Yield Theory

Industrials stock comparison

EXPD vs UPS: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. with United Parcel Service, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Industrials
Industry
Different SIC
Shared themes
1
Updated
2026-02-25

EXPD vs UPS: quick comparison

Company factEXPDUPS
CompanyExpeditors International of Washington, Inc.United Parcel Service, Inc.
ExchangeNASDAQNYSE
Headquarters—Atlanta, Georgia
Founded—1907
SEC industryArrangement of Transportation of Freight & CargoTrucking & Courier Services (No Air)
Fiscal year-endDecember 31December 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-2510-K · 2026-02-17

EXPD vs UPS: audited financials

UPS reported about 8.0× the revenue of EXPD in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, EXPD converted a larger share of revenue into net income (7.3% versus 6.3%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.

MetricEXPDUPS
Revenue$11.1B$88.7B
Net income$810M$5.6B
Operating cash flow$1.0B$8.4B
Diluted EPS$5.95$6.56
Net margin7.3%6.3%

EXPD: FY ending 2025-12-31 · UPS: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

EXPD and UPS have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Tariffs & trade research theme inside the Industrials sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD)

Expeditors International provides global freight forwarding and customs-brokerage logistics.

United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS)

UPS is a global package-delivery and supply-chain company whose volumes reflect the health of e-commerce and trade. It has emphasized higher-value shipments over sheer volume to protect margins.

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. EXPD is classified by the SEC as Arrangement of Transportation of Freight & Cargo, while UPS is classified as Trucking & Courier Services (No Air). The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.

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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.

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Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study EXPD when…

  • Capital-spending and manufacturing PMIs
  • Reshoring and supply-chain reconfiguration
  • Defense budgets and geopolitical conflict
  • Freight rates and logistics demand

Study UPS when…

  • Capital-spending and manufacturing PMIs
  • Reshoring and supply-chain reconfiguration
  • Defense budgets and geopolitical conflict
  • Freight rates and logistics demand

Shared research themes

Tariffs & trade

SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.EXPD's fiscal year ends December 31, while UPS's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 1matched transaction row for EXPDand 50 for UPS. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

EXPD vs UPS FAQs

Are EXPD and UPS direct competitors?

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. and United Parcel Service, Inc. sit in the same Industrials sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.

Which is better, EXPD or UPS?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this EXPD vs UPS comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. and United Parcel Service, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

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