Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs United Parcel Service (UPS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) has outperformed United Parcel Service (UPS) over the past year, gaining 24.2% versus a gain of 7.3%. Over five years, ODFL leads with a +16.1% price change compared with -52.4% for UPS. United Parcel Service is the larger company by market cap ($80.08 billion vs $37.78 billion), about 2.1 times the size.
On valuation, United Parcel Service trades at a lower forward P/E (11.7x vs 27.1x for Old Dominion Freight Line). United Parcel Service offers the higher dividend yield (6.97% vs 0.63%). Old Dominion Freight Line converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 18.6% versus 6.3%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ODFL | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $181.65 | $94.13 |
| Market cap | $37.78B | $80.08B |
| 1-day change | +3.44% | +1.99% |
| YTD return | +12.00% | -6.96% |
| 1-year return | +24.23% | +7.34% |
| 5-year return | +16.10% | -52.37% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 34.93 | 17.50 |
| Forward P/E | 27.07 | 11.68 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.20 | $5.38 |
| Dividend yield | 0.63% | 6.97% |
| Annual dividend | $1.14 | $6.56 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.50B | $88.66B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -5.48% | -2.65% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.02B | $5.57B |
| Operating margin | 24.76% | 8.87% |
| Net margin | 18.63% | 6.28% |
| 52-week high | $252.03 | $122.41 |
| 52-week low | $126.01 | $82.00 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.93% | -23.10% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +22.42% | +22.42% |
| Average volume | 1.74M | 4.90M |
| Shares outstanding | 207.97M | 749.35M |
| Employees | 20,173 | 460,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Trucking | Trucking Freight/Courier Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- United Parcel Service is about 2.1 times larger than Old Dominion Freight Line by market value ($80.08B vs $37.78B).
- ODFL has outperformed UPS by 16.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Old Dominion Freight Line trades at a higher earnings multiple (34.9x vs 17.5x trailing P/E).
- United Parcel Service offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (6.97% vs 0.63%).
- Old Dominion Freight Line is more profitable, keeping 18.6 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 6.3 cents for United Parcel Service.
About Old Dominion Freight Line
ODFL stock →Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. operates as a less-than-truckload motor carrier in the United States and North America.
Industrials · Trucking · 20,173 employees
About United Parcel Service
UPS stock →United Parcel Service, Inc., a package delivery and logistics provider, offers transportation and delivery services. It operates through two segments, U.S.
Industrials · Trucking Freight/Courier Services · 460,000 employees
ODFL vs UPS FAQ
Which is bigger, Old Dominion Freight Line or United Parcel Service?
United Parcel Service (UPS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $80.08B compared with $37.78B for Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ODFL or UPS?
ODFL returned +24.23% over the past 12 months, compared with +7.34% for UPS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ODFL or UPS?
UPS has the lower trailing P/E at 17.5, versus 34.9 for ODFL. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Old Dominion Freight Line or United Parcel Service?
United Parcel Service has the higher yield at 6.97%, compared with 0.63% for Old Dominion Freight Line.
Are Old Dominion Freight Line and United Parcel Service in the same industry?
Both are in the Industrials sector, but in different industries: Trucking for Old Dominion Freight Line and Trucking Freight/Courier Services for United Parcel Service.