CHRW vs. ZTO: C.H. Robinson Worldwide vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) Stock Comparison
How do C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) are both classified in the Air Freight & Logistics sub-industry within the broader Air Freight & Logistics industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) trades as ordinary local shares, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | CHRW | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. | ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | China |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Air Freight & Logistics | Air Freight & Logistics |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Air Freight & Logistics | Air Freight & Logistics |
| Market Capitalization | 14.53 billion USD | 15.53 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 16, 1997 | October 27, 2016 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CHRW | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -12.63% | 11.22% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.75% | -1.86% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.87% | -3.82% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) reports a negative beta of -0.18, suggesting inverse market sensitivity over the measurement window. That is uncommon for ordinary equities and can reflect commodity-linked or hedge-like exposure, but it can also come from statistical noise. C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) has a non-negative beta of 0.93.
| Metric | CHRW | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 43.97% | 24.57% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.93 | -0.18 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.55% | -49.55% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.72M | 2.26M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CHRW | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.38 | 0.28 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.47 | 0.40 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 38.93% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 16.28% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CHRW.
CHRW
Transportation industry group
38.93%
- Max
- 45.08%
- CHRW
- 38.93%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
16.28%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- ZTO
- 16.28%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 3.67% and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 19.04% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
CHRW
Transportation industry group
3.67%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- Median
- 5.58%
- CHRW
- 3.67%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
19.04%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- ZTO
- 19.04%
- Median
- 5.58%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 5.66% and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 22.19% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
CHRW
Transportation industry group
5.66%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- Median
- 11.50%
- CHRW
- 5.66%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
22.19%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- ZTO
- 22.19%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CHRW | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 38.93% | 16.28% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.34% | 7.38% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 3.67% | 19.04% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 5.66% | 22.19% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 8.34% | 25.10% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 10.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at -8.42% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 25.13% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 4.58% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for CHRW.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CHRW | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -8.42% | 10.88% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -13.05% | 11.54% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 25.13% | 4.58% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -13.26% | 10.21% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 1.34 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 1.67 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
CHRW
Transportation industry group
1.34
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- CHRW
- 1.34
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
ZTO
Transportation industry group
1.67
- Max
- 2.58
- ZTO
- 1.67
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 1.36 and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 0.35 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
CHRW
Transportation industry group
1.36
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- CHRW
- 1.36
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
ZTO
Transportation industry group
0.35
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- Median
- 0.78
- ZTO
- 0.35
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CHRW | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.34 | 1.67 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.36 | 0.35 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.95 | -0.62 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 1.96% pays an industry-typical yield; ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 12.89% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
CHRW
Transportation industry group
1.96%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- CHRW
- 1.96%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
12.89%
- ZTO
- 12.89%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 38.36% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 45.24% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
CHRW
Transportation industry group
45.24%
- Max
- 100.89%
- CHRW
- 45.24%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
38.36%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- ZTO
- 38.36%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CHRW | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.96% | 12.89% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 45.24% | 38.36% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 22.50 and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 11.37 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
CHRW
Transportation industry group
22.50
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- CHRW
- 22.50
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
ZTO
Transportation industry group
11.37
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- Median
- 20.58
- ZTO
- 11.37
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 0.29 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 0.80 prices around its industry’s middle — ZTO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
CHRW
Transportation industry group
0.80
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- CHRW
- 0.80
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
ZTO
Transportation industry group
0.29
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- ZTO
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 1.66 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 9.20 prices above its benchmark range — CHRW looks rich relative to book.
CHRW
Transportation industry group
9.20
- CHRW
- 9.20
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
ZTO
Transportation industry group
1.66
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- ZTO
- 1.66
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CHRW | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 22.50 | 11.37 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.80 | 0.29 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 9.20 | 1.66 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.61% | 41.42% |