Tearsheet

Universal Logistics (ULH)


Market Price (12/5/2025): $16.59 | Market Cap: $436.8 Mil
Sector: Industrials | Industry: Cargo Ground Transportation

Universal Logistics (ULH)


Market Price (12/5/2025): $16.59
Market Cap: $436.8 Mil
Sector: Industrials
Industry: Cargo Ground Transportation

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 12%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -81%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -126%
Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 145%
1 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include E-commerce & Digital Retail, E-commerce & DTC Adoption, and Future of Freight. Themes include Last-Mile Delivery, Show more.
  Expensive valuation multiples
P/EBITPrice/EBIT or Price/(Operating Income) ratio is 59x
2   Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -7.5%, Rev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is -6.6%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -7.0%
3   Not cash flow generative
FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -2.2%
4   Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -8.9%
0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 12%
1 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include E-commerce & Digital Retail, E-commerce & DTC Adoption, and Future of Freight. Themes include Last-Mile Delivery, Show more.
2 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -81%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -126%
3 Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 145%
4 Expensive valuation multiples
P/EBITPrice/EBIT or Price/(Operating Income) ratio is 59x
5 Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -7.5%, Rev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is -6.6%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -7.0%
6 Not cash flow generative
FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -2.2%
7 Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -8.9%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

ULH Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Universal Logistics (ULH) experienced a notable stock decline from August 31, 2025, to December 5, 2025, driven by several key factors impacting its financial performance and market sentiment.

1. Universal Logistics reported a significant operating loss and net loss, alongside negative earnings per share for the third quarter of 2025. This included substantial non-cash impairment charges totaling $81.2 million, specifically related to goodwill and certain customer-relationship intangible assets within its intermodal reporting segment.

2. The company faced declining revenues and reduced load volumes. In Q3 2025, consolidated operating revenues were $396.8 million, with year-over-year load volumes dropping by 19.4% and average operating revenue per load falling by 2.3%. This trend followed a similarly soft second quarter in 2025, where revenues declined by 14.8% year-on-year and missed analyst expectations.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
ULH Return10%-7%81%-15%66%-63%-4%
Peers Return30%41%-15%54%10%1%168%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%17%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
ULH Win Rate50%42%67%50%58%30% 
Peers Win Rate60%68%40%62%53%56% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
ULH Max Drawdown-39%-14%-14%-36%-1%-71% 
Peers Max Drawdown-35%-3%-30%-7%-14%-27% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: XPO, R, WERN, ODFL, JBHT.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/4/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventULHS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-51.7%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven107.1%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven182 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-40.9%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven69.2%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven145 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-51.8%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven107.3%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1323 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-60.5%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven153.2%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1618 days1480 days

Compare to XPO, R, WERN, ODFL, JBHT


In The Past

Universal Logistics's stock fell -51.7% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 2/7/2023. A -51.7% loss requires a 107.1% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Universal Logistics (ULH)

Better Bets than Universal Logistics (ULH)

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to ULH. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
9.5%9.5%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
3.2%3.2%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
7.5%7.5%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
2.8%2.8%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
0.0%0.0%0.0%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
9.5%9.5%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
3.2%3.2%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
7.5%7.5%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
2.8%2.8%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
0.0%0.0%0.0%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Universal Logistics

Peers to compare with:

Financials

ULHXPORWERNODFLJBHTMedian
NameUniversa.XPO Ryder Sy.Werner E.Old Domi.JB Hunt . 
Mkt Price16.53140.85180.0128.79153.51187.53147.18
Mkt Cap0.416.67.31.732.218.012.0
Rev LTM1,6388,06712,7082,9915,57512,0496,821
Op Inc LTM817061,112541,391826766
FCF LTM-36232-88-5592179098
FCF 3Y Avg-62-206-458-88827388-75
CFO LTM1969492,4031911,4611,6101,205
CFO 3Y Avg1768082,3293471,5501,6471,179

Growth & Margins

ULHXPORWERNODFLJBHTMedian
NameUniversa.XPO Ryder Sy.Werner E.Old Domi.JB Hunt . 
Rev Chg LTM-7.5%-0.3%1.3%-3.4%-5.9%-1.6%-2.5%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg-6.6%38.4%2.0%-2.1%-3.3%-6.3%-2.7%
Rev Chg Q-7.0%2.8%-0.3%3.5%-4.3%-0.5%-0.4%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM-1.8%0.7%-0.1%0.9%-1.1%-0.1%-0.1%
Op Mgn LTM4.9%8.8%8.8%1.8%24.9%6.9%7.8%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg8.5%8.0%8.8%3.9%26.9%7.2%8.2%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-2.3%0.1%0.0%-1.0%-0.4%0.2%-0.2%
CFO/Rev LTM11.9%11.8%18.9%6.4%26.2%13.4%12.7%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg10.3%10.1%18.7%10.9%26.8%13.1%12.0%
FCF/Rev LTM-2.2%2.9%-0.7%-1.8%16.5%6.6%1.1%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg-3.6%-2.6%-3.7%-2.7%14.3%3.2%-2.6%

Valuation

ULHXPORWERNODFLJBHTMedian
NameUniversa.XPO Ryder Sy.Werner E.Old Domi.JB Hunt . 
Mkt Cap0.416.67.31.732.218.012.0
P/S0.41.90.60.55.31.10.8
P/EBIT58.622.97.020.721.215.520.9
P/E-15.345.915.362.327.922.525.2
P/CFO3.216.13.28.320.28.08.1
Total Yield-4.7%2.2%8.4%3.8%4.4%5.8%4.1%
Dividend Yield1.8%0.0%1.9%2.2%0.8%1.3%1.6%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg-6.3%-1.8%-8.5%-4.0%2.2%2.8%-2.9%
D/E1.50.31.20.50.00.10.4
Net D/E1.50.21.10.40.00.10.3

Returns

ULHXPORWERNODFLJBHTMedian
NameUniversa.XPO Ryder Sy.Werner E.Old Domi.JB Hunt . 
1M Rtn3.0%0.1%8.1%9.5%8.8%8.6%8.4%
3M Rtn-33.8%7.7%-4.1%0.4%3.4%29.4%1.9%
6M Rtn-30.8%20.7%22.7%7.7%-3.5%35.6%14.2%
12M Rtn-65.2%-9.2%10.5%-26.3%-26.7%2.5%-17.8%
3Y Rtn-51.5%292.6%121.6%-30.8%7.9%8.8%8.3%
1M Excs Rtn1.7%-1.1%6.9%8.2%7.5%7.4%7.1%
3M Excs Rtn-40.6%1.8%-9.1%-4.7%-3.7%25.0%-4.2%
6M Excs Rtn-46.3%5.3%7.3%-7.7%-18.9%20.1%-1.2%
12M Excs Rtn-81.0%-22.2%-5.3%-41.7%-44.5%-13.1%-32.0%
3Y Excs Rtn-125.9%200.6%34.7%-103.7%-66.3%-65.8%-66.0%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Contract logistics830824627460515
Intermodal383592473394390
Trucking333393403318390
Other1176511
Company-managed brokerage 201243218216
Total1,6622,0151,7511,3911,512


Operating Income by Segment
$ Mil20242023202220212020
Contract logistics128118453648
Trucking17282016-21
Intermodal284303039
Other-1110-3
Company-managed brokerage 107-32
Total1452401038065


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity357,611
Short Interest: % Change Since 103120254.5%
Average Daily Volume64,697
Days-to-Cover Short Interest5.53
Basic Shares Quantity26,330,000
Short % of Basic Shares1.4%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251106202510-Q 9/27/2025
6302025807202510-Q 6/28/2025
3312025508202510-Q 3/29/2025
12312024317202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241107202410-Q 9/28/2024
6302024808202410-Q 6/29/2024
3312024509202410-Q 3/30/2024
12312023315202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231109202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023810202310-Q 7/1/2023
3312023511202310-Q 4/1/2023
12312022316202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221110202210-Q 10/1/2022
6302022811202210-Q 7/2/2022
3312022512202210-Q 4/2/2022
12312021316202210-K 12/31/2021