ODFL vs. UNP: Old Dominion Freight Line vs. Union Pacific Stock Comparison
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.
| Profile Item | ODFL | UNP |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. | Union Pacific Corporation |
| 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 | 45.65 billion USD | 154.31 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 24, 1991 | January 2, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | ODFL | UNP |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 41.22% | 19.46% |
Risk
Drawdown
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | ODFL | UNP |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 39.62% | 21.97% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.18 | 0.97 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.06M | 2.94M |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 23.33% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 40.69% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
ODFL
Transportation industry group
23.33%
- Max
- 43.37%
- ODFL
- 23.33%
- Q3
- 20.89%
- Median
- 10.45%
- Q1
- 1.90%
- Min
- -18.46%
UNP
Transportation industry group
40.69%
- Max
- 43.37%
- UNP
- 40.69%
- Q3
- 20.89%
- Median
- 10.45%
- Q1
- 1.90%
- Min
- -18.46%
Net Margin (TTM)
Union Pacific (UNP) at 29.20% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 18.46%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
ODFL
Transportation industry group
18.46%
- Max
- 43.82%
- Q3
- 19.52%
- ODFL
- 18.46%
- Median
- 5.13%
- Q1
- 1.18%
- Min
- -9.62%
UNP
Transportation industry group
29.20%
- Max
- 43.82%
- UNP
- 29.20%
- Q3
- 19.52%
- Median
- 5.13%
- Q1
- 1.18%
- Min
- -9.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Union Pacific (UNP) at 40.36% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 23.78%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
ODFL
Transportation industry group
23.78%
- Max
- 54.53%
- Q3
- 25.12%
- ODFL
- 23.78%
- Median
- 6.35%
- Q1
- 1.27%
- Min
- -33.27%
UNP
Transportation industry group
40.36%
- Max
- 54.53%
- UNP
- 40.36%
- Q3
- 25.12%
- Median
- 6.35%
- Q1
- 1.27%
- Min
- -33.27%
Profitability at a Glance
| Metric | ODFL | UNP |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 23.33% | 40.69% |
| ROA (TTM) | 15.03% | 9.14% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 18.46% | 29.20% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.78% | 40.36% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 38.95% | 56.53% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Metric | ODFL | UNP |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -5.48% | 1.07% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -4.24% | -0.49% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Metric | ODFL | UNP |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -11.68% | 8.03% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -7.37% | 2.24% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 1.57 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 0.92 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
ODFL
Transportation industry group
1.57
- Max
- 2.26
- Q3
- 1.59
- ODFL
- 1.57
- Median
- 1.15
- Q1
- 0.83
- Min
- 0.42
UNP
Transportation industry group
0.92
- Max
- 2.26
- Q3
- 1.59
- Median
- 1.15
- UNP
- 0.92
- Q1
- 0.83
- Min
- 0.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.62 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
ODFL
Transportation industry group
0.01
- Max
- 3.37
- Q3
- 1.66
- Median
- 0.76
- Q1
- 0.36
- ODFL
- 0.01
- Min
- 0.00
UNP
Transportation industry group
1.62
- Max
- 3.37
- Q3
- 1.66
- UNP
- 1.62
- Median
- 0.76
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Metric | ODFL | UNP |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.57 | 0.92 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.01 | 1.62 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.15 | 2.42 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Union Pacific (UNP) at 2.13% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 0.51% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, UNP the richer one.
ODFL
Transportation industry group
0.51%
- Max
- 4.86%
- Q3
- 1.97%
- Median
- 0.65%
- ODFL
- 0.51%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UNP
Transportation industry group
2.13%
- Max
- 4.86%
- UNP
- 2.13%
- Q3
- 1.97%
- Median
- 0.65%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 23.59% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 45.10% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
ODFL
Transportation industry group
23.59%
- Max
- 106.15%
- Q3
- 45.30%
- ODFL
- 23.59%
- Median
- 20.55%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UNP
Transportation industry group
45.10%
- Max
- 106.15%
- Q3
- 45.30%
- UNP
- 45.10%
- Median
- 20.55%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | ODFL | UNP |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.51% | 2.13% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 23.59% | 45.10% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 45.83 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 21.41 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
45.83
- Max
- 94.00
- ODFL
- 45.83
- Q3
- 45.83
- Median
- 21.74
- Q1
- 13.37
- Min
- 0.00
UNP
Transportation industry group
21.41
- Max
- 94.00
- Q3
- 45.83
- Median
- 21.74
- UNP
- 21.41
- Q1
- 13.37
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 8.37 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 6.25 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.
ODFL
Transportation industry group
8.37
- ODFL
- 8.37
- Max
- 4.02
- Q3
- 2.17
- Median
- 1.10
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.08
UNP
Transportation industry group
6.25
- UNP
- 6.25
- Max
- 4.02
- Q3
- 2.17
- Median
- 1.10
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.08
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Union Pacific (UNP) at 7.95 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 10.39 prices even higher, above its industry range.
ODFL
Transportation industry group
10.39
- ODFL
- 10.39
- Max
- 8.88
- Q3
- 4.31
- Median
- 2.18
- Q1
- 1.19
- Min
- -2.61
UNP
Transportation industry group
7.95
- Max
- 8.88
- UNP
- 7.95
- Q3
- 4.31
- Median
- 2.18
- Q1
- 1.19
- Min
- -2.61
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | ODFL | UNP |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 45.83 | 21.41 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.37 | 6.25 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 10.39 | 7.95 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.89% | 2.61% |