United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Issues Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.23 EPS

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23, Zacks reports. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.25% and a return on equity of 37.38%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.47 earnings per share. United Parcel Service updated its FY 2025 guidance to EPS.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 15.3 %

UPS stock traded down $20.46 on Thursday, hitting $113.32. 26,747,498 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,514,085. United Parcel Service has a 12-month low of $109.62 and a 12-month high of $158.95. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $129.05 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $130.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. The stock has a market cap of $96.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.00.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Investors of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.75%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 98.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 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 filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $163.00 to $158.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Wolfe Research raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $147.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Susquehanna raised their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $151.24.

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.