United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Stock Price Down 3.6% – Time to Sell?

Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) traded down 3.6% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $94.50 and last traded at $94.71. 9,322,339 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 36% from the average session volume of 6,862,308 shares. The stock had previously closed at $98.21.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $110.00 to $113.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Susquehanna increased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. BMO Capital Markets restated a “market perform” rating and set a $96.00 price objective (down previously from $125.00) on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Friday, September 19th. Citigroup boosted their target price on United Parcel Service from $112.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on United Parcel Service from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating, sixteen have given a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, United Parcel Service currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $110.00.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.30. The firm has a market cap of $80.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.64, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.11. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $90.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $92.64.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The transportation company reported $1.74 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.31 by $0.43. The firm had revenue of $21.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $20.94 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.15% and a return on equity of 40.07%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.76 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 4th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th will be issued a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 17th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 101.39%.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Evelyn Partners Investment Management Europe Ltd increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 110.1% in the 2nd quarter. Evelyn Partners Investment Management Europe Ltd now owns 250 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 131 shares during the period. Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. bought a new position in United Parcel Service in the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Hemington Wealth Management increased its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 68.9% during the first quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 282 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares during the period. Saudi Central Bank bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Flaharty Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.