United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading Up 2.9% – Should You Buy?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s share price traded up 2.9% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $100.11 and last traded at $99.7870. 7,147,985 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 4% from the average session volume of 6,844,169 shares. The stock had previously closed at $96.97.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on UPS. Truist Financial upped their price target on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. UBS Group lifted their target price on United Parcel Service from $110.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Wall Street Zen raised United Parcel Service from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, November 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on United Parcel Service from $85.00 to $97.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating, sixteen have given a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $110.00.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $84.66 billion, a PE ratio of 15.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 1.11. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $91.51 and a 200-day moving average price of $92.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.30.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The transportation company reported $1.74 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.31 by $0.43. The business had revenue of $21.42 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.94 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 40.07% and a net margin of 6.15%.United Parcel Service’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.76 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 4th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th were given a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 17th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is 101.39%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UPS. Evelyn Partners Investment Management Europe Ltd lifted its position 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 in the last quarter. Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the second quarter worth $26,000. Salzhauer Michael purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the third quarter worth $31,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 76.5% during the third quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 376 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Saudi Central Bank acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the first quarter valued at $32,000. 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.