UNP vs. ZTO: Union Pacific vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) Stock Comparison

Company Profile

Union Pacific (UNP) and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but UNP is classified in Ground Transportation while ZTO is classified in Air Freight & Logistics.

Union Pacific (UNP) trades as ordinary local shares, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

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. Union Pacific (UNP) has a non-negative beta of 0.84.

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Union Pacific (UNP) at 38.75% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 16.28% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UNP.

Union Pacific (UNP) at 28.90% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 19.04%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

Union Pacific (UNP) at 41.34% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 22.19%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

Profitability Metrics

Growth

ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 10.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.07% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ZTO.

Both Union Pacific (UNP) at 8.03% and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 4.58% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.16 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.

ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 0.35 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.41 uses more debt funding than most peers.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.87% 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.

ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 38.36% 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.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Both Union Pacific (UNP) at 22.63 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.

ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 0.29 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Union Pacific (UNP) at 6.54 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.

ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 1.66 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 7.83 prices above its benchmark range — UNP looks rich relative to book.

Valuation Metrics