Citigroup Has Lowered Expectations for United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Stock Price

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) had its target price lowered by investment analysts at Citigroup from $158.00 to $149.00 in a report released on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a “buy” rating on the transportation company’s stock. Citigroup’s price objective indicates a potential upside of 31.11% from the company’s current price.

A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on the company. Bank of America decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $133.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Susquehanna decreased their price target on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $141.95.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

NYSE:UPS traded down $1.25 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $113.65. 12,459,151 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,587,250. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $128.72 and its 200 day moving average price is $130.61. The company has a market cap of $96.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.00. United Parcel Service has a 52-week low of $109.62 and a 52-week high of $158.95.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings data 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 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service will post 7.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Quarry LP increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 453.6% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 537 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $73,000 after buying an additional 440 shares during the period. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 67.4% during the 2nd quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 745 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $102,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the period. AMF Tjanstepension AB boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 39.7% during the 3rd quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 108,360 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $14,793,000 after buying an additional 30,815 shares during the period. Czech National Bank boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 149,220 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $20,345,000 after purchasing an additional 10,227 shares during the period. Finally, Farmers Trust Co. boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 14.1% in the 3rd quarter. Farmers Trust Co. now owns 3,036 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $414,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares during the period. 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.