United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The transportation company reported $1.49 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.50 by ($0.01), Zacks reports. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 2.1 %

United Parcel Service stock opened at $95.90 on Tuesday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $108.22 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $121.14. The firm has a market cap of $81.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10. United Parcel Service has a 1 year low of $90.55 and a 1 year high of $153.42. 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 Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.84%. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 97.04%.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

An institutional investor recently raised its position in United Parcel Service stock. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 63.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,126 shares of the transportation company’s stock after buying an additional 4,723 shares during the quarter. Brighton Jones LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $1,529,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently issued reports on UPS shares. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $149.00 to $123.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Barclays decreased their price target on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $90.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 31st. Raymond James lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $130.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $130.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their price target for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $126.41.

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.