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Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS)

This page compares Union Pacific (UNP) with United Parcel Service (UPS) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

Union Pacific (UNP) and United Parcel Service (UPS) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but UNP is classified in Ground Transportation while UPS is classified in Air Freight & Logistics.

SymbolUNPUPS
Company NameUnion Pacific CorporationUnited Parcel Service, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationAir Freight & Logistics
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationAir Freight & Logistics
Market Capitalization161.23 billion USD82.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1980November 10, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

UNP
UPS
Loading price history…
Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolUNPUPS
5-Day Price Return3.59%-2.96%
13-Week Price Return5.54%-19.88%
26-Week Price Return22.89%2.65%
52-Week Price Return18.89%-5.71%
Month-to-Date Return2.10%-12.20%
Year-to-Date Return18.94%-3.69%
10-Day Avg. Volume2.51M5.90M
3-Month Avg. Volume3.26M6.36M
3-Month Volatility23.92%33.82%
Beta1.011.04

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Union Pacific (UNP) at 40.38% and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 33.03% rank in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM) among industry peers, indicating strong returns on shareholders’ equity.

UNP

Transportation industry group

40.38%

Max
49.96%
Q3
24.84%
Median
14.64%
Q1
3.88%
Min
-6.75%

UPS

Transportation industry group

33.03%

Max
49.96%
Q3
24.84%
Median
14.64%
Q1
3.88%
Min
-6.75%
Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 29.20% ranks in the top quartile for Net Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.94%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

UNP

Transportation industry group

29.20%

Max
43.82%
Q3
19.90%
Median
6.87%
Q1
1.71%
Min
-9.62%

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.94%

Max
43.82%
Q3
19.90%
Median
6.87%
Q1
1.71%
Min
-9.62%
Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 40.21% ranks in the top quartile for Operating Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of United Parcel Service (UPS) at 8.46%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

UNP

Transportation industry group

40.21%

Max
47.61%
Q3
23.60%
Median
8.44%
Q1
3.22%
Min
-10.15%

UPS

Transportation industry group

8.46%

Max
47.61%
Q3
23.60%
Median
8.44%
Q1
3.22%
Min
-10.15%
Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolUNPUPS
Return on Equity (TTM)40.38%33.03%
Return on Assets (TTM)10.43%7.31%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)29.20%5.94%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)40.21%8.46%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)79.36%83.06%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Union Pacific (UNP) at 0.92 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.21 carry Current Ratio (MRQ) within their industry mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

UNP

Transportation industry group

0.92

Max
2.08
Q3
1.57
Median
1.10
Q1
0.70
Min
0.36

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.21

Max
2.08
Q3
1.57
Median
1.10
Q1
0.70
Min
0.36
Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.58 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.55 run Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) in the higher-leverage quartile of industry peers, indicating more debt relative to equity than typical competitors.

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.58

Max
2.69
Q3
1.41
Median
0.73
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.55

Max
2.69
Q3
1.41
Median
0.73
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00
Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Both Union Pacific (UNP) at 8.00 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 8.04 post Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on interest-coverage headroom.

UNP

Transportation industry group

8.00

Max
21.71
Q3
11.36
Median
5.75
Q1
1.63
Min
-4.33

UPS

Transportation industry group

8.04

Max
21.71
Q3
11.36
Median
5.75
Q1
1.63
Min
-4.33
Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolUNPUPS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.921.21
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.731.21
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)1.581.55
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)8.008.04

Growth

Revenue Growth

Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolUNPUPS
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)3.15%-1.60%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)1.87%-2.85%
3-Year Revenue CAGR-0.49%-4.04%
5-Year Revenue CAGR4.64%0.94%

EPS Growth

Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolUNPUPS
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)6.08%-27.21%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)9.44%-9.84%
3-Year EPS CAGR2.22%-20.80%
5-Year EPS CAGR8.75%33.57%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.99% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of United Parcel Service (UPS) at 6.71%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.99%

Max
4.01%
Q3
1.77%
Median
0.81%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

6.71%

Max
4.01%
Q3
1.77%
Median
0.81%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

United Parcel Service (UPS) reports an unusual Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) of 102.91% — outside the typical 0–100% range, indicating either negative earnings (negative ratio) or dividends above current-period earnings (above 100%), both signaling sustainability concerns. Meanwhile Union Pacific (UNP) reports 45.10%, ranking against industry peers normally.

UNP

Transportation industry group

45.10%

Max
112.14%
Q3
47.86%
Median
15.73%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

102.91%

Max
112.14%
Q3
47.86%
Median
15.73%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolUNPUPS
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.99%6.71%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.10%102.91%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Union Pacific (UNP) at 22.65 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 15.34 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.

UNP

Transportation industry group

22.65

Max
68.67
Q3
39.12
Median
22.03
Q1
12.85
Min
1.75

UPS

Transportation industry group

15.34

Max
68.67
Q3
39.12
Median
22.03
Q1
12.85
Min
1.75
Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

United Parcel Service (UPS) at 0.91 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Union Pacific (UNP) at 6.61 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated trailing revenue multiple for UNP relative to peers.

UNP

Transportation industry group

6.61

Max
5.87
Q3
2.82
Median
1.48
Q1
0.70
Min
0.14

UPS

Transportation industry group

0.91

Max
5.87
Q3
2.82
Median
1.48
Q1
0.70
Min
0.14
Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Both Union Pacific (UNP) at 7.42 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.30 trade in the higher-multiple quartile for Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) among industry peers, indicating higher book-value multiples than typical peers.

UNP

Transportation industry group

7.42

Max
9.25
Q3
4.77
Median
2.14
Q1
1.36
Min
0.45

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.30

Max
9.25
Q3
4.77
Median
2.14
Q1
1.36
Min
0.45
Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolUNPUPS
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)22.6515.34
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)6.610.91
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)7.425.30
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)28.6715.22