United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Stock Price Down 0.2%

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s stock price traded down 0.2% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $146.84 and last traded at $146.88. 416,350 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 90% from the average session volume of 4,197,379 shares. The stock had previously closed at $147.22.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on the company. TD Cowen cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $147.00 to $140.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 28th. Bank of America raised their price objective on United Parcel Service from $157.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on United Parcel Service from $154.00 to $150.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 9th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on United Parcel Service from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 27th. Finally, Evercore ISI reaffirmed an “in-line” rating and set a $154.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Wednesday, March 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $165.23.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $149.39 and a 200 day simple moving average of $150.67. The company has a market capitalization of $124.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.05.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 23rd. The transportation company reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.10. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.42% and a net margin of 6.60%. The company had revenue of $21.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.84 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.20 earnings per share. United Parcel Service’s quarterly revenue was down 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 13th will be paid a $1.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 10th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.45%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is currently 94.49%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Life Planning Partners Inc bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Northwest Financial Advisors bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Pineridge Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

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.