RYAAY vs. ZTO: Ryanair vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) Stock Comparison
How do Ryanair (RYAAY) and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but RYAAY is classified in Passenger Airlines while ZTO is classified in Air Freight & Logistics.
Both Ryanair (RYAAY) and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.
| Profile Item | RYAAY | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ryanair Holdings plc Sponsored ADR | ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. ADR |
| Country/Region | Ireland | China |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Passenger Airlines | Air Freight & Logistics |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Passenger Airlines | Air Freight & Logistics |
| Market Capitalization | 30.71 billion USD | 15.53 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 29, 1997 | October 27, 2016 |
| Security Type | ADR | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RYAAY | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -2.55% | 11.22% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 14.57% | -1.86% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 5.74% | -3.82% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) reports a negative beta of -0.18, suggesting inverse market sensitivity over the measurement window. That is uncommon for ordinary equities and can reflect commodity-linked or hedge-like exposure, but it can also come from statistical noise. Ryanair (RYAAY) has a non-negative beta of 1.14.
| Metric | RYAAY | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 37.69% | 24.57% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.14 | -0.18 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -54.17% | -49.55% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.62M | 2.26M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | RYAAY | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.18 | 0.28 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.27 | 0.40 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Ryanair (RYAAY) at 17.32% and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 16.28% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
RYAAY
Transportation industry group
17.32%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- RYAAY
- 17.32%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
16.28%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- ZTO
- 16.28%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Ryanair (RYAAY) at 11.28% and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 19.04% 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%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
19.04%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- ZTO
- 19.04%
- Median
- 5.58%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Ryanair (RYAAY) at 31.94% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 22.19%, 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%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
22.19%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- ZTO
- 22.19%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | RYAAY | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 17.32% | 16.28% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.82% | 7.38% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.28% | 19.04% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 31.94% | 22.19% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 27.18% | 25.10% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Ryanair (RYAAY) at 11.44% and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 10.88% sit in the top peer quartile for revenue growth, so each is growing its top line faster than typical industry peers.
EPS Growth
Ryanair (RYAAY) at 40.37% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 4.58% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for RYAAY.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | RYAAY | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.44% | 10.88% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.99% | 11.54% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 40.37% | 4.58% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 21.00% | 10.21% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Ryanair (RYAAY) at 1.17 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 1.67 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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
ZTO
Transportation industry group
1.67
- Max
- 2.58
- ZTO
- 1.67
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Ryanair (RYAAY) at 0.05 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 0.35 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
RYAAY
Transportation industry group
0.05
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- RYAAY
- 0.05
- Min
- 0.00
ZTO
Transportation industry group
0.35
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- Median
- 0.78
- ZTO
- 0.35
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | RYAAY | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.17 | 1.67 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.05 | 0.35 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.59 | -0.62 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Ryanair (RYAAY) at 0.80% pays an industry-typical yield; ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 12.89% 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%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
12.89%
- ZTO
- 12.89%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Ryanair (RYAAY) at 22.67% and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 38.36% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
RYAAY
Transportation industry group
22.67%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- RYAAY
- 22.67%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
38.36%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- ZTO
- 38.36%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | RYAAY | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.80% | 12.89% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 22.67% | 38.36% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Ryanair (RYAAY) at 14.90 and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 11.37 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
ZTO
Transportation industry group
11.37
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- Median
- 20.58
- ZTO
- 11.37
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 0.29 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Ryanair (RYAAY) at 1.94 prices around its industry’s middle — ZTO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
RYAAY
Transportation industry group
1.94
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- RYAAY
- 1.94
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
ZTO
Transportation industry group
0.29
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- ZTO
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Ryanair (RYAAY) at 2.35 and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 1.66 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
RYAAY
Transportation industry group
2.35
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- RYAAY
- 2.35
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
ZTO
Transportation industry group
1.66
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- ZTO
- 1.66
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RYAAY | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 14.90 | 11.37 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.94 | 0.29 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.35 | 1.66 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -3.25% | 41.42% |