United Parcel Service, Inc. provides letter and package delivery, transportation, logistics, and related services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. The International Package segment provides guaranteed day and time-definite international shipping services in Europe, the Asia Pacific, Canada and Latin America, the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, and Africa. This segment offers guaranteed time-definite express options. The company also provides international air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, distribution and post-sales, and mail and consulting services in approximately 200 countries and territories. In addition, it offers truckload brokerage services; supply chain solutions to the healthcare and life sciences industry; shipping, visibility, and billing technologies; and financial and insurance services. The company operates a fleet of approximately 121,000 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles; and owns 59,000 containers that are used to transport cargo in its aircraft. United Parcel Service, Inc. was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Here are 1-3 brief analogies for United Parcel Service (UPS):
- Essentially, FedEx's primary global competitor in package delivery and logistics.
- Imagine Amazon's vast shipping network, but as a century-old, independent company serving all businesses and consumers globally.
- The private, global equivalent of the US Postal Service, handling everything from small packages to large freight and complex logistics for businesses worldwide.
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Global Package Delivery: Provides domestic and international shipping services for small to medium-sized packages via ground, air, and ocean networks.
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Freight Forwarding: Offers transportation solutions for larger, heavier shipments, including less-than-truckload (LTL), full truckload (FTL), air freight, and ocean freight.
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Contract Logistics & Supply Chain Management: Delivers comprehensive solutions such as warehousing, distribution, fulfillment, returns management, and supply chain consulting.
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Customs Brokerage: Facilitates international trade by managing customs clearance, duties, and regulatory compliance for shipments across borders.
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United Parcel Service (UPS) primarily sells its services to other companies and businesses, though it also serves individual consumers.
Given the vast and diversified nature of UPS's customer base, no single customer typically accounts for a significant portion (e.g., 10% or more) of its total revenue. UPS serves millions of businesses globally, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) to large multinational corporations.
However, based on the types of businesses that generate high shipping volumes and rely heavily on logistics providers, the following categories represent major users of UPS's services, and within those categories, specific companies would be significant customers:
- E-commerce and Online Retailers: Companies operating large online marketplaces or direct-to-consumer businesses generate immense parcel volumes. While many large players like Amazon have developed their own logistics capabilities, they, along with countless other online retailers, still utilize UPS for various aspects of their shipping, especially for last-mile delivery, specialized services, or during peak demand.
- Illustrative Customer Example: eBay Inc. (Symbol: EBAY) - While individual sellers on eBay are the direct customers, eBay's platform facilitates millions of transactions that rely on parcel carriers like UPS.
- Illustrative Customer Example: Wayfair Inc. (Symbol: W) - A major online retailer of home goods that ships a high volume of items, often requiring specialized handling.
- Large Retailers with Omnichannel Presence: Traditional retailers with extensive physical footprints and growing e-commerce operations require sophisticated logistics for inventory movement between distribution centers, stores, and direct customer deliveries.
- Illustrative Customer Example: Walmart Inc. (Symbol: WMT) - One of the world's largest retailers with vast supply chain and delivery needs for both its stores and e-commerce platform.
- Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Companies: This sector requires highly reliable, often temperature-controlled, and time-sensitive delivery services for medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and equipment.
- Illustrative Customer Example: McKesson Corporation (Symbol: MCK) - A leading distributor of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, requiring extensive and precise logistics.
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- Boeing (BA)
- Ford Motor Company (F)
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Carol B. Tomé Chief Executive Officer
Carol B. Tomé has served as the Chief Executive Officer of UPS since 2020, becoming the first outsider to lead the company. Prior to joining UPS, she spent 25 years at The Home Depot Inc., serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2001 to 2019. During her tenure at The Home Depot, she was instrumental in increasing shareholder value by 450% and expanding the number of stores from 400 to 2,200. Her career also includes roles as Vice President and Treasurer of Riverwood International Corporation, Director of Banking for Johns-Manville Corporation, and a commercial lender at United Bank of Denver (now Wells Fargo). She also serves as a Director at Verizon Communications.
Brian Dykes Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Brian Dykes was appointed Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of UPS in July 2024. Before this role, he served as Senior Vice President, Global Finance and Planning at UPS. Mr. Dykes also previously served on the board of Ware2Go.
Norman M. Brothers, Jr. Executive Vice President, Secretary, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
Norman M. Brothers, Jr. has been the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Executive Vice President, and Secretary of UPS since 2020. His previous roles at the company include Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. Earlier in his career, he served as a military prosecutor in the Judge Advocate General's Corps while on active duty as a captain in the U.S. Army.
Kate M. Gutmann Executive Vice President, President International - Healthcare and Supply Chain Solutions
Kate M. Gutmann has held the position of Executive Vice President and President International - Healthcare and Supply Chain Solutions at UPS since 2022. Her prior roles within UPS include Executive Vice President of Global Healthcare and Chief Sales and Solutions Officer, and Senior Vice President of UPS Store and UPS Capital. She also served as President of Worldwide Sales and Vice President of Marketing for the UPS Europe Region.
Nando Cesarone Executive Vice President & President U.S.
Nando Cesarone serves as the Executive Vice President and President U.S. for UPS.
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A clear emerging threat to United Parcel Service (UPS) is the continued and expanding insourcing of logistics and last-mile delivery by major customers, most notably Amazon (AMZN). Amazon has significantly scaled its own logistics network, Amazon Logistics, to handle a substantial portion of its own package volume, directly reducing the volume previously handled by carriers like UPS. Furthermore, Amazon has indicated an expansion of its logistics services to third-party merchants through initiatives like "Buy with Prime" fulfillment, signaling an intent to compete directly in the broader third-party logistics market, traditionally a core business for UPS. This trend represents a major customer becoming a direct competitor, leveraging vast resources and a global fulfillment infrastructure built on deep data insights and operational efficiency.
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United Parcel Service (UPS) offers a diverse portfolio of services, primarily encompassing package delivery, e-commerce logistics, freight forwarding, and contract logistics/supply chain management solutions. The addressable markets for these key services are substantial and global in scope.
- Package Delivery (Courier, Express, and Parcel - CEP): The global parcel delivery market size was valued at approximately USD 568.22 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 1,126.44 billion by 2034.
- E-commerce Logistics: The global e-commerce logistics market size was valued at USD 500.76 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 3,721.53 billion by 2034.
- Freight Forwarding: The global freight forwarding market size is estimated at USD 572.25 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 740.85 billion by 2030.
- Contract Logistics: The global contract logistics market size is estimated at USD 488.99 billion in 2025 and is predicted to reach around USD 931.24 billion by 2034.
- Supply Chain Management Solutions: The global supply chain management (SCM) market size is projected to grow from USD 38.51 billion in 2025 to USD 58.42 billion by 2030.
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United Parcel Service (UPS) Expected Drivers of Future Revenue Growth (Next 2-3 Years)
- Revenue Per Piece (RPP) Growth and Pricing Discipline: UPS anticipates continued revenue growth through disciplined pricing strategies and an improved customer mix. The company has seen increases in U.S. revenue per piece, driven by base rate improvements and a focus on favorable customer segments. This strategy prioritizes profitability over package volume.
- Expansion in High-Margin Segments (Healthcare and SMBs): A key driver for future revenue growth is UPS's strategic focus on expanding its presence in higher-margin markets, particularly healthcare logistics and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). UPS aims to grow its U.S. SMB penetration, which made up 28.9% of its total U.S. volume in 2024. Additionally, the acquisition of Andlauer Healthcare Group in late 2025 further accelerates its expansion in complex healthcare logistics.
- Network Transformation and Efficiency Initiatives: UPS is undertaking a significant "efficiency reimagined" initiative, involving a substantial network reconfiguration and facility closures. These multi-year initiatives are designed to drive approximately $1.0 billion in savings through an end-to-end process redesign, ultimately contributing to a more profitable and agile business model and supporting revenue quality by shedding unprofitable volume. The company aims to achieve a 12% U.S. operating margin by the end of 2026.
- Growth in International Package Delivery: The international segment is expected to contribute to revenue growth. In the fourth quarter of 2024, international revenue increased by 6.9%, with all regions experiencing year-over-year growth, driven by strong market demand, particularly out of Asia for air and ocean forwarding. UPS's "1 + 2 plan" for 2024 and beyond emphasizes operating margin growth in subsequent years, aiming for a consolidated operating margin of 13% by 2026, which includes leveraging its integrated network and focusing on high-margin international package delivery.
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Share Repurchases
- UPS completed $3.5 billion in share buybacks in 2022.
- In 2023, the company repurchased $2.25 billion in shares, including 12.3 million shares for $2.2 billion under the 2023 Authorization.
- For 2025, UPS anticipates share repurchases of approximately $1.0 billion. The Board of Directors authorized a new $5.0 billion share repurchase program in January 2023, with $2.8 billion remaining available as of June 30, 2024.
Outbound Investments
- In 2022, UPS acquired Delivery Solutions, a digital platform for optimizing customer deliveries, and Bomi Group, to expand healthcare logistics internationally and enhance cold chain capabilities. The aggregate purchase price for acquisitions in 2022 was approximately $755 million.
- Aggregate acquisitions in 2023 totaled approximately $1.3 billion, primarily for various business acquisitions and the expansion of The UPS Store franchise development areas.
- During 2024, the aggregate purchase price for acquisitions was $71 million, mainly for franchise development areas for The UPS Store, and the company completed the divestiture of Coyote for net proceeds of $1.002 billion.
Capital Expenditures
- Capital expenditures were $4.769 billion in 2022 and $5.158 billion in 2023.
- In 2024, capital expenditures were $3.909 billion, representing a decrease from the prior year due to reduced spending on buildings, facilities, plant equipment, vehicles, and technology.
- UPS plans approximately $3.5 billion in capital expenditures for 2025, focusing on a network reconfiguration and "Efficiency Reimagined" initiatives to optimize and automate its integrated network.