United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading 5.1% Higher on Earnings Beat

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s share price traded up 5.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock traded as high as $145.01 and last traded at $138.12. 5,759,393 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 38% from the average session volume of 4,187,772 shares. The stock had previously closed at $131.41.

The transportation company reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $22.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.10 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 35.27% and a net margin of 5.87%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.57 earnings per share.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 19th were given a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 19th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 106.36%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently weighed in on UPS. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $134.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $169.00 to $155.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $159.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $139.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Finally, Baird R W upgraded United Parcel Service to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $151.43.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Natixis bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter worth approximately $121,000. Cohen Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 26.4% in the third quarter. Cohen Investment Advisors LLC now owns 18,357 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $2,503,000 after acquiring an additional 3,835 shares in the last quarter. Financial Partners Group LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 23.9% in the second quarter. Financial Partners Group LLC now owns 26,319 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,602,000 after acquiring an additional 5,069 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 12.3% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 59,567 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $8,853,000 after purchasing an additional 6,502 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nvwm LLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Nvwm LLC now owns 2,685 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $399,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

The business’s fifty day moving average is $130.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $136.08. The company has a market capitalization of $117.75 billion, a PE ratio of 22.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18.

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.