Buy, Hold or Sell UPS Stock: Key Tips Ahead of Q3 Earnings

Core Insights - United Parcel Service (UPS) is expected to report a significant decline in earnings for Q3 2025, with an estimated earnings per share (EPS) of $1.31, reflecting a 25.6% decrease year-over-year [1][7] - Revenue estimates for the same quarter are projected at $20.84 billion, indicating a 6.3% decline from the previous year [2] Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS has been revised downward by 5 cents over the past 60 days, with a current estimate of $1.31 [1] - The trend of estimate revisions shows a decrease of 3.68% for Q1, 1.45% for Q2, 1.22% for EJ, and 1.62% for F2 over the last 60 days [2] Operational Challenges - UPS is facing challenges due to geopolitical uncertainties, high inflation, and tariff issues, which are expected to negatively impact shipping volumes [4][7] - Labor costs are anticipated to be high, prompting UPS to implement cost-cutting measures, including offering buyouts to delivery drivers for the first time in its history [5] Customer Relations and Business Strategy - UPS has agreed to reduce business with its largest customer, Amazon, by over 50% by June 2026, as Amazon was not deemed a profitable customer [6] - The expiration of the De Minimis exemption has led to customs bottlenecks, causing UPS to discard some shipments [8][9] Market Position and Stock Performance - UPS shares have declined over 30% year-to-date, underperforming compared to the Zacks Transportation—Air Freight and Cargo industry's 22.4% decline [13] - The company's current Zacks Rank is 4 (Sell), indicating a challenging outlook for the near term [11] Valuation and Future Outlook - UPS shares are trading at a discount based on the forward 12-month Price/Sales (P/S) ratio compared to the industry average, although rival FedEx is cheaper [17][18] - The decline in shipping demand and the recent failure of the Estafeta deal represent setbacks for UPS, impacting its expansion efforts [21][22] - Despite the challenges, UPS has the brand and network to generate steady cash flows in the long run, making it a compelling long-term investment [24]