AXON vs. ZTO: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at AXON and ZTO, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
AXON’s market capitalization of 61.93 billion USD is substantially larger than ZTO’s 14.52 billion USD, indicating a significant difference in their market valuations.
AXON has a positive beta (1.28), indicating it generally moves with the broader market, whereas ZTO has a negative beta (-0.17), often moving inversely, which can offer diversification or hedging benefits.
ZTO is an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), allowing U.S. investors direct exposure to its non-U.S. operations. AXON, on the other hand, is a domestic entity.
| Symbol | AXON | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Axon Enterprise, Inc. | ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. |
| Country | US | CN |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Integrated Freight & Logistics |
| CEO | Patrick W. Smith | Meisong Lai |
| Price | 795.48 USD | 18.05 USD |
| Market Cap | 61.93 billion USD | 14.52 billion USD |
| Beta | 1.28 | -0.17 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NYSE |
| IPO Date | June 19, 2001 | October 27, 2016 |
| ADR | No | Yes |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of AXON and ZTO by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
AXON
14.86%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 42.57%
- Q3
- 16.67%
- Median
- 8.39%
- Q1
- -0.77%
- Min
- -23.36%
AXON’s Return on Equity of 14.86% is on par with the norm for the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
ZTO
15.30%
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 37.37%
- Q3
- 30.76%
- Median
- 15.30%
- Q1
- 6.33%
- Min
- -26.64%
ZTO’s Return on Equity of 15.30% is on par with the norm for the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Return on Invested Capital
AXON
0.68%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 23.42%
- Q3
- 8.86%
- Median
- 5.47%
- Q1
- -5.60%
- Min
- -22.46%
AXON’s Return on Invested Capital of 0.68% is in line with the norm for the Aerospace & Defense industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
ZTO
11.37%
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 17.03%
- Q3
- 12.11%
- Median
- 8.38%
- Q1
- 2.55%
- Min
- 0.79%
ZTO’s Return on Invested Capital of 11.37% is in line with the norm for the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
Net Profit Margin
AXON
14.86%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 22.67%
- Q3
- 8.04%
- Median
- 4.95%
- Q1
- -5.07%
- Min
- -16.58%
A Net Profit Margin of 14.86% places AXON in the upper quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
ZTO
20.76%
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 7.64%
- Q3
- 4.86%
- Median
- 3.72%
- Q1
- 0.61%
- Min
- 0.61%
ZTO’s Net Profit Margin of 20.76% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
Operating Profit Margin
AXON
1.50%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 22.01%
- Q3
- 11.49%
- Median
- 8.96%
- Q1
- 3.77%
- Min
- -4.96%
AXON’s Operating Profit Margin of 1.50% is in the lower quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.
ZTO
26.35%
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 11.80%
- Q3
- 9.36%
- Median
- 5.93%
- Q1
- 3.63%
- Min
- 0.83%
ZTO’s Operating Profit Margin of 26.35% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry. This demonstrates outstanding efficiency in managing its core operations, which can be a result of strong pricing power or superior cost control.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | AXON | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 14.86% | 15.30% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 5.44% | 10.07% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 0.68% | 11.37% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 14.86% | 20.76% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 1.50% | 26.35% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 60.44% | 29.65% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
AXON
2.83
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 5.13
- Q3
- 3.36
- Median
- 2.16
- Q1
- 1.20
- Min
- 0.41
AXON’s Current Ratio of 2.83 aligns with the median group of the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
ZTO
1.05
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 1.83
- Q3
- 1.36
- Median
- 1.13
- Q1
- 1.02
- Min
- 0.78
ZTO’s Current Ratio of 1.05 aligns with the median group of the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
AXON
0.80
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 1.20
- Q3
- 0.73
- Median
- 0.51
- Q1
- 0.09
- Min
- 0.00
AXON’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Aerospace & Defense industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.80. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
ZTO
0.27
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 2.51
- Q3
- 1.69
- Median
- 0.45
- Q1
- 0.24
- Min
- 0.16
ZTO’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.27 is typical for the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio
AXON
2.53
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 12.62
- Q3
- 7.38
- Median
- 2.95
- Q1
- 1.68
- Min
- -6.68
AXON’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 2.53 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
ZTO
36.90
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 19.14
- Q3
- 12.59
- Median
- 6.24
- Q1
- 1.76
- Min
- 0.11
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 36.90, ZTO demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | AXON | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 2.83 | 1.05 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 2.62 | 1.05 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.80 | 0.27 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.34 | 0.18 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 4.16 | 0.37 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 2.53 | 36.90 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for AXON and ZTO. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
AXON
0.00%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 6.00%
- Q3
- 0.66%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AXON currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
ZTO
3.87%
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 6.46%
- Q3
- 2.50%
- Median
- 1.47%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 3.87%, ZTO offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio
AXON
0.00%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 172.02%
- Q3
- 32.47%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AXON has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
ZTO
38.37%
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 92.20%
- Q3
- 43.42%
- Median
- 30.12%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ZTO’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 38.37% is within the typical range for the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | AXON | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 3.87% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 38.37% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
AXON
184.79
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 75.34
- Q3
- 54.40
- Median
- 38.63
- Q1
- 26.10
- Min
- 16.44
At 184.79, AXON’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
ZTO
10.91
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 38.34
- Q3
- 27.03
- Median
- 21.39
- Q1
- 15.71
- Min
- 10.86
In the lower quartile for the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry, ZTO’s P/E Ratio of 10.91 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
AXON
8.54
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 10.68
- Q3
- 5.36
- Median
- 2.31
- Q1
- 1.47
- Min
- 0.01
A Forward PEG Ratio of 8.54 places AXON in the upper quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This suggests the stock is potentially expensive compared to its peers relative to its growth forecast, which may warrant caution.
ZTO
0.89
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 2.14
- Q3
- 1.72
- Median
- 1.10
- Q1
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.01
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
AXON
27.81
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 19.34
- Q3
- 9.54
- Median
- 2.71
- Q1
- 1.59
- Min
- 0.35
With a P/S Ratio of 27.81, AXON trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Aerospace & Defense industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
ZTO
2.23
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 2.22
- Q3
- 1.42
- Median
- 0.94
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.30
With a P/S Ratio of 2.23, ZTO trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio
AXON
23.93
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 16.08
- Q3
- 8.12
- Median
- 4.12
- Q1
- 2.69
- Min
- 0.69
At 23.93, AXON’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Aerospace & Defense industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
ZTO
1.64
Integrated Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 9.09
- Q3
- 5.80
- Median
- 3.47
- Q1
- 1.54
- Min
- 0.57
ZTO’s P/B Ratio of 1.64 is within the conventional range for the Integrated Freight & Logistics industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | AXON | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 184.79 | 10.91 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 8.54 | 0.89 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 27.81 | 2.23 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 23.93 | 1.64 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 170.80 | 11.05 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 274.06 | 8.39 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 28.23 | 2.33 |