Stock Traders Purchase Large Volume of United Parcel Service Call Options (NYSE:UPS)

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS – Get Free Report) saw some unusual options trading on Wednesday. Investors bought 33,857 call options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 40% compared to the typical volume of 24,154 call options.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 1.3%

Shares of NYSE UPS traded up $1.44 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $112.49. The company had a trading volume of 1,797,992 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,606,673. United Parcel Service has a twelve month low of $90.84 and a twelve month high of $122.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $95.70 billion, a PE ratio of 21.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.98. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $100.05 and its 200-day moving average is $104.73.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 4th. The transportation company reported $1.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.78% and a net margin of 4.84%. The firm had revenue of $22.85 billion during the quarter. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service will post 7.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 16th will be paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 16th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.8%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 126.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on UPS shares. BNP Paribas Exane cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $90.00 to $85.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, September 30th. Citizens Jmp initiated coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. They issued a “market perform” rating on the stock. Raymond James Financial boosted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $127.00 to $131.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $118.00 to $115.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, October 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $118.45.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on UPS

Insider Buying and Selling at United Parcel Service

In other news, insider Matthew Guffey sold 8,318 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.39, for a total transaction of $876,634.02. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 271 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $28,560.69. This trade represents a 96.84% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID raised its position in United Parcel Service by 48.6% during the first quarter. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID now owns 309 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. Markowski Investments acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the second quarter worth about $30,000. Allied Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the second quarter worth about $34,000. Grove Bank & Trust boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 49.8% during the 2nd quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 379 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Community Financial Services Group LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 170.1% in the 2nd quarter. Community Financial Services Group LLC now owns 370 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 233 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Parcel Service Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) is a global package delivery and logistics company. Its services include domestic and international shipping, air and ground delivery, freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and supply chain management. UPS also provides solutions for businesses, including warehousing, inventory management, healthcare logistics, and returns processing. Its network serves customers in more than 200 countries and territories. Founded in Seattle in 1907 as the American Messenger Company, UPS is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

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