United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Given New $160.00 Price Target at Susquehanna

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) had its price objective hoisted by Susquehanna from $150.00 to $160.00 in a research note released on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. Susquehanna currently has a neutral rating on the transportation company’s stock.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on UPS. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $178.00 to $170.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 28th. TheStreet raised shares of United Parcel Service from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Robert W. Baird raised shares of United Parcel Service from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $165.00 to $170.00 in a report on Friday, February 16th. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an in-line rating and issued a $154.00 price objective on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Wednesday, March 27th. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of United Parcel Service from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $160.00 to $175.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have given a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $166.09.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 1.5 %

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $146.61 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $149.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $151.03. United Parcel Service has a 1 year low of $133.68 and a 1 year high of $192.98. The stock has a market cap of $125.01 billion, a PE ratio of 21.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.05.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 23rd. The transportation company reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.33 by $0.10. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.60% and a return on equity of 37.42%. The firm had revenue of $21.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $21.84 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.20 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was down 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that United Parcel Service will post 8.2 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 20th were given a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 16th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.62. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.45%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is presently 94.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other United Parcel Service news, Director Eva C. Boratto purchased 1,400 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $142.30 per share, for a total transaction of $199,220.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 1,400 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $199,220. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Summit Financial LLC raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 1.4% during the first quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 10,475 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,557,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares during the period. IAG Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 36.6% during the first quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 874 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $130,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 3.5% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 130,390 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $19,380,000 after purchasing an additional 4,355 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NA raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 8.4% during the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 6,477 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $963,000 after purchasing an additional 504 shares during the period. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 1.6% during the first quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 12,735 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,893,000 after purchasing an additional 201 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.