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

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

Several other brokerages have also weighed in on UPS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Loop Capital cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Raymond James reduced their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $130.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They set a “hold” rating and a $119.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $131.32.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 3.3 %

NYSE UPS opened at $96.42 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. United Parcel Service has a 1-year low of $90.55 and a 1-year high of $153.42. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $112.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $124.21. The company has a market capitalization of $82.36 billion, a PE ratio of 14.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. This is an increase from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.80%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is presently 97.04%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UPS. IMG Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC bought a new position in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Pinney & Scofield Inc. acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. IFS Advisors LLC increased its holdings 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, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.