UPS Buys Sandler & Travis, Boosts Trade Management Services

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) recently announced its acquisition of Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services (STTAS), the world’s largest global trade compliance management firm. Financial terms of the transaction were not revealed.

STTAS consists of 750 trade professionals, providing services in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America plus helping clients comply with the rules, regulations and laws covering international trade.

The acquisition enables UPS to provide customers with enhanced solutions to maximize their trade investments. Furthermore, complexity, time and costs associated with international trade are minimized as a result of UPS’ latest buyout.

While STTAS will carry on with its usual services, UPS is likely to continue building on the company’s advanced trade management technology platform.

Earlier in the year, UPS acquired Zone Solutions, a firm specializing in Foreign Trade Zone (“FTZ”) services. The buyout offers UPS customers strong expertise in navigating all aspects of FTZ operations, besides providing managed services (zone administration), systems implementation and consulting.

These two takeovers boost UPS’ existing solutions and add top-notch trade management services in the company’s portfolio. The solutions help the company’s customers free up resources and improve the bottom line and supply chain velocity.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

UPS carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Transportation sector are Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE:GOL) , International Consolidated Airlines Group (LON:ICAG) SA (OTC:ICAGY) and Deutsche Lufthansa (DE:LHAG) AG (OTC:DLAKY) . While Gol Linhas and International Consolidated Airlines sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Deutsche Lufthansa carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shares of Gol Linhas, International Consolidated Airlines and Deutsche Lufthansa have surged more than 200%, 58% and 100%, respectively, in a year.

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