United Parcel Service (UPS) Stock Analysis
Here is a fundamental analysis of United Parcel Service (UPS), benchmarking its profitability, financial strength, dividend and valuation against its industry group peers.
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | Current stock: UPS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | 14.48% | 46.94% |
Risk
Drawdown
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | Current stock: UPS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Volatility | 29.78% | 39.71% |
| Beta | 1.05 | 1.15 |
Company Profile
| Profile Item | UPS |
|---|---|
| Name | United Parcel Service, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Air Freight & Logistics |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Air Freight & Logistics |
| Market Capitalization | 91.89 billion USD |
| Currency | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 10, 1999 |
| Security Type | Common Stock |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
United Parcel Service (UPS) trades at P/E ratio of 17.49, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.
UPS
Transportation industry group
17.49
Group distribution
- Max
- 96.57
- Q3
- 48.32
- Median
- 23.00
- UPS
- 17.49
- Q1
- 13.51
- Min
- 0.00
Largest peers
- CSX
- 29.18
- CP
- 27.98
- UNP
- 22.43
- CNI
- 21.87
- FDX
- 18.05
- UPS
- 17.49
- UBER
- 17.08
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
United Parcel Service (UPS) trades at 1.04 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.
UPS
Transportation industry group
1.04
Group distribution
- Max
- 4.18
- Q3
- 2.26
- Median
- 1.11
- UPS
- 1.04
- Q1
- 0.60
- Min
- 0.07
Largest peers
- UNP
- 6.55
- CSX
- 6.25
- CP
- 5.34
- CNI
- 4.18
- UBER
- 2.61
- UPS
- 1.04
- FDX
- 0.88
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
United Parcel Service (UPS) trades at 5.66 on P/B ratio, in the higher book-value quartile. The market is paying a premium to book, so stronger ROE, cleaner assets, or a better growth profile need to justify it.
UPS
Transportation industry group
5.66
Group distribution
- Max
- 8.88
- UPS
- 5.66
- Q3
- 4.49
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.24
- Min
- -2.43
Largest peers
- UNP
- 8.34
- CSX
- 6.51
- UBER
- 5.66
- UPS
- 5.66
- CNI
- 4.68
- FDX
- 2.71
- CP
- 2.41
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | Current stock: UPS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 17.49 | 23.00 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 1.04 | 1.11 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 5.66 | 2.15 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 5.03% | 2.63% |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
United Parcel Service (UPS) posts ROE of 33.35%, in the upper peer quartile. That suggests the company earns more from each dollar of shareholders’ equity than most industry peers, a useful capital-efficiency signal.
UPS
Transportation industry group
33.35%
Group distribution
- Max
- 43.37%
- UPS
- 33.35%
- Q3
- 20.41%
- Median
- 10.34%
- Q1
- 1.88%
- Min
- -18.53%
Largest peers
- UNP
- 40.69%
- UBER
- 35.31%
- UPS
- 33.35%
- CSX
- 23.68%
- CNI
- 21.85%
- FDX
- 15.87%
- CP
- 8.43%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
United Parcel Service (UPS) keeps 5.94% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.
UPS
Transportation industry group
5.94%
Group distribution
- Max
- 43.82%
- Q3
- 19.14%
- UPS
- 5.94%
- Median
- 5.11%
- Q1
- 0.86%
- Min
- -9.62%
Largest peers
- UNP
- 29.20%
- CNI
- 27.23%
- CP
- 27.21%
- CSX
- 21.55%
- UBER
- 15.91%
- UPS
- 5.94%
- FDX
- 4.88%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
United Parcel Service (UPS) turns 6.33% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.
UPS
Transportation industry group
6.33%
Group distribution
- Max
- 54.53%
- Q3
- 24.85%
- Median
- 6.34%
- UPS
- 6.33%
- Q1
- 1.12%
- Min
- -33.27%
Largest peers
- UNP
- 40.36%
- CNI
- 38.41%
- CP
- 37.56%
- CSX
- 36.16%
- UBER
- 14.57%
- FDX
- 6.94%
- UPS
- 6.33%
Profitability at a Glance
| Metric | Current stock: UPS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 33.35% | 10.34% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 7.19% | 4.02% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 5.94% | 5.11% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 6.33% | 6.34% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 22.45% | 27.82% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
United Parcel Service (UPS) has current ratio of 1.21, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.
UPS
Transportation industry group
1.21
Group distribution
- Max
- 2.26
- Q3
- 1.61
- UPS
- 1.21
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.42
Largest peers
- FDX
- 1.47
- UPS
- 1.21
- UBER
- 1.07
- CSX
- 0.97
- UNP
- 0.92
- CP
- 0.67
- CNI
- 0.67
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
United Parcel Service (UPS) has debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82, in the higher-leverage quartile for its industry. The heavier reliance on borrowing can make earnings, rates, or refinancing conditions matter more.
UPS
Transportation industry group
1.82
Group distribution
- Max
- 3.37
- UPS
- 1.82
- Q3
- 1.64
- Median
- 0.80
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
Largest peers
- UPS
- 1.82
- UNP
- 1.62
- CSX
- 1.43
- FDX
- 1.41
- CNI
- 1.06
- CP
- 0.51
- UBER
- 0.48
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Metric | Current stock: UPS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.21 | 1.16 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.82 | 0.80 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.93 | 2.13 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
United Parcel Service (UPS) has dividend yield of 6.07%, in the upper peer-yield quartile while still inside the industry range. The dividend offers more cash income per dollar of share price than most peers, though payout coverage still matters.
UPS
Transportation industry group
6.07%
Group distribution
- UPS
- 6.07%
- Max
- 6.07%
- Q3
- 2.46%
- Median
- 0.94%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Largest peers
- UPS
- 6.07%
- CNI
- 2.21%
- UNP
- 2.02%
- FDX
- 1.44%
- CSX
- 1.18%
- CP
- 0.77%
- UBER
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
United Parcel Service (UPS) has payout ratio of 106.15%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings. The gap would need to be covered by cash, retained earnings, financing, or other sources, so earnings alone do not support the payout.
UPS
Transportation industry group
106.15%
Group distribution
- UPS
- 106.15%
- Max
- 106.15%
- Q3
- 45.72%
- Median
- 20.46%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Largest peers
- UPS
- 106.15%
- CNI
- 47.13%
- UNP
- 45.10%
- CSX
- 32.52%
- FDX
- 30.59%
- CP
- 20.36%
- UBER
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | Current stock: UPS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 6.07% | 0.94% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 106.15% | 20.46% |