The Goldman Sachs Group Cuts United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Price Target to $147.00

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) had its price objective reduced by The Goldman Sachs Group from $166.00 to $147.00 in a report published on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a buy rating on the transportation company’s stock.

UPS has been the topic of several other reports. StockNews.com upgraded United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Argus upgraded United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. BMO Capital Markets upgraded United Parcel Service from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Citigroup reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $163.00 to $158.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $134.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $141.95.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $114.19 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $128.31 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $130.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $97.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.00. United Parcel Service has a one year low of $109.62 and a one year high of $158.95.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.47 EPS. Analysts forecast that United Parcel Service will post 7.5 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a $1.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.71%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is 96.45%.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 45,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. The trade was a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 13,170 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,661,000 after buying an additional 584 shares during the last quarter. Atlas Legacy Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $264,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $303,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 867,132 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $109,345,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mcdonald Partners LLC lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Mcdonald Partners LLC now owns 24,412 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,078,000 after acquiring an additional 669 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

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.