DAL vs. ODFL: Delta Air Lines vs. Old Dominion Freight Line Stock Comparison
How do Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) 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
Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but DAL is classified in Passenger Airlines while ODFL is classified in Ground Transportation.
| Profile Item | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Delta Air Lines, Inc. | Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Passenger Airlines | Ground Transportation |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Passenger Airlines | Cargo Ground Transportation |
| Market Capitalization | 57.37 billion USD | 33.98 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | May 3, 2007 | October 24, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 56.32% | 22.71% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 41.15% | -3.43% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 16.27% | -0.10% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 39.27% | 38.79% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.37 | 1.14 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -47.92% | -45.18% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 6.42M | 1.83M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.33 | 0.48 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.19 | 0.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 26.01% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 15.91% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ODFL.
DAL
Transportation industry group
15.91%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- DAL
- 15.91%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
26.01%
- Max
- 45.08%
- ODFL
- 26.01%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 4.58% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 20.08% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
DAL
Transportation industry group
4.58%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- Median
- 5.58%
- DAL
- 4.58%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
20.08%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- ODFL
- 20.08%
- Median
- 5.58%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 7.22% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 28.52% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
DAL
Transportation industry group
7.22%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- Median
- 11.50%
- DAL
- 7.22%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
28.52%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- ODFL
- 28.52%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 15.91% | 26.01% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.95% | 16.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 4.58% | 20.08% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 7.22% | 28.52% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 17.90% | 39.88% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 2.79% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at -5.48% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 43.71% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at -11.68% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for DAL.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.79% | -5.48% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.80% | -4.24% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 43.71% | -11.68% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 54.92% | -7.37% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 2.04 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 0.40 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
DAL
Transportation industry group
0.40
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- DAL
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.22
ODFL
Transportation industry group
2.04
- Max
- 2.58
- ODFL
- 2.04
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 0.00 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 0.89 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
DAL
Transportation industry group
0.89
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- DAL
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
ODFL
Transportation industry group
0.00
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- ODFL
- 0.00
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.40 | 2.04 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.89 | 0.00 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.15 | -0.24 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 0.94% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 0.67% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
DAL
Transportation industry group
0.94%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- DAL
- 0.94%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
0.67%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- Median
- 0.74%
- ODFL
- 0.67%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 15.52% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 20.65% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
DAL
Transportation industry group
15.52%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- Median
- 20.43%
- DAL
- 15.52%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
20.65%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- ODFL
- 20.65%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.94% | 0.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.52% | 20.65% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 17.41 and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 29.61 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
DAL
Transportation industry group
17.41
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- Median
- 20.58
- DAL
- 17.41
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
ODFL
Transportation industry group
29.61
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- ODFL
- 29.61
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 0.80 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 5.87 clears its benchmark range — ODFL looks notably rich on sales.
DAL
Transportation industry group
0.80
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- DAL
- 0.80
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
ODFL
Transportation industry group
5.87
- ODFL
- 5.87
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 2.53 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 7.29 prices above its benchmark range — ODFL looks rich relative to book.
DAL
Transportation industry group
2.53
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- DAL
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
ODFL
Transportation industry group
7.29
- ODFL
- 7.29
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 17.41 | 29.61 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.80 | 5.87 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.53 | 7.29 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.34% | 2.93% |