Core Insights - UPS has reached a tentative agreement with the U.S. Postal Service to provide last-mile delivery for its Ground Saver service, addressing previous tensions over rate hikes [1][2] - The agreement is part of UPS's strategy to reduce costs amid declining volumes in its domestic parcel business [1] Group 1: Ground Saver Service - Ground Saver is UPS's low-cost ground service, which was rebranded after the Postal Service raised prices on its SurePost product [3] - The service typically takes one to two days longer than regular Ground delivery and is mainly used by large businesses for low-value e-commerce shipments [4] Group 2: Financial Performance and Challenges - UPS faced higher delivery expenses, totaling $85 million in Q2, due to an inability to optimize delivery stops, which impacted profitability despite a 5.5% increase in domestic revenue per piece [5] - The company raised Ground Saver rates significantly, aiming to encourage retailers to opt for more premium shipping options, but this led to a diminished value proposition for Ground Saver [6] Group 3: Market Dynamics - Price increases for Ground Saver resulted in retailers seeking cheaper shipping alternatives, as they typically absorb e-commerce shipping costs to prevent cart abandonment [7] - In Q3, Ground Saver's average daily volume dropped by 32.7% year-over-year, attributed to the decision to phase out 50% of Amazon volumes by mid-2026 and a decline in lower-yielding e-commerce volumes [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenue for Q3 2025 was $21.4 billion, with an operating profit of $2.1 billion and an operating margin of 10% [7][19] - Year-to-date free cash flow reached $2.7 billion, showing improvement from previous quarters [7][27] - Diluted earnings per share were reported at $1.74, with $0.30 of EPS attributed to a sale leaseback transaction [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. average daily volume (ADV) declined by 12.3%, primarily due to the planned reduction of Amazon volume and a focus on revenue quality [8][20] - U.S. revenue per piece increased by 9.8%, marking the strongest growth rate in three years [23] - International ADV grew by 4.8%, with export ADV increasing by 5.9%, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of growth [9][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. experienced a decline in imports, particularly a 27.1% drop in ADV from China to the U.S. [25][57] - The international segment's operating margin was reported at 14.8%, down from previous levels due to trade lane shifts [26] - Supply Chain Solutions revenue was $2.5 billion, down $715 million year-over-year, largely due to the divestiture of Coyote [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is undergoing a significant network reconfiguration aimed at reducing costs by approximately $3.5 billion this year [28][31] - The acquisition of Andlauer Healthcare Group is expected to enhance UPS's capabilities in healthcare logistics, with closure anticipated in early November [11][17] - The focus remains on capturing high-value market segments and onboarding customers with complex logistics needs [17][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating tariff changes and highlighted the importance of agility in the international network [6][9] - The company anticipates consolidated revenue of approximately $24 billion for Q4 2025, with an operating margin of around 11% to 11.5% [17][33] - Management noted that the operational strategy is designed to deliver long-term value for stakeholders amid a rapidly evolving global landscape [17][18] Other Important Information - The company has successfully implemented automation in 35 facilities, with expectations that 66% of volume will move through automated processes in Q4 [16][31] - The Digital Access Program (DAP) generated over $2.8 billion in revenue, reflecting a 20% year-over-year increase [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Domestic margins and future expectations - Management is pleased with revenue quality and progress on the Amazon glide-down, with updates on 2026 expected in January [36][37] Question: Cost per piece and USPS collaboration - Cost per piece is on a tough comparison, but production metrics are improving significantly, with savings from the driver voluntary severance program expected to materialize in Q4 [42][44] Question: SMB performance and trade policy impact - SMBs showed slight declines year-on-year, but the company is actively helping them navigate trade policy changes [52][53] Question: International trade flow analysis - Permanent changes in trade flows are expected, but the company aims to maintain mid to high teen margins in the international segment [87][88]

Core Insights - UPS is undergoing significant restructuring to enhance long-term profitability amid a challenging macro environment, focusing on controlling internal factors and executing strategic initiatives [1][4][12] Operational Changes - The company plans to close 164 operations and 73 buildings by the end of June to eliminate redundant infrastructure and realign capacity with demand [2] - UPS expects to reduce operational hours by approximately 25 million and cut around 20,000 positions, while continuing investments in automation and technology [3] - A planned volume reduction from Amazon is expected to exceed 50% by June 2026, reflecting a shift away from low-margin accounts [3][4] Financial Performance - UPS' first-quarter U.S. domestic revenue rose 1.4% to $14.5 billion, driven by air cargo increases and a 4.5% rise in revenue per piece, marking the strongest growth rate in eight quarters [6] - International revenue increased 2.7% to $4.4 billion, supported by a 7.1% rise in average daily volume, although non-GAAP operating profit fell 4.1% due to shifts toward more economical services [7] Strategic Initiatives - Under the "Efficiency Reimagined" initiative, UPS aims for $1 billion in savings in 2025 and a total of $3.5 billion in cost reductions by year-end [6] - New services like SurePost Final Mile delivery and Ground Saver are being introduced to enhance competitive positioning and cater to cost-conscious customers [10][11] - The acquisition of Andlauer Healthcare Group is intended to strengthen UPS' healthcare logistics capabilities, addressing a growing segment in global supply chains [11] Market Dynamics - SMBs now account for 31.2% of total U.S. volume, diversifying UPS' customer base away from major retailers [5] - The company is closely monitoring potential trade policy adjustments, particularly in the U.S.-China corridor, with international revenues expected to decline about 2% due to weakening demand [8]