United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Shares Down 0% – Time to Sell?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) shares dropped 0% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $111.01 and last traded at $111.76. Approximately 1,591,716 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 77% from the average daily volume of 6,923,023 shares. The stock had previously closed at $111.77.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Evercore ISI increased their target price 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. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Raymond James dropped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut shares of United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $140.73.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 0.2 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The company has a market cap of $96.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.98. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $126.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $129.46.

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, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.47 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.61 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.80%. This is an increase from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 96.45%.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Parcel Service

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Saturna Capital Corp raised its position in United Parcel Service by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Saturna Capital Corp now owns 274,863 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $34,660,000 after purchasing an additional 3,368 shares in the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 4.8% in the fourth quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 17,681 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $2,230,000 after acquiring an additional 804 shares during the period. Natural Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at about $3,202,000. AGF Management Ltd. raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 354.6% in the fourth quarter. AGF Management Ltd. now owns 23,965 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,022,000 after buying an additional 18,693 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Avantax Planning Partners Inc. lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 3.6% in the fourth quarter. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. now owns 38,999 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $4,918,000 after buying an additional 1,361 shares during the period. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other 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.