United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Shares Up 0.2% – Should You Buy?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s share price rose 0.2% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $118.71 and last traded at $118.25. Approximately 619,857 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 86% from the average daily volume of 4,419,494 shares. The stock had previously closed at $118.06.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on UPS. Truist Financial initiated coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com upgraded United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Raymond James cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Evercore ISI boosted their target price 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. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $138.09.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 1.2 %

The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $120.49 and its 200-day simple moving average is $127.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $100.30 billion, a PE ratio of 17.37, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.17.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 previous year, the business earned $2.47 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business 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 represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.59%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Aviance Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC now owns 6,620 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $903,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. OneAscent Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in United Parcel Service in the 3rd quarter worth $309,000. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 39.9% in the third quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 9,746 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,329,000 after purchasing an additional 2,782 shares during the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 20.5% during the third quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 36,164 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $4,931,000 after buying an additional 6,149 shares during the last quarter. Finally, B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 3rd quarter valued at about $8,731,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by 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.