Citigroup Issues Pessimistic Forecast for United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Stock Price

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) had its price target lowered by equities research analysts at Citigroup from $158.00 to $149.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a “buy” rating on the transportation company’s stock. Citigroup’s target price points to a potential upside of 30.48% from the company’s previous close.

UPS has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $141.95.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

United Parcel Service stock opened at $114.19 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $97.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.00. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $128.31 and its 200 day moving average price is $130.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. United Parcel Service has a 1 year low of $109.62 and a 1 year high of $158.95.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.25% and a return on equity of 37.38%. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service will post 7.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the business’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 sale, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Quarry LP increased its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 453.6% during the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 537 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $73,000 after acquiring an additional 440 shares during the period. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 67.4% in the second quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 745 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $102,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 39.7% during the 3rd quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 108,360 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $14,793,000 after buying an additional 30,815 shares during the last quarter. Czech National Bank boosted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 149,220 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $20,345,000 after acquiring an additional 10,227 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Farmers Trust Co. increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 14.1% in the 3rd quarter. Farmers Trust Co. now owns 3,036 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $414,000 after acquiring an additional 375 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.