Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH) Downgraded by StockNews.com to Hold

Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH - Get Free Report) was downgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report released on Friday.

Separately, Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on Universal Logistics from $36.00 to $35.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 14th.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Universal Logistics

Shares of NASDAQ:ULH traded up $0.32 during trading on Friday, reaching $27.24. 19,352 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 55,273. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.56. Universal Logistics has a 1-year low of $24.10 and a 1-year high of $45.00. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $30.01 and a two-hundred day moving average of $29.19. The firm has a market cap of $716.14 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.49 and a beta of 1.18.

Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The transportation company reported $0.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.01 by ($0.11). Universal Logistics had a return on equity of 28.66% and a net margin of 7.19%. The company had revenue of $412.57 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $448.10 million. Research analysts anticipate that Universal Logistics will post 3.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In related news, Director Matthew T. Moroun acquired 14,303,973 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $24.62 per share, with a total value of $352,163,815.26. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 11,866,015 shares in the company, valued at approximately $292,141,289.30. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 73.40% of the company's stock.

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of ULH. Point72 Middle East FZE purchased a new position in shares of Universal Logistics in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. State of Wyoming increased its stake in shares of Universal Logistics by 23.8% in the second quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 2,063 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 396 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its stake in shares of Universal Logistics by 532.5% in the fourth quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,929 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $65,000 after purchasing an additional 1,624 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN increased its stake in shares of Universal Logistics by 82.5% in the second quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 2,709 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $78,000 after purchasing an additional 1,225 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Universal Logistics by 20.0% in the second quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 3,139 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $90,000 after purchasing an additional 523 shares in the last quarter. 24.65% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc provides transportation and logistics solutions in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Colombia. It offers truckload services, which include dry van, flatbed, heavy-haul, and refrigerated operations; domestic and international freight forwarding, and customs brokerage services.

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