Seek Returns

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 Capitalization88.32 billion USD91.38 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateNovember 3, 1980November 10, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSX
UPS
Loading price history…
CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCSXUPS
Total Return (1Y)47.72%13.82%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSX
UPS
Loading price history…
CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCSXUPS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.61%30.28%
Beta (5Y)1.221.05
Avg. Volume (3M)12.79M5.67M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
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.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CSX (CSX) at 23.68% and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 33.35% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

CSX

Transportation industry group

23.68%

Max
43.37%
CSX
23.68%
Q3
20.89%
Median
10.23%
Q1
1.87%
Min
-18.46%

UPS

Transportation industry group

33.35%

Max
43.37%
UPS
33.35%
Q3
20.89%
Median
10.23%
Q1
1.87%
Min
-18.46%
Loading chart…
CSX (CSX) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

CSX (CSX) at 21.55% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.94%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CSX

Transportation industry group

21.55%

Max
43.82%
CSX
21.55%
Q3
18.74%
Median
4.89%
Q1
0.49%
Min
-9.62%

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.94%

Max
43.82%
Q3
18.74%
UPS
5.94%
Median
4.89%
Q1
0.49%
Min
-9.62%
Loading chart…
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 36.16% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of United Parcel Service (UPS) at 6.33%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CSX

Transportation industry group

36.16%

Max
54.53%
CSX
36.16%
Q3
23.98%
Median
6.34%
Q1
1.12%
Min
-32.41%

UPS

Transportation industry group

6.33%

Max
54.53%
Q3
23.98%
Median
6.34%
UPS
6.33%
Q1
1.12%
Min
-32.41%
Loading chart…
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)23.68%33.35%
ROA (TTM)7.08%7.19%
Net Margin (TTM)21.55%5.94%
Operating Margin (TTM)36.16%6.33%
Gross Margin (TTM)46.82%22.45%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue 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

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

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for CSX (CSX) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCSXUPS
EPS Growth (YoY)-13.97%-2.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.57%-20.79%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CSX (CSX) at 0.97 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.21 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CSX

Transportation industry group

0.97

Max
2.26
Q3
1.59
Median
1.13
CSX
0.97
Q1
0.78
Min
0.19

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.21

Max
2.26
Q3
1.59
UPS
1.21
Median
1.13
Q1
0.78
Min
0.19
Loading chart…
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 1.43 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.82 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CSX

Transportation industry group

1.43

Max
3.37
Q3
1.70
CSX
1.43
Median
0.76
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.82

Max
3.37
UPS
1.82
Q3
1.70
Median
0.76
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
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)0.971.21
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.431.82
Net Debt / EBITDA2.771.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CSX (CSX) at 1.10% pays an industry-typical yield; United Parcel Service (UPS) at 6.07% 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

1.10%

Max
3.33%
Q3
1.47%
CSX
1.10%
Median
0.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

6.07%

UPS
6.07%
Max
3.33%
Q3
1.47%
Median
0.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
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 106.15%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile CSX (CSX) reports 32.52%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CSX

Transportation industry group

32.52%

Max
106.15%
Q3
45.20%
CSX
32.52%
Median
20.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

106.15%

UPS
106.15%
Max
106.15%
Q3
45.20%
Median
20.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
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)1.10%6.07%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)32.52%106.15%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both CSX (CSX) at 29.16 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 17.39 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
82.00
Q3
45.23
CSX
29.16
Median
22.35
Q1
13.74
Min
0.00

UPS

Transportation industry group

17.39

Max
82.00
Q3
45.23
Median
22.35
UPS
17.39
Q1
13.74
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
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 1.03 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while CSX (CSX) at 6.24 clears its benchmark range — CSX looks notably rich on sales.

CSX

Transportation industry group

6.24

CSX
6.24
Max
4.39
Q3
2.14
Median
1.17
Q1
0.59
Min
0.08

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.03

Max
4.39
Q3
2.14
Median
1.17
UPS
1.03
Q1
0.59
Min
0.08
Loading chart…
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 6.50 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.62 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

CSX

Transportation industry group

6.50

Max
8.78
CSX
6.50
Q3
4.45
Median
2.13
Q1
1.20
Min
-2.93

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.62

Max
8.78
UPS
5.62
Q3
4.45
Median
2.13
Q1
1.20
Min
-2.93
Loading chart…
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)29.1617.39
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.241.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.505.62
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.28%5.06%