United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS)
UPS is a global logistics giant that moves millions of parcels every day, acting as a vital artery for international trade and online shopping.
Is United Parcel Service, Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: UPS is a global logistics giant that moves millions of parcels every day, acting as a vital artery for international trade and online shopping.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Successful automation of sorting hubs leads to much higher profit margins.
Increased competition from retailers building their own delivery fleets erodes market share.
What does United Parcel Service, Inc. do?
UPS makes its money by charging businesses and individuals to ship packages across the globe, relying on a massive fleet of planes, trucks, and sorting hubs. It is essentially a barometer for the health of the global economy, as people and companies ship less when times are tough. Much hinges on how they manage their costs while trying to grow delivery volumes in a competitive market.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on value and income, and weakest on growth.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 6.3% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 8% over the year
- !Carries a lot of debt - roughly 1.9x its equity
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 30%)
- Massive, established global infrastructure that is very hard for rivals to replicate.
- Strong track record of returning cash to shareholders through dividends.
- High return on equity suggests the business is very good at using its capital.
- Growth screens low (23/100)
- Rising fuel and labour costs could continue to squeeze profitability.
- Large retailers like Amazon are increasingly handling their own deliveries, reducing reliance on UPS.
- Economic downturns typically lead to fewer packages being sent.
What do United Parcel Service, Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does United Parcel Service, Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does United Parcel Service, Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes - United Parcel Service, Inc. currently pays a dividend of about 6.3% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does United Parcel Service, Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
United Parcel Service, Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-27 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-28 | $1.66 | $1.76 | Beat +6% |
| 2026-04-28 | $1.02 | $1.07 | Beat +5% |
| 2026-01-27 | $2.20 | $2.38 | Beat +8% |
| 2025-10-28 | $1.30 | $1.74 | Beat +34% |
| 2025-07-29 | $1.57 | $1.55 | Missed -1% |
| 2025-04-29 | $1.38 | $1.49 | Beat +8% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, United Parcel Service, Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 5 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Southwest Airlines Co.What are the scenarios for United Parcel Service, Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of United Parcel Service, Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Massive, established global infrastructure that is very hard for rivals to replicate.
- Strong track record of returning cash to shareholders through dividends.
- High return on equity suggests the business is very good at using its capital.
- Thin profit margins mean even small cost increases can hurt the bottom line.
- Recent declines in revenue and earnings show the business is currently facing headwinds.
- Highly sensitive to the ups and downs of the global economy.
- Rising fuel and labour costs could continue to squeeze profitability.
- Large retailers like Amazon are increasingly handling their own deliveries, reducing reliance on UPS.
- Economic downturns typically lead to fewer packages being sent.
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained, multi-year increase in global trade volumes.
- A major breakthrough in delivery automation that significantly lowers operating costs.
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.