 0.6% Following Analyst Downgrade

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s share price was down 0.6% during mid-day trading on Friday after UBS Group lowered their price target on the stock from $141.00 to $127.00. UBS Group currently has a buy rating on the stock. United Parcel Service traded as low as $96.57 and last traded at $99.51. Approximately 1,990,770 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 57% from the average daily volume of 4,683,590 shares. The stock had previously closed at $100.12.

A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on UPS. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $128.00 to $120.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. BMO Capital Markets raised United Parcel Service from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Raymond James dropped their price target on United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $133.18.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of UPS. Exeter Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 9.9% in the first quarter. Exeter Financial LLC now owns 22,823 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $2,510,000 after purchasing an additional 2,060 shares during the last quarter. Farmers Trust Co. grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 21.4% during the 1st quarter. Farmers Trust Co. now owns 3,430 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $377,000 after buying an additional 605 shares in the last quarter. Sage Capital Advisors llc increased its position in United Parcel Service by 79.1% during the 1st quarter. Sage Capital Advisors llc now owns 72,158 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $7,937,000 after purchasing an additional 31,858 shares during the period. Agate Pass Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 93.0% in the 1st quarter. Agate Pass Investment Management LLC now owns 9,235 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,016,000 after purchasing an additional 4,450 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 31.0% in the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 4,693 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $516,000 after purchasing an additional 1,110 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 2.5 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $83.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $115.82 and its 200-day moving average price is $125.60. 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 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 return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.47 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.72%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is 97.04%.

About United Parcel Service

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.