Our top pick for
Building a portfolio
Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.
How to buy United Parcel Service stock | $174.44
Own United Parcel Service stock in just a few minutes.
United Parcel Service, Inc is an integrated freight & logistics business based in the US. United Parcel Service shares (UPS) are listed on the NYSE and all prices are listed in US Dollars. United Parcel Service employs 260,280 staff and has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$80.3 billion.
How to buy shares in United Parcel Service
- Compare share trading platforms. If you're a beginner, look for a platform with low commissions, expert ratings and investment tools to track your portfolio. Narrow down top brands with our comparison table.
- Open and fund your brokerage account. Complete an application with your personal and financial details, like your ID and bank information. Fund your account with a bank transfer, credit card or debit card.
- Search for United Parcel Service. Find the stock by name or ticker symbol: UPS. Research its history to confirm it's a solid investment against your financial goals.
- Purchase now or later. Buy today with a market order or use a limit order to delay your purchase until United Parcel Service reaches your desired price. To spread out your purchase, look into dollar-cost averaging, which smooths out buying at consistent intervals and amounts.
- Decide on how many to buy. At last close price of USD$174.44, weigh your budget against a diversified portfolio that can minimize risk through the market's ups and downs. You may be able to buy a fractional share of United Parcel Service, depending on your broker.
- Check in on your investment. Congratulations, you own a part of United Parcel Service. Optimize your portfolio by tracking how your stock — and even the business — performs with an eye on the long term. You may be eligible for dividends and shareholder voting rights on directors and management that can affect your stock.
What's in this guide?
- UPS shares summary
- Compare share dealing platforms
- Is UPS stock a buy or sell?
- Stock performance over time
- Can I short UPS shares?
- Is UPS suitable for ethical investing?
- Are UPS shares over-valued?
- United Parcel Service's financials
- How volatile are UPS shares?
- Does United Parcel Service pay a dividend?
- Other common questions
United Parcel Service share price
Use our graph to track the performance of UPS stocks over time.United Parcel Service shares at a glance
Information last updated 2020-12-27.
| Latest market close | USD$174.44 |
|---|---|
| 52-week range | USD$80.1408 - USD$176.9186 |
| 50-day moving average | USD$168.4685 |
| 200-day moving average | USD$151.1437 |
| Wall St. target price | USD$173.04 |
| PE ratio | 32.6612 |
| Dividend yield | USD$4.04 (2.35%) |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | USD$5.272 |
Buy United Parcel Service shares from these brokerages
Compare special offers, low fees and a wide range of types of investments among top trading platforms.The value of any investment can go up or down depending on news, trends and market conditions. We are not investment advisers, so do your own due diligence to understand the risks before you invest.
Is it a good time to buy United Parcel Service stock?
The technical analysis gauge below displays real-time ratings for the timeframes you select. This is not a recommendation, however. It represents a technical analysis based on the most popular technical indicators: Moving Averages, Oscillators and Pivots. Finder might not concur and takes no responsibility.
This chart is not advice or a guarantee of success. Rather, it gauges the real-time recommendations of three popular technical indicators: moving averages, oscillators and pivots. Finder is not responsible for how your stock performs.
United Parcel Service price performance over time
Historical closes compared with the close of $174.44 from 2020-10-16
| 1 week (2021-01-14) | 6.71% |
|---|---|
| 1 month (2020-12-24) | 1.31% |
| 3 months (2020-10-23) | 1.48% |
| 6 months (2020-07-24) | 47.39% |
| 1 year (2020-01-23) | 49.18% |
|---|---|
| 2 years (2019-01-23) | 72.85% |
| 3 years (2018-01-23) | 32.08% |
| 5 years (2016-01-22) | 94.04% |
Is United Parcel Service under- or over-valued?
Valuing United Parcel Service stock is incredibly difficult, and any metric has to be viewed as part of a bigger picture of United Parcel Service's overall performance. However, analysts commonly use some key metrics to help gauge the value of a stock.
United Parcel Service's P/E ratio
United Parcel Service's current share price divided by its per-share earnings (EPS) over a 12-month period gives a "trailing price/earnings ratio" of roughly 33x. In other words, United Parcel Service shares trade at around 33x recent earnings.
That's relatively high compared to, say, the trailing 12-month P/E ratio for the NASDAQ 100 at the end of 2019 (27.29). The high P/E ratio could mean that investors are optimistic about the outlook for the shares or simply that they're over-valued.
United Parcel Service's PEG ratio
United Parcel Service's "price/earnings-to-growth ratio" can be calculated by dividing its P/E ratio by its growth – to give 2.1779. A low ratio can be interpreted as meaning the shares offer better value, while a higher ratio can be interpreted as meaning the shares offer worse value.
The PEG ratio provides a broader view than just the P/E ratio, as it gives more insight into United Parcel Service's future profitability. By accounting for growth, it could also help you if you're comparing the share prices of multiple high-growth companies.
United Parcel Service's EBITDA
United Parcel Service's EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) is USD$8.7 billion.
The EBITDA is a measure of a United Parcel Service's overall financial performance and is widely used to measure a its profitability.
United Parcel Service financials
| Revenue TTM | USD$80.3 billion |
|---|---|
| Operating margin TTM | 7.52% |
| Gross profit TTM | USD$13.6 billion |
| Return on assets TTM | 6.53% |
| Return on equity TTM | 82% |
| Profit margin | 5.71% |
| Book value | $6.472 |
| Market capitalisation | USD$148.8 billion |
TTM: trailing 12 months
Shorting United Parcel Service shares
There are currently 7.1 million United Parcel Service shares held short by investors – that's known as United Parcel Service's "short interest". This figure is 9.7% down from 7.8 million last month.
There are a few different ways that this level of interest in shorting United Parcel Service shares can be evaluated.
United Parcel Service's "short interest ratio" (SIR)
United Parcel Service's "short interest ratio" (SIR) is the quantity of United Parcel Service shares currently shorted divided by the average quantity of United Parcel Service shares traded daily (recently around 3.7 million). United Parcel Service's SIR currently stands at 1.89. In other words for every 100,000 United Parcel Service shares traded daily on the market, roughly 1890 shares are currently held short.
However United Parcel Service's short interest can also be evaluated against the total number of United Parcel Service shares, or, against the total number of tradable United Parcel Service shares (the shares that aren't held by "insiders" or major long-term shareholders – also known as the "float"). In this case United Parcel Service's short interest could be expressed as 0.01% of the outstanding shares (for every 100,000 United Parcel Service shares in existence, roughly 10 shares are currently held short) or 0.0099% of the tradable shares (for every 100,000 tradable United Parcel Service shares, roughly 10 shares are currently held short).
Such a low SIR usually points to an optimistic outlook for the share price, with fewer people currently willing to bet against United Parcel Service.
Find out more about how you can short United Parcel Service stock.
United Parcel Service's environmental, social and governance track record
Environmental, social and governance (known as ESG) criteria are a set of three factors used to measure the sustainability and social impact of companies like United Parcel Service.
When it comes to ESG scores, lower is better, and lower scores are generally associated with lower risk for would-be investors.
United Parcel Service's total ESG risk score
Total ESG risk: 23.34
Socially conscious investors use ESG scores to screen how an investment aligns with their worldview, and United Parcel Service's overall score of 23.34 (as at 01/01/2019) is pretty good – landing it in it in the 28th percentile of companies rated in the same sector.
ESG scores are increasingly used to estimate the level of risk a company like United Parcel Service is exposed to within the areas of "environmental" (carbon footprint, resource use etc.), "social" (health and safety, human rights etc.), and "governance" (anti-corruption, tax transparency etc.).
United Parcel Service's environmental score
Environmental score: 8.62/100
United Parcel Service's environmental score of 8.62 puts it squarely in the 4th percentile of companies rated in the same sector. This could suggest that United Parcel Service is a leader in its sector terms of its environmental impact, and exposed to a lower level of risk.
United Parcel Service's social score
Social score: 12.03/100
United Parcel Service's social score of 12.03 puts it squarely in the 4th percentile of companies rated in the same sector. This could suggest that United Parcel Service is a leader in its sector when it comes to taking good care of its workforce and the communities it impacts.
United Parcel Service's governance score
Governance score: 9.2/100
United Parcel Service's governance score puts it squarely in the 4th percentile of companies rated in the same sector. That could suggest that United Parcel Service is a leader in its sector when it comes to responsible management and strategy, and exposed to a lower level of risk.
United Parcel Service's controversy score
Controversy score: 3/5
ESG scores also evaluate any incidences of controversy that a company has been involved in. United Parcel Service scored a 3 out of 5 for controversy – a middle-of-the-table result reflecting that United Parcel Service hasn't always managed to keep its nose clean.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) summary
United Parcel Service, Inc was last rated for ESG on: 2019-01-01.
| Total ESG score | 23.34 |
|---|---|
| Total ESG percentile | 28.42 |
| Environmental score | 8.62 |
| Environmental score percentile | 4 |
| Social score | 12.03 |
| Social score percentile | 4 |
| Governance score | 9.2 |
| Governance score percentile | 4 |
| Level of controversy | 3 |
United Parcel Service share dividends
Dividend payout ratio: 52.67% of net profits
Recently United Parcel Service has paid out, on average, around 52.67% of net profits as dividends. That has enabled analysts to estimate a "forward annual dividend yield" of 2.35% of the current stock value. This means that over a year, based on recent payouts (which are sadly no guarantee of future payouts), United Parcel Service shareholders could enjoy a 2.35% return on their shares, in the form of dividend payments. In United Parcel Service's case, that would currently equate to about $4.04 per share.
United Parcel Service's payout ratio would broadly be considered high, and as such this stock could appeal to those looking to generate an income. Bear in mind however that companies should normally also look to re-invest a decent amount of net profits to ensure future growth.
United Parcel Service's most recent dividend payout was on 3 December 2020. The latest dividend was paid out to all shareholders who bought their shares by 12 November 2020 (the "ex-dividend date").
United Parcel Service share price volatility
Over the last 12 months, United Parcel Service's shares have ranged in value from as little as $80.1408 up to $176.9186. A popular way to gauge a stock's volatility is its "beta".
Beta is a measure of a share's volatility in relation to the market. The market (NYSE average) beta is 1, while United Parcel Service's is 1.0042. This would suggest that United Parcel Service's shares are a little bit more volatile than the average for this exchange and represent, relatively-speaking, a slightly higher risk (but potentially also market-beating returns).
United Parcel Service overview
United Parcel Service, Inc. provides letter and package delivery, specialized transportation, logistics, and financial services. It operates through three segments: U.S. Domestic Package, International Package, and Supply Chain & Freight. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. The International Package segment provides guaranteed day and time-definite international shipping services in Europe, the Asia Pacific, Canada and Latin America, the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, and Africa. This segment offers guaranteed time-definite express options, including Express Plus, Express, and Express Saver. The Supply Chain & Freight segment provides international air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, distribution and post-sales, and mail and consulting services in approximately 220 countries and territories; and less-than-truckload and truckload services to customers in North America. This segment also offers truckload brokerage services; supply chain solutions to the healthcare and life sciences industry; shipping, visibility, and billing technologies; and financial, insurance, and payment services. The company operates a fleet of approximately 125,000 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles; and owns 52,000 containers that are used to transport cargo in its aircraft. United Parcel Service, Inc. was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Frequently asked questions
More guides on Finder
-
How to buy SS-and-C Technologies stock | $64.53
Steps to owning and managing SSNC, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
-
How to buy Southern Missouri Bancorp stock
Steps to owning and managing SMBC, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
-
How to buy Sharps Compliance stock
Steps to owning and managing SMED, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
-
How to buy SJW Group stock
Steps to owning and managing SJW, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
-
How to buy ServisFirst Bancshares stock
Steps to owning and managing SFBS, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
-
How to buy SemiLEDs Corporation stock
Steps to owning and managing LEDS, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
-
How to buy Santander Consumer USA stock
Steps to owning and managing SC, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
-
How to buy RTW Retailwinds stock
Steps to owning and managing RTW, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
-
How to buy Riverview Financial Corporation stock
Steps to owning and managing RIVE, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
-
How to buy Riverview Bancorp stock
Steps to owning and managing RVSB, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
Ask an Expert