United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Downgraded by StockNews.com to Hold

StockNews.com downgraded shares of United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on UPS. Bank of America lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $129.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. Wolfe Research dropped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $113.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Hsbc Global Res lowered shares of United Parcel Service from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on United Parcel Service in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $119.00 price target for the company. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $110.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $120.87.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

NYSE:UPS opened at $95.92 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $104.28 and a two-hundred day moving average of $118.93. United Parcel Service has a fifty-two week low of $90.55 and a fifty-two week high of $153.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $81.93 billion, a PE ratio of 14.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.17.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The transportation company reported $1.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $0.11. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. The company had revenue of $21.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $21.25 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.43 EPS. United Parcel Service’s revenue was down .9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be paid a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 19th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.84%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is presently 95.63%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. IMG Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. IFS Advisors LLC boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 232.3% in the 4th quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the period. Finally, Pinney & Scofield Inc. acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. 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.