United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results

29 Apr 2026, 16:10 by Doug Wharley · The Cerbat Gem

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS – Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The transportation company reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.11 by ($0.04), FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $21.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.05 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 38.30% and a net margin of 6.28%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.49 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from United Parcel Service’s conference call:

UPS has materially progressed its Amazon glide-down, reducing Amazon volume by ~500,000 pieces per day, closing 23 buildings, scaling back leased aircraft and saying it is on track to achieve a $3 billion cost-out target for 2026.
First-quarter results came in above plan with consolidated revenue of $21.2 billion, operating profit of $1.3 billion (6.2% margin), and management reaffirmed full‑year 2026 targets of roughly $89.7 billion in revenue and a ~9.6% operating margin.
Management disclosed about $350 million of short‑term Q1 cost pressures (temporary aircraft leases, Ground Saver transition costs, inclement weather and casualty) that increased cost‑per‑piece ~9.5% and cut ~250 bps from U.S. domestic margin, though they said these pressures are largely behind them.
The voluntary Driver Choice program is expected to reduce ~7,500 full‑time driver roles (oversubscribed, ~77% leaving in April) and supports the company’s goal to cut ~30,000 operational positions this year, providing near‑term labor and cash savings.
UPS highlighted growth and margin levers—premium mix wins (SMB, B2B, healthcare), DAP revenue of $1.2 billion in Q1, a doubling of Supply Chain Solutions operating profit, and expanded automation—which management says will drive margin expansion in H2 2026 and beyond.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 0.8%

United Parcel Service stock opened at $104.77 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $88.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.12. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $103.78 and a 200-day moving average of $101.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.22. United Parcel Service has a one year low of $82.00 and a one year high of $122.41.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UPS. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its position in United Parcel Service by 175.7% during the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 5,200,135 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $515,801,000 after acquiring an additional 3,314,166 shares in the last quarter. Amundi increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 56.9% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 2,857,643 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $283,450,000 after acquiring an additional 1,036,435 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 32,092,627 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,183,268,000 after purchasing an additional 1,029,377 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 17.3% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,724,265 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $561,678,000 after acquiring an additional 993,461 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 160.0% during the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,403,300 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $139,193,000 after purchasing an additional 863,574 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the topic of several research reports. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on United Parcel Service from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings upgraded United Parcel Service from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Friday. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $96.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane lowered shares of United Parcel Service from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and set a $85.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $113.03.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on UPS

Key Headlines Impacting United Parcel Service

Here are the key news stories impacting United Parcel Service this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 came in ahead of select Street estimates on adjusted EPS and revenue, showing the company’s restructuring is stabilizing results. UPS Releases 1Q 2026 Earnings
Positive Sentiment: International growth and healthcare business milestones were highlighted on the call, giving revenue diversification beyond the challenged U.S. parcel market. United Parcel Service Inc (UPS) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Highlights
Positive Sentiment: High dividend yield (roughly 6%) and renewed institutional interest are supporting the stock for income-oriented investors and may underpin longer‑term upside if the turnaround continues. UPS Stock Reversal Is Backed by Institutions—And a 6% Yield
Neutral Sentiment: Management held its full‑year revenue/guidance range steady, leaving investors with little upside surprise from guidance for now. That stability reduces uncertainty but didn’t reassure traders seeking upside. UPS Q1 Earnings & Revenues Surpass Estimates, Down Year Over Year
Negative Sentiment: Despite the earnings beat, the stock fell on cautious messaging — unchanged guidance and commentary that near‑term headwinds persist (weak U.S. volumes, margin pressure). UPS tracks lower after unchanged full-year guidance despite earnings topper
Negative Sentiment: UPS flagged roughly $5B in tariff refunds that will flow back to customers and noted that recent fuel surcharge revenue doesn’t translate into profit — both pressures on near‑term margins. UPS Flags $5B in Tariff Refunds, Holds Outlook Despite Fuel Volatility
Negative Sentiment: Scaling down volume from Amazon and continued softness in the U.S. package business are near‑term revenue headwinds, even as management expects a return to growth over time. UPS predicts return to growth after scaling down Amazon partnership: CFO explains

About United Parcel Service

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United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) is a global package delivery and supply chain management company that provides a broad range of transportation, logistics and e-commerce services. Its core business centers on small-package delivery and last-mile distribution for business and individual customers, supported by a network of ground transportation, air cargo operations (UPS Airlines) and sorting facilities. In addition to parcel delivery, UPS offers freight transportation, contract logistics, warehousing, customs brokerage and reverse-logistics solutions designed to support domestic and international commerce.