UPS Trades at Premium Valuation: Should Investors Buy the Stock?

Core Viewpoint - United Parcel Service (UPS) is currently viewed as relatively overvalued, trading at a forward 12-month price to earnings (P/E) of 13.15X, which exceeds the industry average of 12.72X and is higher than rival FedEx Corporation (FDX) [1][10]. Financial Performance - UPS has maintained or increased its dividend each year since going public in 1999, currently offering a dividend yield of 6.6%, surpassing the industry average of 4.8% [5][6]. - The company has increased its dividend five times in the past five years, indicating strong year-over-year dividend growth potential [6]. - UPS's board approved a $5 billion share repurchase program in 2023, with $500 million worth of shares bought in 2024 and $1 billion in the first quarter of 2025 [7]. - UPS generated $6.3 billion in free cash flow in 2024, with $1.5 billion in the first quarter of 2025 [8]. Market Conditions - UPS is facing revenue weakness due to geopolitical uncertainty and high inflation, which negatively impact consumer sentiment and growth expectations [12]. - The decline in online sales in the U.S. and soft global manufacturing activity are contributing to reduced package shipment volumes [13]. - Labor costs are high due to agreements with the Teamsters union, which limits bottom-line growth [13]. - UPS anticipates a second-quarter adjusted operating margin of 9.3% and revenues of $21 billion, with a projected 9% decline in average daily volume for the U.S. Domestic segment [14]. Stock Performance - Year-to-date, UPS shares have underperformed, declining 26.8%, compared to a 24% drop in the industry and a 3.9% decline in rival GXO Logistics [15][18]. - Over the past 60 days, earnings estimates for UPS's second and third quarters of 2025 have decreased, indicating a negative trend in earnings expectations [19][20].