ODFL vs. UNP: Old Dominion Freight Line vs. Union Pacific Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP) 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

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP) both belong to the Ground Transportation industry, though ODFL is classified under Cargo Ground Transportation while UNP falls under Rail Transportation.

Company profile comparison for Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Profile Item	ODFL	UNP
Name	Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.	Union Pacific Corp.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Transportation	Transportation
GICS Industry	Ground Transportation	Ground Transportation
GICS Sub-Industry	Cargo Ground Transportation	Rail Transportation
Market Capitalization	33.98 billion USD	172.38 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	October 24, 1991	January 2, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ODFL

UNP

GSPC

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP), 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 Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	ODFL	UNP
Total Return (1Y)	22.71%	36.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-3.43%	14.66%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-0.10%	6.62%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ODFL

UNP

GSPC

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP), 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 Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	ODFL	UNP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	38.79%	23.12%
Beta (5Y)	1.14	0.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-45.18%	-31.83%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.83M	2.49M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ODFL and UNP 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 Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	ODFL	UNP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.48	1.40
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.70	2.22

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 26.01% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 38.75% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

ODFL

Transportation industry group

26.01%

Max: 45.08%
ODFL: 26.01%
Q3: 22.02%
Median: 13.94%
Q1: 2.89%
Min: -10.45%

UNP

Transportation industry group

38.75%

Max: 45.08%
UNP: 38.75%
Q3: 22.02%
Median: 13.94%
Q1: 2.89%
Min: -10.45%

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 28.90% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 20.08%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ODFL

Transportation industry group

20.08%

Max: 50.36%
Q3: 21.18%
ODFL: 20.08%
Median: 5.58%
Q1: 1.55%
Min: -11.37%

UNP

Transportation industry group

28.90%

Max: 50.36%
UNP: 28.90%
Q3: 21.18%
Median: 5.58%
Q1: 1.55%
Min: -11.37%

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 41.34% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 28.52%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ODFL

Transportation industry group

28.52%

Max: 59.18%
Q3: 29.30%
ODFL: 28.52%
Median: 11.50%
Q1: 4.62%
Min: -8.91%

UNP

Transportation industry group

41.34%

Max: 59.18%
UNP: 41.34%
Q3: 29.30%
Median: 11.50%
Q1: 4.62%
Min: -8.91%

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	ODFL	UNP
ROE (TTM)	26.01%	38.75%
ROA (TTM)	16.59%	9.51%
Net Margin (TTM)	20.08%	28.90%
Operating Margin (TTM)	28.52%	41.34%
Gross Margin (TTM)	39.88%	55.77%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.07% 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.

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at -11.68% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 8.03% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	ODFL	UNP
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-5.48%	1.07%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-4.24%	-0.49%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-11.68%	8.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-7.37%	2.24%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.16 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 2.04 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

ODFL

Transportation industry group

2.04

Max: 2.58
ODFL: 2.04
Q3: 1.62
Median: 1.16
Q1: 0.78
Min: 0.22

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.16

Max: 2.58
Q3: 1.62
Median: 1.16
UNP: 1.16
Q1: 0.78
Min: 0.22

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 0.00 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.41 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

ODFL

Transportation industry group

0.00

Max: 2.75
Q3: 1.37
Median: 0.78
Q1: 0.35
ODFL: 0.00
Min: 0.00

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.41

Max: 2.75
UNP: 1.41
Q3: 1.37
Median: 0.78
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	ODFL	UNP
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.04	1.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.00	1.41
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.24	2.11

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 0.67% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.87% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ODFL

Transportation industry group

0.67%

Max: 4.68%
Q3: 1.99%
Median: 0.74%
ODFL: 0.67%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.87%

Max: 4.68%
Q3: 1.99%
UNP: 1.87%
Median: 0.74%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 20.65% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 43.37% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ODFL

Transportation industry group

20.65%

Max: 100.89%
Q3: 41.68%
ODFL: 20.65%
Median: 20.43%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UNP

Transportation industry group

43.37%

Max: 100.89%
UNP: 43.37%
Q3: 41.68%
Median: 20.43%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	ODFL	UNP
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.67%	1.87%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	20.65%	43.37%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 29.61 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 22.63 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ODFL

Transportation industry group

29.61

Max: 46.76
Q3: 30.87
ODFL: 29.61
Median: 20.58
Q1: 10.44
Min: 0.00

UNP

Transportation industry group

22.63

Max: 46.76
Q3: 30.87
UNP: 22.63
Median: 20.58
Q1: 10.44
Min: 0.00

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 5.87 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 6.54 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.

ODFL

Transportation industry group

5.87

ODFL: 5.87
Max: 4.35
Q3: 2.07
Median: 0.93
Q1: 0.53
Min: 0.04

UNP

Transportation industry group

6.54

UNP: 6.54
Max: 4.35
Q3: 2.07
Median: 0.93
Q1: 0.53
Min: 0.04

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 7.29 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 7.83 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

ODFL

Transportation industry group

7.29

ODFL: 7.29
Max: 6.29
Q3: 3.39
Median: 1.90
Q1: 1.03
Min: -2.07

UNP

Transportation industry group

7.83

UNP: 7.83
Max: 6.29
Q3: 3.39
Median: 1.90
Q1: 1.03
Min: -2.07

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	ODFL	UNP
P/E Ratio (TTM)	29.61	22.63
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.87	6.54
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.29	7.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.93%	2.94%