UPS Under $100: Your Last Chance to Buy?

Core Viewpoint - The holiday shopping season has positively impacted United Parcel Service (UPS), contributing to its recent stock performance, which has seen shares rally past the $100 mark following a strong earnings release in October [1][7]. Group 1: Company Performance - UPS has faced various challenges in recent years, including a post-pandemic decline in e-commerce volumes, increased labor costs, and competition from major players like Amazon [2]. - The company reported an earnings beat in Q3 and reiterated its cost-cutting plans, leading to market expectations for continued improved results [3]. - Stronger earnings are expected to alleviate concerns regarding the sustainability of UPS's high forward dividend yield of 6.6%, despite a high payout ratio of 87% [4]. Group 2: Market Expectations - Analysts project a modest earnings growth of 4.2% for UPS in 2026, raising uncertainty about the company's ability to consistently beat expectations in upcoming quarters [5]. - The next earnings report in late January could potentially fall short of market expectations, which may lead to increased volatility in UPS shares [6]. - Despite current investor optimism, concerns about growth prospects and dividend sustainability may resurface as 2026 approaches [7].