United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Sets New 52-Week Low – Time to Sell?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s share price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $113.89 and last traded at $114.35, with a volume of 1707792 shares. The stock had previously closed at $133.78.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $134.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $151.24.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 15.4 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $96.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.12, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.00. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $129.05 and its 200-day moving average price is $130.72.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.47 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.49 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 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a $1.63 dividend. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.76%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 98.49%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,249,229.86. The trade was a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Quarry LP grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 453.6% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 537 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $73,000 after acquiring an additional 440 shares during the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 8.3% in the second quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 24,205 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,312,000 after acquiring an additional 1,863 shares during the last quarter. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the second quarter valued at $363,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the second quarter worth about $231,000. Finally, Farmers National Bank boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Farmers National Bank now owns 29,366 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $4,019,000 after buying an additional 185 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.