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UNP vs. UPS: Union Pacific vs. United Parcel Service Stock Comparison

How do Union Pacific (UNP) 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

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.

Company profile comparison for Union Pacific (UNP) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
Profile ItemUNPUPS
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 Capitalization161.49 billion USD91.38 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1980November 10, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

UNP
UPS
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Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): 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 Union Pacific (UNP) and United Parcel Service (UPS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Union Pacific (UNP) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricUNPUPS
Total Return (1Y)20.90%13.82%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

UNP
UPS
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Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Union Pacific (UNP) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricUNPUPS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.12%30.28%
Beta (5Y)0.961.05
Avg. Volume (3M)2.99M5.67M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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UNP 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.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Union Pacific (UNP) at 40.69% and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 33.35% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

UNP

Transportation industry group

40.69%

Max
43.37%
UNP
40.69%
Q3
20.89%
Median
10.23%
Q1
1.87%
Min
-18.46%

UPS

Transportation industry group

33.35%

Max
43.37%
UPS
33.35%
Q3
20.89%
Median
10.23%
Q1
1.87%
Min
-18.46%
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Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 29.20% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.94%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

UNP

Transportation industry group

29.20%

Max
43.82%
UNP
29.20%
Q3
18.74%
Median
4.89%
Q1
0.49%
Min
-9.62%

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.94%

Max
43.82%
Q3
18.74%
UPS
5.94%
Median
4.89%
Q1
0.49%
Min
-9.62%
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Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 40.36% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of United Parcel Service (UPS) at 6.33%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

UNP

Transportation industry group

40.36%

Max
54.53%
UNP
40.36%
Q3
23.98%
Median
6.34%
Q1
1.12%
Min
-32.41%

UPS

Transportation industry group

6.33%

Max
54.53%
Q3
23.98%
Median
6.34%
UPS
6.33%
Q1
1.12%
Min
-32.41%
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Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Union Pacific (UNP) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricUNPUPS
ROE (TTM)40.69%33.35%
ROA (TTM)9.14%7.19%
Net Margin (TTM)29.20%5.94%
Operating Margin (TTM)40.36%6.33%
Gross Margin (TTM)56.53%22.45%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for Union Pacific (UNP) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricUNPUPS
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.07%-2.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.49%-4.04%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for Union Pacific (UNP) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricUNPUPS
EPS Growth (YoY)8.03%-2.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)2.24%-20.79%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Union Pacific (UNP) at 0.92 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.21 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

UNP

Transportation industry group

0.92

Max
2.26
Q3
1.59
Median
1.13
UNP
0.92
Q1
0.78
Min
0.19

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.21

Max
2.26
Q3
1.59
UPS
1.21
Median
1.13
Q1
0.78
Min
0.19
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Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.62 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.82 uses more debt funding than most peers.

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.62

Max
3.37
Q3
1.70
UNP
1.62
Median
0.76
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.82

Max
3.37
UPS
1.82
Q3
1.70
Median
0.76
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00
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Union Pacific (UNP) 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 Union Pacific (UNP) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricUNPUPS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.921.21
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.621.82
Net Debt / EBITDA2.421.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 2.01% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; United Parcel Service (UPS) at 6.07% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

UNP

Transportation industry group

2.01%

Max
3.33%
UNP
2.01%
Q3
1.47%
Median
0.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

6.07%

UPS
6.07%
Max
3.33%
Q3
1.47%
Median
0.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Union Pacific (UNP) 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 106.15%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Union Pacific (UNP) reports 45.10%, ranking against industry peers normally.

UNP

Transportation industry group

45.10%

Max
106.15%
Q3
45.20%
UNP
45.10%
Median
20.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

106.15%

UPS
106.15%
Max
106.15%
Q3
45.20%
Median
20.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Union Pacific (UNP) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricUNPUPS
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.01%6.07%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.10%106.15%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Union Pacific (UNP) at 22.37 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 17.39 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

UNP

Transportation industry group

22.37

Max
82.00
Q3
45.23
UNP
22.37
Median
22.35
Q1
13.74
Min
0.00

UPS

Transportation industry group

17.39

Max
82.00
Q3
45.23
Median
22.35
UPS
17.39
Q1
13.74
Min
0.00
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Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.03 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.

UNP

Transportation industry group

6.54

UNP
6.54
Max
4.39
Q3
2.14
Median
1.17
Q1
0.59
Min
0.08

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.03

Max
4.39
Q3
2.14
Median
1.17
UPS
1.03
Q1
0.59
Min
0.08
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Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Union Pacific (UNP) at 8.32 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.62 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

UNP

Transportation industry group

8.32

Max
8.78
UNP
8.32
Q3
4.45
Median
2.13
Q1
1.20
Min
-2.93

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.62

Max
8.78
UPS
5.62
Q3
4.45
Median
2.13
Q1
1.20
Min
-2.93
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Union Pacific (UNP) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Union Pacific (UNP) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricUNPUPS
P/E Ratio (TTM)22.3717.39
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.541.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.325.62
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.50%5.06%