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FDX vs. UAL: FedEx vs. United Airlines Stock Comparison

How do FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL) 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

FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but FDX is classified in Air Freight & Logistics while UAL is classified in Passenger Airlines.

Company profile comparison for FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL)
Profile ItemFDXUAL
NameFedEx Corp.United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryAir Freight & LogisticsPassenger Airlines
GICS Sub-IndustryAir Freight & LogisticsPassenger Airlines
Market Capitalization72.17 billion USD36.63 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateApril 12, 1978February 6, 2006
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FDX
UAL
GSPC
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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL), 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 FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricFDXUAL
Total Return (1Y)53.06%22.35%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.20%47.27%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)11.81%17.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FDX
UAL
GSPC
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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL), 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 FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricFDXUAL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)28.80%48.88%
Beta (5Y)1.261.32
Max Drawdown (5Y)-45.30%-49.19%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.52M4.24M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FDX and UAL 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 FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricFDXUAL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.690.37
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.620.59

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

United Airlines (UAL) at 22.31% sits in the top ROE quartile, while FedEx (FDX) at 14.85% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UAL.

FDX

Transportation industry group

14.85%

Max
45.08%
Q3
22.02%
FDX
14.85%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%

UAL

Transportation industry group

22.31%

Max
45.08%
UAL
22.31%
Q3
22.02%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%
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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both FedEx (FDX) at 4.68% and United Airlines (UAL) at 5.46% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

FDX

Transportation industry group

4.68%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
Median
5.58%
FDX
4.68%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%

UAL

Transportation industry group

5.46%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
Median
5.58%
UAL
5.46%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%
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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both FedEx (FDX) at 5.00% and United Airlines (UAL) at 7.03% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

FDX

Transportation industry group

5.00%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
FDX
5.00%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%

UAL

Transportation industry group

7.03%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
UAL
7.03%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%
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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricFDXUAL
ROE (TTM)14.85%22.31%
ROA (TTM)5.01%3.31%
Net Margin (TTM)4.68%5.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)5.00%7.03%
Gross Margin (TTM)27.32%30.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both FedEx (FDX) at 7.73% and United Airlines (UAL) at 3.52% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both FedEx (FDX) at 10.35% and United Airlines (UAL) at 7.94% 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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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricFDXUAL
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.73%3.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.66%9.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)10.35%7.94%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.22%66.00%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

FedEx (FDX) at 1.48 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while United Airlines (UAL) at 0.75 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for UAL.

FDX

Transportation industry group

1.48

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
FDX
1.48
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
Min
0.22

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.75

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
UAL
0.75
Min
0.22
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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

FedEx (FDX) at 0.99 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while United Airlines (UAL) at 1.93 uses more debt funding than most peers.

FDX

Transportation industry group

0.99

Max
2.75
Q3
1.37
FDX
0.99
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00

UAL

Transportation industry group

1.93

Max
2.75
UAL
1.93
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricFDXUAL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.480.75
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.991.93
Net Debt / EBITDA1.912.79

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

United Airlines (UAL) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile FedEx (FDX) reports a yield of 1.76%, ranking against industry peers normally.

FDX

Transportation industry group

1.76%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
FDX
1.76%
Median
0.74%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.00%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
Median
0.74%
UAL
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

United Airlines (UAL) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile FedEx (FDX) reports a payout of 31.27%, ranking against industry peers normally.

FDX

Transportation industry group

31.27%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
FDX
31.27%
Median
20.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.00%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
Median
20.43%
UAL
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricFDXUAL
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.76%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)31.27%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

United Airlines (UAL) at 10.32 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while FedEx (FDX) at 16.61 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for UAL, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

FDX

Transportation industry group

16.61

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
Median
20.58
FDX
16.61
Q1
10.44
Min
0.00

UAL

Transportation industry group

10.32

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
Median
20.58
Q1
10.44
UAL
10.32
Min
0.00
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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both FedEx (FDX) at 0.76 and United Airlines (UAL) at 0.56 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

FDX

Transportation industry group

0.76

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
FDX
0.76
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.56

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
UAL
0.56
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04
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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both FedEx (FDX) at 2.09 and United Airlines (UAL) at 2.06 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

FDX

Transportation industry group

2.09

Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
FDX
2.09
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07

UAL

Transportation industry group

2.06

Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
UAL
2.06
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07
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FedEx (FDX) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for FedEx (FDX) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricFDXUAL
P/E Ratio (TTM)16.6110.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.760.56
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.092.06
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.84%-1.57%