R vs. UNP: Ryder System vs. Union Pacific Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Ryder System (R) 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

Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP) both belong to the Ground Transportation industry, though R is classified under Cargo Ground Transportation while UNP falls under Rail Transportation.

Company profile comparison for Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Profile Item	R	UNP
Name	Ryder System 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	10.18 billion USD	172.38 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1980	January 2, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

UNP

GSPC

Ryder System (R) 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 Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	R	UNP
Total Return (1Y)	66.06%	36.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	43.22%	14.66%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	29.10%	6.62%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

UNP

GSPC

Ryder System (R) 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 Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	R	UNP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	32.86%	23.12%
Beta (5Y)	1.05	0.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-27.39%	-31.83%
Avg. Volume (3M)	294.17K	2.49M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

R 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 Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	R	UNP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.88	1.40
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	3.07	2.22

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 38.75% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ryder System (R) at 17.20% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UNP.

R

Transportation industry group

17.20%

Max: 45.08%
Q3: 22.02%
R: 17.20%
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%

Ryder System (R) 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 Ryder System (R) at 3.98%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

R

Transportation industry group

3.98%

Max: 50.36%
Q3: 21.18%
Median: 5.58%
R: 3.98%
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%

Ryder System (R) 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 Ryder System (R) at 9.50%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

R

Transportation industry group

9.50%

Max: 59.18%
Q3: 29.30%
Median: 11.50%
R: 9.50%
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%

Ryder System (R) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	R	UNP
ROE (TTM)	17.20%	38.75%
ROA (TTM)	4.01%	9.51%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.98%	28.90%
Operating Margin (TTM)	9.50%	41.34%
Gross Margin (TTM)	19.60%	55.77%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ryder System (R) at -0.17% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.07% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ryder System (R) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ryder System (R) at 7.96% 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.

Ryder System (R) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	R	UNP
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-0.17%	1.07%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.60%	-0.49%
EPS Growth (YoY)	7.96%	8.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-11.18%	2.24%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.16 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Ryder System (R) at 0.67 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for R.

R

Transportation industry group

0.67

Max: 2.58
Q3: 1.62
Median: 1.16
Q1: 0.78
R: 0.67
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

Ryder System (R) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Ryder System (R) at 2.75 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.41 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

R

Transportation industry group

2.75

R: 2.75
Max: 2.75
Q3: 1.37
Median: 0.78
Q1: 0.35
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

Ryder System (R) 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 Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	R	UNP
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.67	1.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.75	1.41
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.84	2.11

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Ryder System (R) at 1.38% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.87% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

R

Transportation industry group

1.38%

Max: 4.68%
Q3: 1.99%
R: 1.38%
Median: 0.74%
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%

Ryder System (R) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ryder System (R) at 28.48% 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.

R

Transportation industry group

28.48%

Max: 100.89%
Q3: 41.68%
R: 28.48%
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%

Ryder System (R) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	R	UNP
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.38%	1.87%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	28.48%	43.37%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ryder System (R) at 20.29 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.

R

Transportation industry group

20.29

Max: 46.76
Q3: 30.87
Median: 20.58
R: 20.29
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

Ryder System (R) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Ryder System (R) at 0.78 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 6.54 clears its benchmark range — UNP looks notably rich on sales.

R

Transportation industry group

0.78

Max: 4.35
Q3: 2.07
Median: 0.93
R: 0.78
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

Ryder System (R) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Ryder System (R) at 3.42 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Union Pacific (UNP) at 7.83 prices even higher, above its industry range.

R

Transportation industry group

3.42

Max: 6.29
R: 3.42
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

Ryder System (R) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ryder System (R) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Metric	R	UNP
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.29	22.63
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.78	6.54
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.42	7.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	15.08%	2.94%