GD vs. UPS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at GD and UPS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | GD | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | General Dynamics Corporation | United Parcel Service, Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Air Freight & Logistics |
| Market Capitalization | 92.99 billion USD | 80.65 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | November 10, 1999 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of GD 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 | GD | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -1.50% | 3.14% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 9.74% | 8.48% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 26.09% | -3.84% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 9.62% | -28.20% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -0.19% | -0.46% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 30.65% | -23.89% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.04M | 6.98M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.09M | 8.15M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 15.64% | 26.12% |
| Beta | 0.42 | 1.11 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
GD
18.27%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 43.89%
- Q3
- 23.64%
- Median
- 12.98%
- Q1
- 8.07%
- Min
- -2.55%
GD’s Return on Equity of 18.27% is on par with the norm for the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
UPS
34.41%
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 18.50%
- Q3
- 17.86%
- Median
- 11.99%
- Q1
- 7.72%
- Min
- 3.03%
UPS’s Return on Equity of 34.41% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Air Freight & Logistics industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
GD
8.13%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 14.96%
- Q3
- 9.50%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- 4.45%
- Min
- 1.01%
GD’s Net Profit Margin of 8.13% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Aerospace & Defense industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
UPS
6.15%
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 10.55%
- Q3
- 5.92%
- Median
- 4.17%
- Q1
- 2.52%
- Min
- 0.69%
A Net Profit Margin of 6.15% 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)
GD
10.30%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 17.97%
- Q3
- 12.09%
- Median
- 9.29%
- Q1
- 6.41%
- Min
- -1.59%
GD’s Operating Profit Margin of 10.30% is around the midpoint for the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
UPS
9.18%
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 11.33%
- Q3
- 8.95%
- Median
- 5.96%
- Q1
- 3.78%
- Min
- 1.22%
An Operating Profit Margin of 9.18% 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 | GD | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 18.27% | 34.41% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 7.43% | 7.84% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 8.13% | 6.15% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 10.30% | 9.18% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 15.40% | 82.44% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
GD
1.40
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 3.37
- Q3
- 2.01
- Median
- 1.22
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.68
GD’s Current Ratio of 1.40 aligns with the median group of the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
UPS
1.30
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 1.79
- Q3
- 1.36
- Median
- 1.15
- Q1
- 0.93
- Min
- 0.71
UPS’s Current Ratio of 1.30 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)
GD
0.33
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 1.89
- Q3
- 0.99
- Median
- 0.63
- Q1
- 0.39
- Min
- 0.03
Falling into the lower quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry, GD’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.33 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
UPS
1.57
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 1.57
- Q3
- 1.22
- Median
- 0.76
- Q1
- 0.35
- 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)
GD
15.01
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 29.86
- Q3
- 19.49
- Median
- 7.09
- Q1
- 2.62
- Min
- -7.63
GD’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 15.01 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
UPS
9.59
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 49.07
- Q3
- 23.59
- Median
- 8.92
- Q1
- 6.34
- 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 | GD | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.40 | 1.30 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.87 | 1.30 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.33 | 1.57 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 15.01 | 9.59 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
GD
1.70%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 2.87%
- Q3
- 1.46%
- Median
- 0.58%
- Q1
- 0.10%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 1.70%, GD offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Aerospace & Defense industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
UPS
6.73%
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 7.05%
- Q3
- 3.28%
- Median
- 2.07%
- Q1
- 0.51%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 6.73%, UPS offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Air Freight & Logistics industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
GD
37.41%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 110.40%
- Q3
- 51.46%
- Median
- 20.20%
- Q1
- 4.21%
- Min
- 0.00%
GD’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 37.41% is within the typical range for the Aerospace & Defense industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
UPS
98.06%
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 160.95%
- Q3
- 98.33%
- Median
- 59.97%
- Q1
- 12.62%
- Min
- 0.00%
UPS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 98.06% is within the typical range for the Air Freight & Logistics industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | GD | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.70% | 6.73% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 37.41% | 98.06% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
GD
22.06
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 94.22
- Q3
- 53.31
- Median
- 32.27
- Q1
- 24.64
- Min
- 14.57
In the lower quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry, GD’s P/E Ratio of 22.06 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
UPS
14.56
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 35.35
- Q3
- 24.81
- Median
- 17.35
- Q1
- 14.31
- Min
- 9.29
UPS’s P/E Ratio of 14.56 is within the middle range for the Air Freight & Logistics industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
GD
1.85
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 7.20
- Q3
- 3.95
- Median
- 2.35
- Q1
- 1.71
- Min
- 0.32
GD’s P/S Ratio of 1.85 aligns with the market consensus for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
UPS
0.90
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 2.26
- Q3
- 1.51
- Median
- 0.65
- Q1
- 0.42
- Min
- 0.19
UPS’s P/S Ratio of 0.90 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)
GD
3.66
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 18.61
- Q3
- 9.58
- Median
- 5.45
- Q1
- 3.11
- Min
- 0.94
GD’s P/B Ratio of 3.66 is within the conventional range for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
UPS
4.47
Air Freight & Logistics Industry
- Max
- 4.47
- Q3
- 3.13
- Median
- 2.01
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.74
UPS’s P/B Ratio of 4.47 is in the upper tier for the Air Freight & Logistics industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | GD | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 22.06 | 14.56 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 1.85 | 0.90 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 3.66 | 4.47 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 18.26 | 15.50 |