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CSX vs. UPS: CSX vs. United Parcel Service Stock Comparison

How do CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS) 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

CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but CSX is classified in Ground Transportation while UPS is classified in Air Freight & Logistics.

Company profile comparison for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
Profile ItemCSXUPS
NameCSX CorporationUnited Parcel Service, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationAir Freight & Logistics
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationAir Freight & Logistics
Market Capitalization92.92 billion USD88.91 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateNovember 3, 1980November 10, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSX
UPS
GSPC
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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCSXUPS
Total Return (1Y)39.94%26.13%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.32%-11.39%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.65%-7.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSX
UPS
GSPC
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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCSXUPS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.99%29.39%
Beta (5Y)1.201.05
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.44%-57.92%
Avg. Volume (3M)12.66M5.34M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CSX and UPS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCSXUPS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.560.75
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.491.05

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CSX (CSX) at 24.36% and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 29.60% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

CSX

Transportation industry group

24.36%

Max
42.67%
CSX
24.36%
Q3
21.91%
Median
11.31%
Q1
1.69%
Min
-15.07%

UPS

Transportation industry group

29.60%

Max
42.67%
UPS
29.60%
Q3
21.91%
Median
11.31%
Q1
1.69%
Min
-15.07%
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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

CSX (CSX) at 22.21% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.08%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CSX

Transportation industry group

22.21%

Max
50.36%
CSX
22.21%
Q3
20.85%
Median
5.56%
Q1
0.93%
Min
-11.37%

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.08%

Max
50.36%
Q3
20.85%
Median
5.56%
UPS
5.08%
Q1
0.93%
Min
-11.37%
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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

CSX (CSX) at 38.42% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of United Parcel Service (UPS) at 9.05%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CSX

Transportation industry group

38.42%

Max
53.49%
CSX
38.42%
Q3
25.45%
Median
10.71%
Q1
3.19%
Min
-11.50%

UPS

Transportation industry group

9.05%

Max
53.49%
Q3
25.45%
Median
10.71%
UPS
9.05%
Q1
3.19%
Min
-11.50%
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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCSXUPS
ROE (TTM)24.36%29.60%
ROA (TTM)7.38%7.23%
Net Margin (TTM)22.21%5.08%
Operating Margin (TTM)38.42%9.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)47.07%22.41%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CSX (CSX) at -3.08% and United Parcel Service (UPS) at -2.65% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both CSX (CSX) at -13.97% and United Parcel Service (UPS) at -2.81% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCSXUPS
Revenue Growth (YoY)-3.08%-2.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.74%-4.04%
EPS Growth (YoY)-13.97%-2.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.57%-20.79%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CSX (CSX) at 0.82 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.18 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CSX

Transportation industry group

0.82

Max
2.50
Q3
1.59
Median
1.14
CSX
0.82
Q1
0.79
Min
0.28

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.18

Max
2.50
Q3
1.59
UPS
1.18
Median
1.14
Q1
0.79
Min
0.28
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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

CSX (CSX) at 1.38 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.90 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CSX

Transportation industry group

1.38

Max
2.94
Q3
1.45
CSX
1.38
Median
0.82
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.90

Max
2.94
UPS
1.90
Q3
1.45
Median
0.82
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00
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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCSXUPS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.821.18
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.381.90
Net Debt / EBITDA2.642.00

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CSX (CSX) at 1.08% pays an industry-typical yield; United Parcel Service (UPS) at 6.22% 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.

CSX

Transportation industry group

1.08%

Max
3.74%
Q3
1.77%
CSX
1.08%
Median
0.67%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

6.22%

UPS
6.22%
Max
3.74%
Q3
1.77%
Median
0.67%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

United Parcel Service (UPS) reports payout ratio above 100% at 121.93%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile CSX (CSX) reports 31.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CSX

Transportation industry group

31.40%

Max
100.88%
Q3
44.15%
CSX
31.40%
Median
20.14%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

121.93%

UPS
121.93%
Max
100.88%
Q3
44.15%
Median
20.14%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCSXUPS
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.08%6.22%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)31.40%121.93%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both CSX (CSX) at 29.16 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 19.42 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CSX

Transportation industry group

29.16

Max
62.08
Q3
34.61
CSX
29.16
Median
20.36
Q1
12.48
Min
2.19

UPS

Transportation industry group

19.42

Max
62.08
Q3
34.61
Median
20.36
UPS
19.42
Q1
12.48
Min
2.19
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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

United Parcel Service (UPS) at 0.99 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while CSX (CSX) at 6.40 clears its benchmark range — CSX looks notably rich on sales.

CSX

Transportation industry group

6.40

CSX
6.40
Max
4.54
Q3
2.43
Median
1.30
Q1
0.65
Min
0.07

UPS

Transportation industry group

0.99

Max
4.54
Q3
2.43
Median
1.30
UPS
0.99
Q1
0.65
Min
0.07
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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both CSX (CSX) at 6.60 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.90 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

CSX

Transportation industry group

6.60

Max
8.71
CSX
6.60
Q3
4.24
Median
2.00
Q1
1.17
Min
-2.47

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.90

Max
8.71
UPS
5.90
Q3
4.24
Median
2.00
Q1
1.17
Min
-2.47
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CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCSXUPS
P/E Ratio (TTM)29.1619.42
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.400.99
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.605.90
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.10%6.25%