United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Given New $169.00 Price Target at BMO Capital Markets

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) had its price objective boosted by BMO Capital Markets from $165.00 to $169.00 in a report published on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a market perform rating on the transportation company’s stock.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $178.00 to $170.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $154.00 to $150.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 9th. Argus downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Oppenheimer upped their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $153.00 to $157.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Redburn Atlantic raised shares of United Parcel Service from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $180.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have assigned a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, United Parcel Service has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $166.09.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 1.5 %

United Parcel Service stock opened at $146.61 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $149.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $151.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $125.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.10. United Parcel Service has a one year low of $133.68 and a one year high of $192.98.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 23rd. The transportation company reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.33 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $21.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.84 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.60% and a return on equity of 37.42%. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.20 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that United Parcel Service will post 8.2 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were given a $1.63 dividend. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.45%. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.62. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is 94.49%.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In other news, Director Eva C. Boratto acquired 1,400 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $142.30 per share, for a total transaction of $199,220.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 1,400 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $199,220. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Parcel Service

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Summit Financial LLC increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 1.4% in the first quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 10,475 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,557,000 after buying an additional 149 shares during the last quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 36.6% in the first quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 874 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $130,000 after buying an additional 234 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 3.5% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 130,390 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $19,380,000 after buying an additional 4,355 shares during the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 8.4% in the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 6,477 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $963,000 after buying an additional 504 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 1.6% in the first quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 12,735 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,893,000 after buying an additional 201 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

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.