DAL vs. UPS: Delta Air Lines vs. United Parcel Service Stock Comparison
How do Delta Air Lines (DAL) 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
Delta Air Lines (DAL) and United Parcel Service (UPS) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but DAL is classified in Passenger Airlines while UPS is classified in Air Freight & Logistics.
| Profile Item | DAL | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Delta Air Lines, Inc. | United Parcel Service, Inc. Class B Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Passenger Airlines | Air Freight & Logistics |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Passenger Airlines | Air Freight & Logistics |
| Market Capitalization | 57.37 billion USD | 92.21 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 3, 2007 | November 10, 1999 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DAL | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 56.32% | 23.57% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 41.15% | -1.91% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 16.27% | -7.66% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | DAL | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 39.27% | 29.76% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.37 | 0.95 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -47.92% | -57.92% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 6.42M | 4.77M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | DAL | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.33 | 0.65 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.19 | 0.89 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
United Parcel Service (UPS) at 28.65% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 15.91% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UPS.
DAL
Transportation industry group
15.91%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- DAL
- 15.91%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
UPS
Transportation industry group
28.65%
- Max
- 45.08%
- UPS
- 28.65%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 4.58% and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 4.84% 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%
UPS
Transportation industry group
4.84%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- Median
- 5.58%
- UPS
- 4.84%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 7.22% and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 9.28% 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%
UPS
Transportation industry group
9.28%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- Median
- 11.50%
- UPS
- 9.28%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DAL | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 15.91% | 28.65% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.95% | 7.23% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 4.58% | 4.84% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 7.22% | 9.28% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 17.90% | 22.37% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 2.79% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while United Parcel Service (UPS) at -2.65% 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 United Parcel Service (UPS) at -2.81% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for DAL.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | DAL | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.79% | -2.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.80% | -4.04% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 43.71% | -2.81% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 54.92% | -20.79% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.24 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 0.40 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for DAL.
DAL
Transportation industry group
0.40
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- DAL
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.22
UPS
Transportation industry group
1.24
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- UPS
- 1.24
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 0.89 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while United Parcel Service (UPS) at 2.03 uses more debt funding than most peers.
DAL
Transportation industry group
0.89
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- DAL
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
UPS
Transportation industry group
2.03
- Max
- 2.75
- UPS
- 2.03
- Q3
- 1.37
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DAL | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.40 | 1.24 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.89 | 2.03 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.15 | 1.94 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 0.94% pays an industry-typical yield; United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.91% 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.
DAL
Transportation industry group
0.94%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- DAL
- 0.94%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UPS
Transportation industry group
5.91%
- UPS
- 5.91%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
United Parcel Service (UPS) reports payout ratio above 100% at 126.40%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Delta Air Lines (DAL) reports 15.52%, ranking against industry peers normally.
DAL
Transportation industry group
15.52%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- Median
- 20.43%
- DAL
- 15.52%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UPS
Transportation industry group
126.40%
- UPS
- 126.40%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DAL | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.94% | 5.91% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.52% | 126.40% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 17.41 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 20.87 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
UPS
Transportation industry group
20.87
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- UPS
- 20.87
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 0.80 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.01 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
DAL
Transportation industry group
0.80
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- DAL
- 0.80
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
UPS
Transportation industry group
1.01
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- UPS
- 1.01
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 2.53 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while United Parcel Service (UPS) at 6.15 carries an above-peer premium to book — UPS is pricier on assets.
DAL
Transportation industry group
2.53
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- DAL
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
UPS
Transportation industry group
6.15
- Max
- 6.29
- UPS
- 6.15
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DAL | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 17.41 | 20.87 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.80 | 1.01 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.53 | 6.15 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.34% | 6.79% |