Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) vs ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) has outperformed ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) over the past year, gaining 25.5% versus a gain of 4.2%. Over five years, ODFL leads with a +20.1% price change compared with -36.3% for ZTO. Old Dominion Freight Line is the larger company by market cap ($37.78 billion vs $14.89 billion), about 2.5 times the size, while ZTO Express (Cayman) is growing revenue faster (+15.7% vs -5.5%).
On valuation, ZTO Express (Cayman) trades at a lower forward P/E (8.9x vs 27.1x for Old Dominion Freight Line). ZTO Express (Cayman) offers the higher dividend yield (13.45% vs 0.63%). Old Dominion Freight Line converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 18.6% versus 18.5%.
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 | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $181.65 | $19.90 |
| Market cap | $37.78B | $14.89B |
| 1-day change | +3.44% | +0.51% |
| YTD return | +15.85% | -4.74% |
| 1-year return | +25.47% | +4.19% |
| 5-year return | +20.10% | -36.32% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 34.93 | 10.87 |
| Forward P/E | 27.07 | 8.89 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.20 | $1.83 |
| Dividend yield | 0.63% | 13.45% |
| Annual dividend | $1.14 | $2.68 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.50B | $7.02B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -5.48% | +15.74% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.02B | $1.30B |
| Gross margin | — | 24.99% |
| Operating margin | 24.76% | 21.33% |
| Net margin | 18.63% | 18.49% |
| 52-week high | $252.03 | $26.20 |
| 52-week low | $126.01 | $18.11 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.93% | -24.05% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +22.42% | +39.70% |
| Average volume | 1.74M | 2.25M |
| Shares outstanding | 207.97M | 542.17M |
| Employees | 20,173 | 23,888 |
| 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
- Old Dominion Freight Line is about 2.5 times larger than ZTO Express (Cayman) by market value ($37.78B vs $14.89B).
- ODFL has outperformed ZTO by 21.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Old Dominion Freight Line trades at a higher earnings multiple (34.9x vs 10.9x trailing P/E).
- ZTO Express (Cayman) offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (13.45% vs 0.63%).
- ZTO Express (Cayman) grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+15.74% vs -5.48%).
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 ZTO Express (Cayman)
ZTO stock →ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. provides express delivery and other value-added logistics services in the People's Republic of China.
Industrials · Trucking Freight/Courier Services · 23,888 employees
ODFL vs ZTO FAQ
Which is bigger, Old Dominion Freight Line or ZTO Express (Cayman)?
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $37.78B compared with $14.89B for ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ODFL or ZTO?
ODFL returned +25.47% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.19% for ZTO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ODFL or ZTO?
ZTO has the lower trailing P/E at 10.9, 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 ZTO Express (Cayman)?
ZTO Express (Cayman) has the higher yield at 13.45%, compared with 0.63% for Old Dominion Freight Line.
Are Old Dominion Freight Line and ZTO Express (Cayman) 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 ZTO Express (Cayman).