United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Receives Neutral Rating from Susquehanna

Susquehanna reaffirmed their neutral rating on shares of United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) in a research note released on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $150.00 target price on the transportation company’s stock.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on UPS. Raymond James cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $185.00 to $175.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $145.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Argus cut shares of United Parcel Service from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. TheStreet raised United Parcel Service from a c rating to a b- rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on United Parcel Service from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have given a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $166.81.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 2.5 %

UPS opened at $147.33 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $125.62 billion, a PE ratio of 18.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. United Parcel Service has a twelve month low of $133.68 and a twelve month high of $197.80. The company has a fifty day moving average of $150.79 and a 200-day moving average of $152.28.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.47 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.46 by $0.01. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.46% and a net margin of 7.37%. The firm had revenue of $24.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.40 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $3.62 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that United Parcel Service will post 8.29 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 20th were issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.62. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.43%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is 83.70%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Eva C. Boratto bought 1,400 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $142.30 per share, with a total value of $199,220.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,400 shares in the company, valued at $199,220. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. RB Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 3.1% during the first quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 2,689 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $577,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC bought a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,162,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 10.0% during the 1st quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 1,233 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $264,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. First Western Trust Bank bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter worth approximately $515,000. Finally, Stevens Capital Management LP purchased a new position in United Parcel Service in the first quarter valued at approximately $701,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.