United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Receives $140.73 Average PT from Brokerages

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) has earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-four analysts that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $140.73.

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Loop Capital decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in UPS. Putney Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth about $56,000. Aurdan Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth about $2,079,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its position in United Parcel Service by 7.9% in the fourth quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 67,015 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $8,451,000 after purchasing an additional 4,935 shares in the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP raised its position in United Parcel Service by 40.5% in the fourth quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 4,242 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $535,000 after purchasing an additional 1,223 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Castlekeep Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth about $1,157,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 0.2 %

United Parcel Service stock opened at $116.35 on Thursday. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $123.21 and its 200-day simple moving average is $128.36. 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 has a 12 month low of $109.40 and a 12 month high of $158.95. The stock has a market cap of $99.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.47 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that United Parcel Service will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be given a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.64%. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is currently 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.