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. The International Package segment provides guaranteed day and time-definite international shipping services comprising guaranteed time-definite express options in Europe, Asia, the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, Africa, Canada, and Latin America. The company also offers international air and ocean freight forwarding, post-sales, and mail and consulting services. In addition, it provides truckload and customs brokerage services; supply chain solutions to the healthcare and life sciences industries; fulfillment and transportation management services; and integrated supply chain and shipment insurance solutions. United Parcel Service, Inc. was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

UPS appears to be a high-quality but not cheap business, with noticeable pressure on profitability and liquidity. On valuation multiples, the picture is mixed: P/E, P/S, and P/FCF are below the industry median, which supports the idea of moderate undervaluation, but P/B is almost 2.5 times the industry level, which usually signals an expensive valuation of equity and market expectations. P/B remains elevated, although P/S and P/FCF have been relatively stable in recent periods, which does not provide a strong reason for an upward revaluation. Return on capital is strong: ROE, ROA, ROI, and return on tangible equity are noticeably above the median, so the business is still efficiently generating returns on invested capital. However, the yearly trend shows deteriorating margins: net margin, operating margin, and EBITDA are declining, which limits the potential for valuation upside. Revenue remains large and generally stable, but earnings and operating profit have fallen significantly relative to stronger periods, indicating pressure on the operating model. The debt burden looks elevated: debt/equity is substantially above the industry level, long-term debt is high and not declining, and the current ratio is weak, while the quick ratio is effectively zero, highlighting dependence on working capital and stable cash flow. Dividend yield remains positive, but it has declined compared with previous periods, so this factor only moderately supports the stock. The balance sheet overall remains large and stable, but rising liabilities combined with weak liquidity add caution to the valuation. Overall, the fundamentals do not look weak, but they also do not justify an aggressive increase in the target price. For an investor, this is a story of strong operational efficiency at the capital level, but with margin pressure, high leverage, and an expensive balance-sheet multiple, so the valuation should be slightly more restrained than the current base forecast.

United Parcel Service, Inc.

Сильный индекс, незначительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, slightly down. The bulls are confused.

Сильный индекс, без изменений. Рынок на стороне быков.

Strong index, flat. The market is on the bulls' side.

Средний индекс, незначительно вырос. Отток средств из лонгов на высоком уровне.

Medium index, slightly up. Outflow of funds from longs at a high level.

UPS remains profitable and efficient, but weak liquidity, a high debt burden, and compressed margins limit its revaluation potential.

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Riot Platforms Inc (Symbol: RIOT), where a total of 149,953 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 15.0 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 91.2% of RIOT's average daily trading volume over the past month of 16.4 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $13 strike call option expiring November 13, 2026, with 35,542 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 3.6 million underlying shares of RIOT. Below is a chart showing RIOT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $13 strike highlighted in orange:
United Parcel Service Inc (Symbol: UPS) options are showing a volume of 33,815 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 3.4 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 76% of UPS's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 4.4 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $100 strike call option expiring November 20, 2026, with 2,933 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 293,300 underlying shares of UPS. Below is a chart showing UPS's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $100 strike highlighted in orange:
And Boeing Co. (Symbol: BA) options are showing a volume of 57,672 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 5.8 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 71% of BA's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 8.1 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $200 strike call option expiring October 30, 2026, with 2,986 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 298,600 underlying shares of BA. Below is a chart showing BA's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $200 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for RIOT options, UPS options, or BA options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Further RIOT Research:

Noteworthy Monday Option Activity: RIOT, UPS, BA

Key Points
UPS shares have hit a rocky patch, but that performance just doesn’t reflect the company’s likely future.
Brookfield Renewable is neither a conventional utility nor a mutual fund. Yet, it offers the upside of both.
Lockheed Martin may not be a growth stock, but it could be particularly fruitful for income investors.
Do you get the feeling that growth opportunities are going to be fewer and farther between in the foreseeable future, while investment income is going to be prioritized in more portfolios? Maybe you're even already making such a strategic shift?
If you are (or are going to), here's a closer look at three great dividend stocks you can feel good about buying and holding for decades.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
1. United Parcel Service
It's been tough to stick with United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) of late. Shares peaked in 2022, at the same time that all the online shopping prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic did. For a short time late last year, it finally looked as if the stock might start to rebound. As last year's decision to dial back the number of low-margin deliveries it was doing for Amazon started becoming a reality this year -- at the same time fuel prices soared -- that budding recovery effort was upended. Shares recently hit a new multi-month low and seem to still be sinking.
The underlying concern may be overdone, however. While the scaled-back partnership with Amazon is taking a toll on revenue, there are already signs of the wider profit margins that CEO Carol Tomé expected. And as a reminder, while UPS voluntarily gave up some of its Amazon business, it still managed to grow its top line by a respectable 6% during the quarter ending in June. Not bad.
Perhaps the piece that's being overlooked here, though, is that there's still plenty of profitable demand for delivery and logistics for everyone, and there will only be more of it in the long term. An outlook from Coherent Market Insights suggests the worldwide parcel delivery market is on pace to grow at an average annual pace of more than 5% through 2033.
It's also worth noting that while Amazon may have led e-commerce's growth up until this point, competitors like Walmart, as well as brands themselves, are finally keeping Amazon in check. These rivals aren't using Amazon's in-house delivery network, but rather, third-party logistics services like FedEx and UPS.
Given all of this, the recent weakness that pushed UPS's forward-looking dividend yield above 7% makes for a fantastic long-term entry opportunity despite the near-term weakness.
2. Brookfield Renewable
In many ways, Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEPC) represents a new frontier in income investing. It's neither a stand-alone business nor a collection of handpicked publicly traded tickers with a common thread. Rather, Brookfield Renewable is a stakeholder in several privately owned and privately managed renewable energy utility businesses, including solar power farms, wind energy, and hydropower plants.
And this seemingly small detail matters in a big way. Not only does owning a piece of Brookfield Renewable give you exposure to the future of the energy business, but this flexible structure also offers direct access to opportunities that aren't investable any other way.
For instance, in June 2026, Brookfield and Mitsubishi HC Capital (OTC: MIUFY) announced the formation of a private joint venture meant to capitalize on the growing demand for renewable energy within Europe, with several long-term power purchase agreements already in place.
More than anything, ownership of utility companies remains a fantastic way to generate reliable investment income. Consumers and corporations alike do whatever it takes to keep the lights turned on. Brookfield Renewable's past and planned dividends say as much too. Not only has this stock's per-share quarterly dividend grown every year since 2021, but the company has publicly committed to long-term annual dividend growth of between 5% and 9%.
Given this organization's flexibility to buy, develop, and sell utilities assets of its choosing, that industry-beating dividend growth goal is certainly achievable. You'd be plugging into a forward-looking dividend yield of 5.5%, by the way.
3. Lockheed Martin
Last but not least, add Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) to your list of monster dividend stocks to buy now and hold for decades. OK, its projected dividend yield of 2.7% may not exactly be thrilling. With 23 consecutive annual increases to its credit, though (and almost certainly more on the way), it's an income investment you can feel good about holding for the long haul.
You may know this aerospace and defense contractor best by its F-35 and F-22 fighter jets, although it's so much more. This company not only supplies the U.S. military and its allies with an enormous amount of equipment and supplies, but it's also the maker of the Orion spacecraft and several commercial and civilian aircraft. While its growth is usually modest, its diverse product portfolio means it's always got something to sell somewhere.
That being said, it's worth noting that the White House is requesting $1.5 trillion in funding for the U.S. military in fiscal 2027, up 41% from 2026's defense spending. It's only a request, and it's only for one year. But it's also a glimpse of a broader, longer-term shift toward a more militarized global environment. If worldwide defense spending remains on its current growth trajectory, the United Nations believes, global military-related outlays could reach $6.6 trillion by 2035. That's five times the amount spent during the last year of the Cold War, and twice what was shelled out in 2024.
Societal safety concerns aside, that spells opportunity for arms suppliers like Lockheed Martin, bolstered by the stock's recent pullback.
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 $373,352!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,406,241!*
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James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Lockheed Martin, United Parcel Service, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Renewable and FedEx. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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3 Monster Dividend Stocks to Buy Now and Hold for Decades

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) closed down by -0.02% on Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down by -0.31%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.03%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ26) fell -0.10%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ26) fell -0.03%.
Stock indexes settled mostly lower on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrials falling to a 1-week low. Higher crude oil prices on Thursday fueled inflation concerns and pushed up bond yields worldwide. WTI crude rose more than +2% on Thursday after an Iranian official warned Iran may expand the war to the Indian Ocean if the US or Israel attacks again.
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However, crude prices fell from their highs on Thursday and sparked short covering in stocks, after a Reuters report said that US and Iranian negotiators are exploring a phased deal that would see Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the US lift its blockade of Iranian ports. Qatari officials are mediating the negotiations.
The jump in crude oil prices on Thursday sparked a sell-off in global bond markets, with the 10-year T-note yield climbing to a 19-year high of 5.22%, the German 10-year Bund yield rising to a 17-year high of 3.62%, and Japan’s 10-year JGB bond yield soaring to a 30-year high of 3.09%. The surge in bond yields weighed on interest rate-sensitive technology stocks Thursday, with chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks retreating.
Better-than-expected US news on Thursday showed signs of strength in the US economy, a supportive factor for stocks, after weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fell to a 2-month low and Aug new home sales rose to an 8-month high. Stocks also found support after Treasury Secretary Bessent said late Wednesday that the US and China agreed to extend their trade truce an additional two months until January 10.
US weekly initial unemployment claims unexpectedly fell -1,000 to a 2-month low of 197,000, showing a stronger labor market than expectations of an increase to 200,000.
US Aug new home sales rose +6.4% m/m to an 8-month high of 684,000, stronger than expectations of 616,000.
Hawkish Fed comments on Thursday signaled support for additional rate hikes and weighed on stocks and bonds. New York Fed President John Williams said the Fed still has a lot of work to do given high energy prices and demand driven by investment in artificial intelligence. Also, Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said underlying measures of inflation remain "stubbornly elevated" and have shown little to no progress. "Looking ahead, if conditions evolve as I expect, some modest further tightening of monetary policy may be warranted" to ensure inflation returns to the Fed's 2% goal.
Nov WTI crude oil prices (CLX26) rose up more than +2% on Thursday after Iran threatened to expand the war in the Middle East after a senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that Iran may expand the war to the Indian Ocean if the US or Israel attacks again. Also, Saudi Arabia came under attack from Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Thursday, saying it intercepted missiles fired toward the Red Sea port of Yanbu and the city of Taif.
Markets are discounting a 71% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Thursday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed down -0.43%. China's Shanghai Composite closed down -1.22%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average rallied to a 2-week high and closed up +0.76%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) closed down by -5.5 ticks on Thursday. The 10-year T-note yield rose +6.3 bp to 5.177%. Dec T-notes sank to a 19-year nearest-futures low on Thursday, and the 10-year T-note yield climbed to a 19-year high of 5.221%. Thursday’s +2% increase in WTI crude oil prices boosted inflation expectations and weighed on T-notes. Also, Thursday’s better-than-expected US economic news on weekly jobless claims and Aug new home sales showed economic strength and was hawkish for Fed policy. In addition, hawkish Fed comments on Thursday weighed on T-notes prices after New York Fed President John Williams and Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson signaled their support for tighter Fed policy. Finally, weak demand for the Treasury’s $44 billion auction of 7-year T-notes was bearish for T-notes as the auction had a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.42, below the 10-auction average of 2.49.
European government bond yields moved higher on Thursday. The 10-year German bund yield rose to a 17-year high of 3.616% and finished up +4.4 bp to 3.599%. The 10-year UK gilt yield rose to a 1-week high of 5.393% and finished up +3.4 bp to 5.381%.
Eurozone Aug new car registrations rose +4.5% y/y to 708,000 units.
The German Sep IFO business climate survey rose +1.1 to a 3.25-year high of 89.9, stronger than expectations of 89.0.
ECB Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel said the energy shock caused by the Iran war is proving to be longer-lasting than initially thought and is spreading beyond just oil.
ECB Governing Council member Dimitar Radev said policymakers must give recent interest rate hikes time to work before assessing whether additional hikes are needed.
Markets are discounting a 54% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI stocks are under pressure today, weighing on the overall market. ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) closed down more than -8% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and Western Digital closed down more than -4%. Also, SanDisk (SNDK) closed down more than -3%, and NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), and Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) closed down more than -2%. In addition, ASML Holding NV (ASML), Broadcom (AVGO), Qualcomm (QCOM), and Microchip Technology (MCHP) closed down more than -1%.
Software stocks are under pressure today, led by a -3% fall in Oracle (ORCL) after it sent a notice citing force majeure to the project’s developer of a data center, a unit of Blue Owl Capital, in New Mexico in an attempt to put off payments should the data center dubbed Project Jupiter get derailed and fail to come online in 2028 as planned. Also, Intuit (INTU) closed down more than -3%, and Autodesk (ADSK), ServiceNow (NOW), and IBM (IBM) closed down more than -2%. In addition, Atlassian (TEAM) closed down more than -1%.
Trucking and freight companies fell on Thursday after WTI crude oil rose more than+2%, raising fuel costs and dampening the profitability prospects for the companies. FedEx Freight Holding (FDXF) closed down more than -4%, and United Parcel Service (UPS) and Saia Inc (SAIA) closed down more than -3%. Also, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (KNX), ArcBest (ARCB), JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT), Marten Transport Ltd (MRTN), CH Robinson Worldwide (CHRW), and XPO Inc (XPO) closed down more than -2%.
Gen Digital (GEN) closed down more than -12% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after the Financial Times reported the company has made an offer to acquire GoDaddy.
MGM Resorts International (MGM) closed down more than -10% after People Inc. dropped its plans to acquire the remaining shares of the company.
Rollins (ROL) closed down more than -6% after Piper Sandler downgraded the stock to neutral from overweight.
Dropbox (DBX) closed down more than -4% after Citigroup downgraded the stock to sell from neutral with a price target of $29.
Alkami Technology (ALKT) closed down more than -2% after JPMorgan Chase double-downgraded the stock to underweight from overweight with a price target of $14.
Everpure (P) closed up more than +11% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after forecasting 2028 revenue of $7.0 billion to $7.3 billion, well above the consensus of $6.19 billion.
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) closed up more than +6% after reaffirming its 2026 financial guidance.
Revvity (RVTY) closed up more than +6% after launching an IVDR-certified Type 1 diabetes screening kit.
GoDaddy (GDDY) closed up more than +4% after the Financial Times reported that Gen Digital has made an offer to acquire the company.
Earnings Reports (9/25/2026)
None.
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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Stocks Finish Mostly Lower as Bond Yields Soar

Key Points
Pfizer, UPS, and Kraft are all high-yielding stocks that come with varying levels of risk.
They're all generating positive free cash flow, but their payout ratios don't look good.
Chasing high-yielding stocks can be risky. Dividend payments are, after all, never a guarantee. If a company runs into a situation where it needs to divert more cash to growth initiatives or simply can no longer afford to pay the dividend, it may have little choice but to cut or possibly even suspend its payout.
Three popular dividend stocks that are paying more than 6% right now include Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS), and Kraft Heinz (NYSE:KHC). Which one of these stocks looks to be the safest option for dividend investors right now? Let's take a closer look and analyze their respective payout ratios, cash flows, and long-term risks.
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Image source: Getty Images.
Which payout ratio looks the best?
The payout ratio is often the default ratio many income investors look to when analyzing a dividend stock's risk. It tells investors how much of a company's earnings are being paid out in dividends. A ratio of more than 80% can signal trouble, and over 100% may indicate that it's unsustainable or that other factors are at play, such as an unusually poor quarter due to nonrecurring expenses.
None one of these payout ratios look great. Kraft's is in the negative as it posted a net loss recently due to significant impairment charges.
All of these companies are facing challenges and making changes to their operations to improve their financial situations, so it can be difficult to make a decision based on this metric alone. If there is an edge here, it goes to UPS, which is closest to 100%.
Which stock has the better free cash flow?
Free cash flow can sometimes be a better indicator of a company's ability to pay dividends, as it excludes the impact of non-cash items such as revaluation charges, impairment, and depreciation.
All three companies are generating positive free cash flow, which is encouraging. But it's important to put this into the context of how much dividends they are paying out.
Pfizer: It has paid out $9.8 billion in dividend payments over the trailing 12 months; thus, its free cash of nearly $11 billion puts it in a good position to continue making payments.
UPS: Its dividend payments have totaled $5.4 billion during the past 12 months. Its free cash flow is sufficient to cover the payouts, but there isn't a huge buffer here.
Kraft Heinz: Its dividend payments have totaled $1.9 billion over the past 12 months. Given its free cash flow of $3.8 billion, it has the largest buffer of the stocks listed here.
What are the big risks facing these stocks?
It's important to do a qualitative analysis of dividend stocks in addition to a quantitative one, as numbers may only tell part of the story.
Pfizer is adjusting to a post-COVID growth era, as it looks to develop new drugs to generate future growth, which is particularly crucial as it is also facing patent cliffs on multiple top drugs. The risk for investors is that the growth strategy does not go as planned, requiring more cash and potentially leading to pressure to reduce the dividend.
UPS has cut its business with Amazon by more than 50% as it looks to focus on improving its margins. It's been reducing its workforce as well as it gets leaner. The risk is that with global trade uncertainty and tariffs potentially weighing on its operations, it may also need to spend more cash to shore up its business. Investors may also worry about how strong the business will be with Amazon being a smaller customer.
Kraft faces no shortage of challenges on its own. As consumers are using GLP-1 drugs, which can curb appetites, there is concern about where its growth will come from in the future. It even contemplated splitting up its business. There are some massive question marks ahead for Kraft, which is why it may be the riskiest stock on this list.
Which of these dividend stocks is the best buy right now?
All of these three stocks carry risks, but the one I'd go with right now is Pfizer. The healthcare company has strong free cash flow, and it has been investing in its future growth and pipeline. While there is uncertainty ahead, even one big blockbuster drug could be a game changer for its business, and with its business still doing well, it may be an underrated buy.
UPS comes in at a close second, but tight free cash flow and trade uncertainty make it a slightly riskier option. Kraft, meanwhile, with its core business in trouble, it's hard to want to take a chance on it, even though its free cash flow is strong. The dividend may be safe for now, but it may not be in the long term.
Should you buy stock in Pfizer right now?
Before you buy stock in Pfizer, 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 Pfizer 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 $395,625!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,397,147!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 951% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 214% 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.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 23, 2026.
David Jagielski, CPA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Pfizer, and United Parcel Service. The Motley Fool recommends Kraft Heinz. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Pfizer, Kraft, and UPS All Yield More Than 6%. Which of These Dividend Stocks Is the Safest Option Today?

United Parcel Service (UPS) closed at $94.75 in the latest trading session, marking a -4.35% move from the prior day. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.49%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.71%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 2.26%.
The stock of package delivery service has fallen by 2.89% in the past month, leading the Transportation sector's loss of 5.43% and undershooting the S&P 500's gain of 0.1%.
The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of United Parcel Service in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is expected to report EPS of $1.63, down 6.32% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $22.11 billion, up 3.26% from the year-ago period.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $7.22 per share and revenue of $91.37 billion, which would represent changes of +0.84% and +3.06%, respectively, from the prior year.
It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for United Parcel Service. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained steady. Right now, United Parcel Service possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Investors should also note United Parcel Service's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 13.72. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 15.02.
Also, we should mention that UPS has a PEG ratio of 1.77. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. The Transportation - Air Freight and Cargo was holding an average PEG ratio of 1.62 at yesterday's closing price.
The Transportation - Air Freight and Cargo industry is part of the Transportation sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 107, placing it within the top 44% of over 250 industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

United Parcel Service (UPS) Stock Slides as Market Rises: Facts to Know Before You Trade

Among the underlying components of the S&P 500 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Union Pacific Corp (Symbol: UNP), where a total of 12,015 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 1.2 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 52.4% of UNP's average daily trading volume over the past month of 2.3 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $285 strike call option expiring October 16, 2026, with 5,038 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 503,800 underlying shares of UNP. Below is a chart showing UNP's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $285 strike highlighted in orange:
United Parcel Service Inc (Symbol: UPS) options are showing a volume of 21,135 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 2.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 50.4% of UPS's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 4.2 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $110 strike call option expiring October 16, 2026, with 1,620 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 162,000 underlying shares of UPS. Below is a chart showing UPS's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $110 strike highlighted in orange:
And Vertiv Holdings Co (Symbol: VRT) options are showing a volume of 25,820 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 2.6 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 48.4% of VRT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 5.3 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $280 strike call option expiring November 20, 2026, with 4,959 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 495,900 underlying shares of VRT. Below is a chart showing VRT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $280 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for UNP options, UPS options, or VRT options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Further UNP Research:

Notable Monday Option Activity: UNP, UPS, VRT

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) closed down by -0.45% on Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down by -1.21%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.02%. E-mini S&P futures (ESU26) fell -0.42%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU26) rose +0.05%.
Stock indexes gave up an early advance and settled mixed on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 falling to a 6-week low, and the Dow Jones Industrials sinking to a 3-month low. The broader market retreated on Wednesday after the FOMC voted unanimously to raise interest rates by +25 bp and signaled one more rate hike later this year to contain inflation.
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Stocks fell to their lows Wednesday afternoon when Fed Chair Warsh said the rate hike was meant to "remove a dose of accommodation." He added that inflation is too high and has been for too long, as too many inflation categories are still rising more than 3%. His comments fueled speculation that the Fed may embark on additional rate hikes.
The FOMC, as expected, voted 12-0 to raise the federal funds target range by +25 bp to 3.75%-4.00% and said the rate hike will support a "timelier" return to 2% inflation. The committee added that, "While uncertainty remains elevated owing, in part, to geopolitical developments, domestic spending has been resilient, productivity growth is strong, and capital investment is robust."
The FOMC's dot plot of rate projections shows the median year-end projection for the federal funds rate at 4.125%, up from 3.750% in June, with 16 of 18 officials expecting to raise interest rates at least one more time by the end of the year.
The FOMC raised its 2026 GDP forecast to +2.3% from +2.2% in June, and raised its 2026 core inflation estimate to +3.4% for the end of 2026, up from June’s forecast of +3.3%.
Stocks initially moved higher on Wednesday as the broader market found support from a plunge in crude oil prices that lowered bond yields and improved market sentiment. Gains in chipmakers also supported modest gains in the Nasdaq 100 on Wednesday after Intel rose more than +3% on a report that said the company was in talks with South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix to produce memory chips in the US for the first time.
Wednesday’s US economic news was mixed for stocks as Aug retail sales rose more than expected, but the Sep NAHB housing market index fell more than expected, matching a 3.75-year low.
US MBA mortgage applications fell -4.1% in the week ended September 11, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -0.8% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down -8.8%. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose +12 bp to a 15-month high of 6.97% from 6.85% in the prior week.
US Aug retail sales rose +1.2% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.8% m/m and the biggest increase in 5 months. Aug retail sales ex-autos rose +1.4% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.6% m/m.
The US Aug import price index ex-petroleum rose +0.8% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.3% m/m.
The US Sep NAHB housing market index fell -3 to match a 3.75-year low of 32, weaker than expectations of 34.
Oct WTI crude oil prices (CLV26) fell by more than -3% on Wednesday after US Energy Secretary Wright said 18 million bbl of crude oil and refined products went through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, easing global supply concerns. Crude losses accelerated Wednesday when Saudi Arabia said it seeks to return about half the capacity of the East-West pipeline within days following a shutdown last week because of drone strikes.
Crude prices earlier surged to a 3.75-month high on Tuesday as disruptions to Middle East supplies persisted. Last Friday, Saudi Arabia closed a major pipeline following attacks, disrupting a key route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. The East-West pipeline, which carries 7 million bpd of crude, was closed after threats from Houthi rebels, and officials gave no indication of when it will reopen. The pipeline moves oil away from the Persian Gulf toward the Red Sea, where it can be loaded on tankers. Saudi Arabia told OPEC last Thursday that its crude production in August fell to 6.238 million bpd, the lowest since 1990.
Markets are discounting a 51% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets settled higher on Wednesday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed up +0.48%. China's Shanghai Composite recovered from a 6-week low and closed up +0.71%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average closed up +0.69%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) closed down by -4.5 ticks on Wednesday. The 10-year T-note yield rose +0.6 bp to 5.008%. T-notes gave up an early advance on Wednesday and settled lower after the FOMC raised interest rates by +25 bp and signaled another +25 bp rate hike later this year. T-notes also fell on hawkish comments from Fed Chair Warsh, who said that inflation was too high for too long and that Wednesday’s rate hike removes a “dose of accommodation,” fueling speculation the Fed may embark on a string of rate hikes to contain inflation.
T-notes initially moved higher on Wednesday after WT crude oil prices fell more than -3%, reducing inflation expectations. T-notes also found support after the Sep NAHB housing market index fell more than expected, matching a 3.75-year low.
European government bond yields moved lower on Wednesday. The 10-year German bund yield fell -3.0 bp to 3.507%. The 10-year UK gilt yield fell -9.1 bp to 5.2960%.
Eurozone July industrial production fell -0.1% m/m, a smaller decline than expectations of -0.2% m/m.
UK Aug CPI rose +3.1% y/y, right on expectations, and the largest increase in 5 months. Aug core CPI was unchanged from July at +2.6% y/y, in line with expectations.
Markets are discounting a 52% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) closed down more than -13% to lead trucking companies lower and losers in the S&P 500 after saying it expects Q2 to Q3 earnings to drop -5% to -10%. Also, FedEx Freight Holding (FDXF) closed down more than -4%, and Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (KNX), Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL), ArcBest (ARCB), and United Parcel Service (UPS) closed down more than -3%. In addition, CH Robinson Worldwide (CHRW), Saia Inc (SAIA), and XPO Inc (XPO) closed down more than -2%, and Marten Transport Ltd (MRTN) closed down more than -1%.
Energy stocks and service providers retreated on Wednesday as WTI crude oil fell more than -3%. Diamondback Energy (FANG) closed down more than -8% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and ConocoPhillips (COP) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) closed down more than -6%. Also, APA Corp (APA) and Devon Energy (DVN) closed down more than -5%, and ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), Halliburton (HAL), and SLB Limited (SLB) closed down more than -3%. In addition, Chevron (CVX) closed down more than -2%.
Chipmakers and AI stocks moved higher on Wednesday, led by a +4% jump in Intel (INTC) after a report that the company is in talks with South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix to produce memory chips in the US for the first time. Also, Marvell Technology (MRVL) closed up more than +3%, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX), and Western Digital (WDC) closed up more than +1%.
Cloud infrastructure stocks rallied on Wednesday. Lumentum Holdings (LITE) closed up more than +7% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100. Also, Applied Digital (APLD) closed up more than +4%, and CoreWeave (CRWV) closed up more than +3%. In addition, Arista Networks (ANET) and Oracle (ORCL) closed up more than +2%, and Nebius Group NV (NBIS) closed up +0.96%.
ON Semiconductor (ON) closed down more than -9% after announcing its long-term growth strategy and unveiling its Embedded Power Platform at its investor day conference.
Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) closed down more than -6% after cutting its 2027 EPS estimate to $1.75 to $1.83 from an April outlook of $1.90 to $1.93.
FTAI Aviation Ltd (FTAI) closed up more than +7% after announcing a $500 million stock repurchasing plan.
Brinker International (EAT) closed up more than +3% after Seaport Global Securities initiated coverage on the stock with a buy recommendation and a price target of $230.
Earnings Reports (9/17/2026)
American Resources Corp. (AREC).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Stocks Tumble as Fed Hikes Interest Rates and Signals More to Come

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) is up by +0.30% today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up by +0.05%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up by +0.68%. E-mini S&P futures (ESU26) are up +0.32%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU26) are up +0.73%.
Stock indexes are mostly higher today. The broader market is moving higher today as a decline in crude oil prices lowers bond yields and improves market sentiment. Crude prices fell after weekly data from API late Tuesday showed US crude inventories jumped by +7.1 million bbl last week and inventories of gasoline and distillates also expanded. Crude prices added to their losses today after weekly EIA crude inventories fell less than expected and gasoline and distillate supplies increased.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
Chipmakers are also climbing today to support broader market gains, with Intel up more than +4% after a report that the company was in talks with South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix to produce memory chips in the US for the first time.
Today’s US economic news was mixed for stocks as Aug retail sales rose more than expected, but the Sep NAHB housing market index fell more than expected, matching a 3.75-year low.
US MBA mortgage applications fell -4.1% in the week ended September 11, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -0.8% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down -8.8%. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose +12 bp to a 15-month high of 6.97% from 6.85% in the prior week.
US Aug retail sales rose +1.2% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.8% m/m and the biggest increase in 5 months. Aug retail sales ex-autos rose +1.4% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.6% m/m.
The US Aug import price index ex-petroleum rose +0.8% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.3% m/m.
The US Sep NAHB housing market index fell -3 to match a 3.75-year low of 32, weaker than expectations of 34.
The Federal Reserve, as expected, raised interest rates today for the first time since 2023, as inflation pressures remain above its 2% target. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lifted the fed funds target range by +25 bp to 3.75%-4.00% to “support a timelier return” to the committee's 2% inflation target. The markets will also focus on comments from Fed Chair Warsh at the post-meeting press conference.
Oct WTI crude oil prices (CLV26) are down by more than -2% today after the weekly API report late Tuesday showed US crude inventories rose by +7.1 million bbl last week. Crude prices surged to a 3.75-month high on Tuesday as disruptions to Middle East supplies persisted, further tightening global oil supplies. Last Friday, Saudi Arabia closed a major pipeline following attacks, disrupting a key route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. The East-West pipeline, which carries 7 million bpd of crude, was closed after threats from Houthi rebels, and officials gave no indication of when it will reopen. The pipeline moves oil away from the Persian Gulf toward the Red Sea, where it can be loaded on tankers. Saudi Arabia told OPEC last Thursday that its crude production in August fell to 6.238 million bpd, the lowest since 1990.
Overseas stock markets are higher today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is up +0.36%. China's Shanghai Composite recovered from a 6-week low and closed up +0.71%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average closed up +0.69%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) are up by +7 ticks today. The 10-year T-note yield is down -4.1 bp to 4.961%. T-notes are moving higher today, with WTI crude oil down more than -2%, lowering inflation expectations. T-notes added to their gains today after the Sep NAHB housing market index fell more than expected, matching a 3.75-year low. Some position squaring ahead of the results of the FOMC meeting today also supported gains in T-note prices.
Gains in T-notes are limited after US Aug retail sales rose more than expected.
European government bond yields are moving lower today. The 10-year German bund yield is down -2.0 bp to 3.518%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -7.7 bp to 5.310%.
Eurozone July industrial production fell -0.1% m/m, a smaller decline than expectations of -0.2% m/m.
UK Aug CPI rose +3.1% y/y, right on expectations, and the largest increase in 5 months. Aug core CPI was unchanged from July at +2.6% y/y, in line with expectations.
Markets are discounting a 53% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI stocks are moving higher today, led by a +4% jump in Intel (INTC) after a report that the company is in talks with South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix to produce memory chips in the US for the first time. Also, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Marvell Technology (MRVL), and Western Digital (WDC) are up more than +3%. In addition, ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) and Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) are up more than +2%, and ASML Holding NV (ASML), Nvidia (NVDA), KLA Corp (KLAC), Analog Devices (ADI), and Lam Research (LRCX) are up more than +1%.
Cloud infrastructure stocks are rallying today. Lumentum Holdings (LITE) is up more than +7% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100. Also, Applied Digital (APLD), and Nebius Group NV (NBIS) are up more than +4%. In addition, Arista Networks (ANET) and CoreWeave (CRWV) are up more than +3%, and Oracle (ORCL) is up more than +1%.
JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) is down more than -13% to lead trucking companies lower and losers in the S&P 500 after saying it expects Q3 earnings to drop -5% to -10% sequentially. Also, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (KNX) is down more than -4%, and FedEx Freight Holding (FDXF), ArcBest (ARCB), Saia Inc (SAIA), and XPO Inc (XPO) are down more than -3%. In addition, Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL), CH Robinson Worldwide (CHRW), and United Parcel Service (UPS), are down more than -2%, and Marten Transport Ltd (MRTN) is down more than -1%.
Energy stocks and service providers are falling today, with WTI crude oil down more than -2%. Diamondback Energy (FANG) is down more than -8% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and APA Corp (APA) is down more than -6%. Also, ConocoPhillips (COP) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) are down more than -5%, and Devon Energy (DVN) is down more than -4%. In addition, ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) is down more than -3%, and Chevron (CVX) is down more than -3% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials. Finally, Slb Limited (SLB) is down more than -2% and Phillips 66 (PSX) is down more than -1%.
FTAI Aviation Ltd (FTAI) is up more than +6% after announcing a $500 million stock repurchasing plan.
Brinker International (EAT) is up more than +2% after Seaport Global Securities initiated coverage on the stock with a buy recommendation and a price target of $230.
Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) is down more than -2% after cutting its 2027 EPS estimate to $1.75 to $1.83 from an April outlook of $1.90 to $1.93.
Earnings Reports (9/16/2026)
Aeluma Inc (ALMU), and Lennar Corp (LEN).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Stocks Hold Gains After Fed Hikes Key Rate

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) is up by +0.40% today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down by -0.02%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up by +0.90%. E-mini S&P futures (ESU26) are up +0.38%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU26) are up +0.84%.
Stock indexes are mostly higher today. The broader market is moving higher today as a decline in crude oil prices lowers bond yields and improves market sentiment. Crude prices fell after weekly data from API late Tuesday showed US crude inventories jumped by +7.1 million bbl last week and inventories of gasoline and distillates also expanded. Crude prices added to their losses today after weekly EIA crude inventories fell less than expected and gasoline and distillate supplies increased.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
Chipmakers are also climbing today to support broader market gains, with Intel up more than +4% after a report that the company was in talks with South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix to produce memory chips in the US for the first time.
Today’s US economic news was mixed for stocks as Aug retail sales rose more than expected, but the Sep NAHB housing market index fell more than expected, matching a 3.75-year low.
US MBA mortgage applications fell -4.1% in the week ended September 11, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -0.8% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down -8.8%. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose +12 bp to a 15-month high of 6.97% from 6.85% in the prior week.
US Aug retail sales rose +1.2% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.8% m/m and the biggest increase in 5 months. Aug retail sales ex-autos rose +1.4% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.6% m/m.
The US Aug import price index ex-petroleum rose +0.8% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.3% m/m.
The US Sep NAHB housing market index fell -3 to match a 3.75-year low of 32, weaker than expectations of 34.
The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates later today for the first time since 2023, as inflation pressures remain above its 2% target. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is expected to lift the fed funds target range by +25 bp to 3.75%-4.00% and provide updated economic forecasts and rate projections. The markets will also focus on comments from Fed Chair Warsh at the post-meeting press conference.
Oct WTI crude oil prices (CLV26) are down by more than -2% today after the weekly API report late Tuesday showed US crude inventories rose by +7.1 million bbl last week. Crude prices surged to a 3.75-month high on Tuesday as disruptions to Middle East supplies persisted, further tightening global oil supplies. Last Friday, Saudi Arabia closed a major pipeline following attacks, disrupting a key route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. The East-West pipeline, which carries 7 million bpd of crude, was closed after threats from Houthi rebels, and officials gave no indication of when it will reopen. The pipeline moves oil away from the Persian Gulf toward the Red Sea, where it can be loaded on tankers. Saudi Arabia told OPEC last Thursday that its crude production in August fell to 6.238 million bpd, the lowest since 1990.
Markets are discounting a 94% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the conclusion of today’s FOMC meeting.
Overseas stock markets are higher today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is up +0.36%. China's Shanghai Composite recovered from a 6-week low and closed up +0.71%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average closed up +0.69%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) are up by +7 ticks today. The 10-year T-note yield is down -4.1 bp to 4.961%. T-notes are moving higher today, with WTI crude oil down more than -2%, lowering inflation expectations. T-notes added to their gains today after the Sep NAHB housing market index fell more than expected, matching a 3.75-year low. Some position squaring ahead of the results of the FOMC meeting later today is also supporting gains in T-note prices.
Gains in T-notes are limited after US Aug retail sales rose more than expected. Gains in T-notes are also limited due to expectations that the Fed will raise interest rates by +25 bp at the conclusion of today’s FOMC meeting and may deliver a hawkish stance looking forward.
European government bond yields are moving lower today. The 10-year German bund yield is down -2.0 bp to 3.518%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -7.7 bp to 5.310%.
Eurozone July industrial production fell -0.1% m/m, a smaller decline than expectations of -0.2% m/m.
UK Aug CPI rose +3.1% y/y, right on expectations, and the largest increase in 5 months. Aug core CPI was unchanged from July at +2.6% y/y, in line with expectations.
Markets are discounting a 53% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI stocks are moving higher today, led by a +4% jump in Intel (INTC) after a report that the company is in talks with South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix to produce memory chips in the US for the first time. Also, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Marvell Technology (MRVL), and Western Digital (WDC) are up more than +3%. In addition, ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) and Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) are up more than +2%, and ASML Holding NV (ASML), Nvidia (NVDA), KLA Corp (KLAC), Analog Devices (ADI), and Lam Research (LRCX) are up more than +1%.
Cloud infrastructure stocks are rallying today. Lumentum Holdings (LITE) is up more than +7% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100. Also, Applied Digital (APLD), and Nebius Group NV (NBIS) are up more than +4%. In addition, Arista Networks (ANET) and CoreWeave (CRWV) are up more than +3%, and Oracle (ORCL) is up more than +1%.
JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) is down more than -13% to lead trucking companies lower and losers in the S&P 500 after saying it expects Q2 to Q3 earnings to drop -5% to -10%. Also, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (KNX) is down more than -4%, and FedEx Freight Holding (FDXF), ArcBest (ARCB), Saia Inc (SAIA), and XPO Inc (XPO) are down more than -3%. In addition, Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL), CH Robinson Worldwide (CHRW), and United Parcel Service (UPS), are down more than -2%, and Marten Transport Ltd (MRTN) is down more than -1%.
Energy stocks and service providers are falling today, with WTI crude oil down more than -2%. Diamondback Energy (FANG) is down more than -8% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and APA Corp (APA) is down more than -6%. Also, ConocoPhillips (COP) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) are down more than -5%, and Devon Energy (DVN) is down more than -4%. In addition, ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) is down more than -3%, and Chevron (CVX) is down more than -3% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials. Finally, Slb Limited (SLB) is down more than -2% and Phillips 66 (PSX) is down more than -1%.
FTAI Aviation Ltd (FTAI) is up more than +6% after announcing a $500 million stock repurchasing plan.
Brinker International (EAT) is up more than +2% after Seaport Global Securities initiated coverage on the stock with a buy recommendation and a price target of $230.
Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) is down more than -2% after cutting its 2027 EPS estimate to $1.75 to $1.83 from an April outlook of $1.90 to $1.93.
Earnings Reports (9/16/2026)
Aeluma Inc (ALMU), and Lennar Corp (LEN).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
More news from Barchart

Stocks Mostly Higher Ahead of Fed Decision

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) is up by +0.18% today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down by -0.23%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up by +0.68%. E-mini S&P futures (ESU26) are up +0.29%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU26) are up +0.68%.
Stock indexes are mixed today. The broader market is moving higher today as a decline in crude oil prices lowers bond yields and improves market sentiment. Crude prices fell after weekly data from API late Tuesday showed US crude inventories jumped by +7.1 million bbl last week and inventories of gasoline and distillates also expanded. The EIA will release its weekly petroleum inventory report later today. Stocks added to their gains today on signs of US economic strength after US Aug retail sales rose more than expected.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
Chipmakers are also climbing today to support broader market gains, with Intel up more than +6% after a report that the company was in talks with South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix to produce memory chips in the US for the first time.
US MBA mortgage applications fell -4.1% in the week ended September 11, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -0.8% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down -8.8%. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose +12 bp to a 15-month high of 6.97% from 6.85% in the prior week.
US Aug retail sales rose +1.2% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.8% m/m and the biggest increase in 5 months. Aug retail sales ex-autos rose +1.4% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.6% m/m.
The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates later today for the first time since 2023, as inflation pressures remain above its 2% target. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is expected to lift the fed funds target range by +25 bp to 3.75%-4.00% and provide updated economic forecasts and rate projections. The markets will also focus on comments from Fed Chair Warsh at the post-meeting press conference.
Oct WTI crude oil prices (CLV26) are down by more than -2% today after the weekly API report late Tuesday showed US crude inventories rose by +7.1 million bbl last week. Crude prices surged to a 3.75-month high on Tuesday as disruptions to Middle East supplies persisted, further tightening global oil supplies. Last Friday, Saudi Arabia closed a major pipeline following attacks, disrupting a key route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. The East-West pipeline, which carries 7 million bpd of crude, was closed after threats from Houthi rebels, and officials gave no indication of when it will reopen. The pipeline moves oil away from the Persian Gulf toward the Red Sea, where it can be loaded on tankers. Saudi Arabia told OPEC last Thursday that its crude production in August fell to 6.238 million bpd, the lowest since 1990.
Markets are discounting a 94% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the conclusion of today’s FOMC meeting.
Overseas stock markets are higher today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is up +0.60%. China's Shanghai Composite recovered from a 6-week low and closed up +0.71%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average closed up +0.69%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) are up by +5 ticks today. The 10-year T-note yield is down -2.5 bp to 4.977%. T-notes are moving higher today, with WTI crude oil down more than -2%, lowering inflation expectations. Also, some position squaring ahead of the results of the FOMC meeting later today supported gains in T-note prices.
T-note prices fell back from their best level after US Aug retail sales rose more than expected. Gains in T-notes are also limited due to expectations that the Fed will raise interest rates by +25 bp at the conclusion of today’s FOMC meeting and may deliver a hawkish stance looking forward.
European government bond yields are moving lower today. The 10-year German bund yield is down -1.0 bp to 3.528%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -7.2 bp to 5.315%.
Eurozone July industrial production fell -0.1% m/m, a smaller decline than expectations of -0.2% m/m.
UK Aug CPI rose +3.1% y/y, right on expectations, and the largest increase in 5 months. Aug core CPI was unchanged from July at +2.6% y/y, in line with expectations.
Markets are discounting a 54% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI stocks are moving higher today, led by a +4% jump in Intel (INTC) after a report that the company is in talks with South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix to produce memory chips in the US for the first time. Also, Marvell Technology (MRVL) is up more than +4%, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), ARM Holdings Plc (ARM), Western Digital (WDC) are up more than +3%. In addition, ASML Holding NV (ASML), KLA Corp (KLAC), Microchip Technology (MCHP), Applied Materials (AMAT), Lam Research (LRCX), Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are up more than +1%.
JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) is down more than -11% to lead trucking companies lower and losers in the S&P 500 after saying it expects Q2 to Q3 earnings to drop -5% to -10%. Also, FedEx Freight Holding (FDXF), Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (KNX) and ArcBest (ARCB) are down more than -3%, and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Marten Transport Ltd (MRTN) are down more than -2%. In addition, Saia Inc (SAIA), CH Robinson Worldwide (CHRW), United Parcel Service (UPS), and XPO Inc (XPO) are down more than -1%.
Energy stocks and service providers are falling today, with WTI crude oil down more than -2%. Diamondback Energy (FANG) is down more than -7% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and APA Corp (APA) is down more than -4%. Also, ConocoPhillips (COP), Devon Energy (DVN), and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) are down more than -3%, and ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) is down more than -2%. In addition, Chevron (CVX) and Slb Limited (SLB) are down more than -1%.
FTAI Aviation Ltd (FTAI) is up more than +2% after announcing a $500 million stock repurchasing plan.
Expedia Group (EXPE) is down more than -2% after Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock to underweight from equal weight with a price target of $235.
Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) is down more than -1% after cutting its 2027 EPS estimate to $1.75 to $1.83 from an April outlook of $1.90 to $1.93.
Earnings Reports (9/16/2026)
Aeluma Inc (ALMU), and Lennar Corp (LEN).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

United Parcel Service, Inc.

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