Core Insights - United Parcel Service (UPS) and Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD) have both increased dividends this year, demonstrating their commitment to shareholders despite economic uncertainty [1] Dividend Increases - UPS raised its quarterly cash dividend from $1.63 to $1.64 per share, resulting in an annual payout of $6.56, up from $6.52 [2] - EXPD approved a 5.5% increase in its semi-annual dividend, raising it from $0.73 to $0.77 per share, with a payout ratio of 25 and a five-year dividend growth rate of 8% [3] Dividend Sustainability Concerns - UPS's high dividend payout ratio raises concerns about the sustainability of its dividend, as it has a significant share of net income distributed as dividends [4] - Free cash flow for UPS has been declining, with a peak of $9 billion in 2022, and is projected to be $6.3 billion by the end of 2024, only slightly above dividend payments of $5.4 billion [5][6] Price Performance Comparison - EXPD has outperformed UPS with a 31% stock gain over the past six months, while UPS has seen disappointing performance due to soft revenue trends [8][10] - UPS's subdued stock performance is attributed to geopolitical tensions and elevated inflation affecting consumer confidence and growth expectations [11] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EXPD's 2025 sales indicates a 3.9% year-over-year increase, while UPS's 2025 sales estimate implies a 3.4% year-over-year decrease [13][14] - EXPD's 2025 EPS estimate shows a 3.5% year-over-year increase, contrasting with UPS's expected 10.7% year-over-year decrease [14] Valuation Metrics - EXPD is trading at a forward sales multiple of 1.77X with a Value Score of D, while UPS has a forward sales multiple of 0.9X and a Value Score of B [16] - The higher valuation of EXPD suggests that investors are willing to pay a premium for its stock compared to UPS [18] Conclusion - EXPD's stronger price performance and upward earnings estimate revisions indicate improving air freight tonnage and effective cost-cutting measures, making it a more attractive investment compared to UPS [19]