Should You Buy UPS Stock While It's Below $105?

Source The Motley Fool

Key Points

  • UPS' Q3 update could have been a pivotal turning point.

  • However, the company continues to face uncertainties, including the impact of tariffs.

  • UPS is a good stock to buy while it's below $105 -- for some investors.

  • 10 stocks we like better than United Parcel Service ›

United Parcel Services (NYSE: UPS) hasn't been a winner for investors in 2025. The stock also performed dismally in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

However, better days could lie ahead for the package delivery giant. Should you buy UPS stock while it's below $105?

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »

A pivotal turning point?

UPS might have had a pivotal turning point on Oct. 28, 2025. That's the date the company released its third-quarter results.

Sure, UPS' revenue fell by 2.6% year-over-year. However, this decline was expected. What wasn't anticipated was how handily UPS would beat Wall Street's top and bottom-line estimates.

Analysts projected revenue of $20.8 billion. UPS delivered revenue of $21.4 billion. The consensus adjusted earnings per share (EPS) estimate for Q3 was $1.30. UPS blew past that number with actual adjusted EPS of $1.74.

The company reduced its operationally workforce by 34,000 in the first nine months of the year. It previously forecast a reduction of 20,000. Additionally, UPS cut 14,000 management jobs.

CEO Carol Tomé stated during the Q3 earnings call that she had personally reached out to the new Postmaster General of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) earlier this year. Those conversations appear to have borne fruit. UPS and the USPS have reached a preliminary agreement on a renewed relationship, where UPS will handle "middle mile" transportation of packages, while the USPS will handle "final mile" transportation.

All of this positive news has boosted UPS' share price. Since early October, the stock has risen by around 17%.

UPS driver in a delivery van.

Image source: UPS.

Uncertainties linger

UPS isn't yet entirely out of the woods, though. Some uncertainties linger.

For example, the Trump administration's tariffs could still cause problems for UPS, particularly with its small-to-medium-sized business (SMB) customers. Tomé noted in the Q3 earnings call, "Next year is when you're going to feel the full brunt of some of these tariffs hitting some of these SMBs."

It remains to be seen if UPS' dramatic decision to slash its shipment volumes with Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) will pay off. Tomé called this move "the most significant strategic shift in our company's history." She will look like a hero if it works but could be shown the exit door if it doesn't.

Some income investors are also anxious about UPS' dividend. The company paid $4 billion in dividends during the first nine months of 2025 but generated free cash flow of only $2.7 billion. That imbalance is at least a little concerning.

Buy UPS stock?

Should investors buy UPS stock while it's below $105? Yes and no.

Growth-oriented investors may not find UPS particularly appealing. Even if the uncertainties the company faces don't cause significant issues, it's unlikely to deliver jaw-dropping growth anytime soon.

Value investors, on the other hand, could view UPS as an attractive stock to buy. Its forward price-to-earnings ratio is a relatively low 13.6. Also, the worst seems to be over for the package delivery company.

Finally, I think UPS is a good pick for income investors. Its forward dividend yield of 6.6% is enticing. My prediction is that a dividend cut isn't on the way. Management has repeatedly expressed its support for the dividend program.

What about the gap between UPS' free cash flow and dividends paid out? If this imbalance persists for too long, the company would likely have to cut its dividend.

However, CFO Brian Dykes said in the Q3 earnings call that UPS should "generate significantly more free cash flow over time." I agree with that assessment. The restructuring related to the Amazon glide-down is expected to boost profits and free cash flow. UPS is making progress in attracting higher-profit business, particularly in healthcare logistics.

UPS isn't a stock for everyone. If you're a value or income investor, though, I think it's worth considering – especially while the share price is below $105.

Should you buy stock in United Parcel Service right now?

Before you buy stock in United Parcel Service, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and United Parcel Service wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $509,470!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,167,988!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 991% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 196% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of December 30, 2025.

Keith Speights has positions in Amazon and United Parcel Service. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and United Parcel Service. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Markets in 2026: Will gold, Bitcoin, and the U.S. dollar make history again? — These are how leading institutions thinkAfter a turbulent 2025, what lies ahead for commodities, forex, and cryptocurrency markets in 2026?
Author  Insights
Dec 25, Thu
After a turbulent 2025, what lies ahead for commodities, forex, and cryptocurrency markets in 2026?
placeholder
ECB Policy Outlook for 2026: What It Could Mean for the Euro’s Next MoveWith the ECB likely holding rates steady at 2.15% and the Fed potentially extending cuts into 2026, EUR/USD may test 1.20 if Eurozone growth proves resilient, but weaker growth and an ECB pivot could pull the pair back toward 1.13 and potentially 1.10.
Author  Mitrade
Dec 26, Fri
With the ECB likely holding rates steady at 2.15% and the Fed potentially extending cuts into 2026, EUR/USD may test 1.20 if Eurozone growth proves resilient, but weaker growth and an ECB pivot could pull the pair back toward 1.13 and potentially 1.10.
placeholder
Two Crypto “Buy” Calls for 2027: Bitcoin Looks Plausible, XRP Looks Like a High-Conviction BetStandard Chartered’s Kendrick-backed 2027 targets paint large upside for Bitcoin and XRP—but Bitcoin’s ETF-led adoption case looks sturdier, while XRP remains a higher-volatility bet dependent on ETF traction and real-world payments scaling.
Author  Mitrade
Yesterday 09: 39
Standard Chartered’s Kendrick-backed 2027 targets paint large upside for Bitcoin and XRP—but Bitcoin’s ETF-led adoption case looks sturdier, while XRP remains a higher-volatility bet dependent on ETF traction and real-world payments scaling.
placeholder
Silver Price Forecasts: XAG/USD drops below $75.00 after Trump - Zelenkyy’s meeting Silver (XAG/USD) has lost more than $10 since hitting a fresh record high near $86.00 on Monday’s early trading. The precious metal has retreated to levels in the $74.00 area at the time of writing, weighed by comments by US President Trump about the chances of a peace deal in Ukraine.
Author  FXStreet
Yesterday 09: 42
Silver (XAG/USD) has lost more than $10 since hitting a fresh record high near $86.00 on Monday’s early trading. The precious metal has retreated to levels in the $74.00 area at the time of writing, weighed by comments by US President Trump about the chances of a peace deal in Ukraine.
placeholder
Ethereum smart contract deployments reach new 8.7M high in Q4Token Terminal data revealed that smart contracts deployed on the Ethereum network hit an all-time high of 8.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Author  Cryptopolitan
Yesterday 09: 42
Token Terminal data revealed that smart contracts deployed on the Ethereum network hit an all-time high of 8.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2025.
goTop
quote