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RYAAY vs. UPS: Ryanair vs. United Parcel Service Stock Comparison

How do Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS) 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

Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but RYAAY is classified in Passenger Airlines while UPS is classified in Air Freight & Logistics.

United Parcel Service (UPS) trades as ordinary local shares, while Ryanair (RYAAY) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
Profile ItemRYAAYUPS
NameRyanair Holdings plc Sponsored ADRUnited Parcel Service, Inc. Class B Common Stock
Country/RegionIrelandUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryPassenger AirlinesAir Freight & Logistics
GICS Sub-IndustryPassenger AirlinesAir Freight & Logistics
Market Capitalization30.71 billion USD92.21 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 29, 1997November 10, 1999
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RYAAY
UPS
GSPC
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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS), 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 Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricRYAAYUPS
Total Return (1Y)-2.55%23.57%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)14.57%-1.91%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.74%-7.66%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RYAAY
UPS
GSPC
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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS), 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 Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricRYAAYUPS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)37.69%29.76%
Beta (5Y)1.140.95
Max Drawdown (5Y)-54.17%-57.92%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.62M4.77M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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RYAAY and UPS 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 Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricRYAAYUPS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.180.65
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.270.89

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

United Parcel Service (UPS) at 28.65% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ryanair (RYAAY) at 17.32% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UPS.

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

17.32%

Max
45.08%
Q3
22.02%
RYAAY
17.32%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%

UPS

Transportation industry group

28.65%

Max
45.08%
UPS
28.65%
Q3
22.02%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%
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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ryanair (RYAAY) at 11.28% and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 4.84% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

11.28%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
RYAAY
11.28%
Median
5.58%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%

UPS

Transportation industry group

4.84%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
Median
5.58%
UPS
4.84%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%
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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Ryanair (RYAAY) at 31.94% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of United Parcel Service (UPS) at 9.28%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

31.94%

Max
59.18%
RYAAY
31.94%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%

UPS

Transportation industry group

9.28%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
UPS
9.28%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%
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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricRYAAYUPS
ROE (TTM)17.32%28.65%
ROA (TTM)6.82%7.23%
Net Margin (TTM)11.28%4.84%
Operating Margin (TTM)31.94%9.28%
Gross Margin (TTM)27.18%22.37%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Ryanair (RYAAY) at 11.44% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while United Parcel Service (UPS) at -2.65% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.

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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Ryanair (RYAAY) at 40.37% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while United Parcel Service (UPS) at -2.81% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for RYAAY.

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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricRYAAYUPS
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.44%-2.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)12.99%-4.04%
EPS Growth (YoY)40.37%-2.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)21.00%-20.79%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ryanair (RYAAY) at 1.17 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.24 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

1.17

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
RYAAY
1.17
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
Min
0.22

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.24

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
UPS
1.24
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
Min
0.22
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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Ryanair (RYAAY) at 0.05 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while United Parcel Service (UPS) at 2.03 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

0.05

Max
2.75
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
RYAAY
0.05
Min
0.00

UPS

Transportation industry group

2.03

Max
2.75
UPS
2.03
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricRYAAYUPS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.171.24
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.052.03
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.591.94

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Ryanair (RYAAY) at 0.80% pays an industry-typical yield; United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.91% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

0.80%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
RYAAY
0.80%
Median
0.74%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.91%

UPS
5.91%
Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
Median
0.74%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

United Parcel Service (UPS) reports payout ratio above 100% at 126.40%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Ryanair (RYAAY) reports 22.67%, ranking against industry peers normally.

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

22.67%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
RYAAY
22.67%
Median
20.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

126.40%

UPS
126.40%
Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
Median
20.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricRYAAYUPS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.80%5.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)22.67%126.40%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ryanair (RYAAY) at 14.90 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 20.87 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

14.90

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
Median
20.58
RYAAY
14.90
Q1
10.44
Min
0.00

UPS

Transportation industry group

20.87

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
UPS
20.87
Median
20.58
Q1
10.44
Min
0.00
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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Ryanair (RYAAY) at 1.94 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.01 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

1.94

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
RYAAY
1.94
Median
0.93
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.01

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
UPS
1.01
Median
0.93
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04
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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Ryanair (RYAAY) at 2.35 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while United Parcel Service (UPS) at 6.15 carries an above-peer premium to book — UPS is pricier on assets.

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

2.35

Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
RYAAY
2.35
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07

UPS

Transportation industry group

6.15

Max
6.29
UPS
6.15
Q3
3.39
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07
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Ryanair (RYAAY) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ryanair (RYAAY) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricRYAAYUPS
P/E Ratio (TTM)14.9020.87
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.941.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.356.15
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-3.25%6.79%