CTAS vs. UPS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at CTAS and UPS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
Symbol | CTAS | UPS |
---|---|---|
Company Name | Cintas Corporation | United Parcel Service, Inc. |
Country | United States | United States |
GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
GICS Industry | Commercial Services & Supplies | Air Freight & Logistics |
Market Capitalization | 85.37 billion USD | 74.37 billion USD |
Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
Listing Date | August 19, 1983 | November 10, 1999 |
Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of CTAS and UPS 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.
Historical Performance at a Glance
Symbol | CTAS | UPS |
---|---|---|
5-Day Price Return | -2.11% | -0.07% |
13-Week Price Return | -4.42% | -9.52% |
26-Week Price Return | 1.79% | -23.70% |
52-Week Price Return | 8.00% | -30.83% |
Month-to-Date Return | -4.80% | 1.83% |
Year-to-Date Return | 15.96% | -30.42% |
10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.69M | 8.84M |
3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.48M | 6.45M |
3-Month Volatility | 17.61% | 31.30% |
Beta | 1.02 | 1.10 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
CTAS
41.21%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 31.93%
- Q3
- 18.03%
- Median
- 9.43%
- Q1
- 6.44%
- Min
- -9.69%
CTAS’s Return on Equity of 41.21% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
UPS
35.27%
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 35.27%
- Q3
- 18.47%
- Median
- 11.35%
- Q1
- 7.21%
- Min
- 2.53%
In the upper quartile for the Air Freight & Logistics industry, UPS’s Return on Equity of 35.27% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
CTAS
17.53%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 17.53%
- Q3
- 9.01%
- Median
- 5.20%
- Q1
- 2.75%
- Min
- -2.31%
A Net Profit Margin of 17.53% places CTAS in the upper quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
UPS
6.34%
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 10.27%
- Q3
- 6.18%
- Median
- 3.96%
- Q1
- 2.32%
- Min
- 0.61%
A Net Profit Margin of 6.34% places UPS in the upper quartile for the Air Freight & Logistics industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
CTAS
22.82%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 23.43%
- Q3
- 12.19%
- Median
- 8.10%
- Q1
- 3.18%
- Min
- -6.03%
An Operating Profit Margin of 22.82% places CTAS in the upper quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
UPS
9.30%
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 17.40%
- Q3
- 8.87%
- Median
- 5.89%
- Q1
- 3.03%
- Min
- 0.62%
An Operating Profit Margin of 9.30% places UPS in the upper quartile for the Air Freight & Logistics industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
Symbol | CTAS | UPS |
---|---|---|
Return on Equity (TTM) | 41.21% | 35.27% |
Return on Assets (TTM) | 19.14% | 8.25% |
Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 17.53% | 6.34% |
Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 22.82% | 9.30% |
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 50.04% | 81.60% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
CTAS
2.09
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 2.94
- Q3
- 1.89
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.53
CTAS’s Current Ratio of 2.09 is in the upper quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.
UPS
1.32
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 1.83
- Q3
- 1.47
- Median
- 1.29
- Q1
- 1.05
- Min
- 0.62
UPS’s Current Ratio of 1.32 aligns with the median group of the Air Freight & Logistics industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
CTAS
0.52
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 1.67
- Q3
- 1.08
- Median
- 0.73
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
CTAS’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.52 is typical for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
UPS
1.57
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 1.57
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.72
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.00
UPS’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Air Freight & Logistics industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.57. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
CTAS
24.70
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 24.70
- Q3
- 12.37
- Median
- 7.16
- Q1
- 2.69
- Min
- -10.97
CTAS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 24.70 is in the upper quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
UPS
9.59
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 49.07
- Q3
- 23.59
- Median
- 8.56
- Q1
- 5.97
- Min
- -0.60
UPS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 9.59 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Air Freight & Logistics industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
Symbol | CTAS | UPS |
---|---|---|
Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.09 | 1.32 |
Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.71 | 1.32 |
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.52 | 1.57 |
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 24.70 | 9.59 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
CTAS
0.70%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 3.44%
- Q3
- 2.30%
- Median
- 1.37%
- Q1
- 0.63%
- Min
- 0.00%
CTAS’s Dividend Yield of 0.70% is consistent with its peers in the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
UPS
7.29%
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 6.43%
- Q3
- 3.10%
- Median
- 2.40%
- Q1
- 0.46%
- Min
- 0.00%
UPS’s Dividend Yield of 7.29% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Air Freight & Logistics industry. While this may seem attractive, an unusually high yield can sometimes be a warning sign, reflecting a falling stock price or market concerns about the dividend’s sustainability.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
CTAS
33.75%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 137.88%
- Q3
- 72.93%
- Median
- 40.45%
- Q1
- 23.31%
- Min
- 0.00%
CTAS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 33.75% is within the typical range for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
UPS
94.15%
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 160.95%
- Q3
- 92.80%
- Median
- 54.10%
- Q1
- 0.19%
- Min
- 0.00%
UPS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 94.15% is in the upper quartile for the Air Freight & Logistics industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
Dividend at a Glance
Symbol | CTAS | UPS |
---|---|---|
Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.70% | 7.29% |
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 33.75% | 94.15% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
CTAS
48.29
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 57.20
- Q3
- 37.10
- Median
- 22.38
- Q1
- 16.35
- Min
- 0.00
A P/E Ratio of 48.29 places CTAS in the upper quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
UPS
12.92
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 34.55
- Q3
- 23.34
- Median
- 16.33
- Q1
- 13.38
- Min
- 6.36
In the lower quartile for the Air Freight & Logistics industry, UPS’s P/E Ratio of 12.92 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
CTAS
8.46
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.64
- Q3
- 2.28
- Median
- 0.97
- Q1
- 0.64
- Min
- 0.00
With a P/S Ratio of 8.46, CTAS trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
UPS
0.82
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 2.13
- Q3
- 1.16
- Median
- 0.59
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.18
UPS’s P/S Ratio of 0.82 aligns with the market consensus for the Air Freight & Logistics industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
CTAS
19.50
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 6.71
- Q3
- 4.38
- Median
- 2.39
- Q1
- 1.57
- Min
- 0.43
At 19.50, CTAS’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Commercial Services & Supplies 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.
UPS
5.43
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 3.13
- Q3
- 2.81
- Median
- 1.82
- Q1
- 1.20
- Min
- 0.74
At 5.43, UPS’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Air Freight & Logistics 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.
Valuation at a Glance
Symbol | CTAS | UPS |
---|---|---|
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 48.29 | 12.92 |
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 8.46 | 0.82 |
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 19.50 | 5.43 |
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 49.80 | 13.77 |