United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading Down 1.9% – Should You Sell?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s share price traded down 1.9% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $93.23 and last traded at $95.81. 2,423,112 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 49% from the average session volume of 4,712,371 shares. The stock had previously closed at $97.71.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UPS has been the topic of several research reports. Bank of America reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $129.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $149.00 to $123.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $128.00 to $120.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $131.32.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 8.4 %

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 capitalization of $85.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.74, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $112.70 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $124.44.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.47 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a $1.64 dividend. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is presently 97.04%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. IMG Wealth Management Inc. bought 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 stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. IFS Advisors LLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 232.3% in the fourth quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Pinney & Scofield Inc. bought a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Institutional investors 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.