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LSTR vs UPS
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Landstar System (LSTR) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- LSTR has delivered stronger year-to-date (YTD) gains of approximately 27%, significantly outpacing UPS's 9% rise in the same period.
- LSTR trades at a higher price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 54 compared to UPS's 16, reflecting premium valuation amid recent momentum.
- Recent market activity shows LSTR rallying toward its 52-week high of $182, while UPS remains below its peak amid volume challenges.
- UPS offers a higher dividend yield of 6.13%, appealing to income-focused investors, versus LSTR's lower payout.
- Both stocks operate in logistics but differ in scale: LSTR ($6B market cap) focuses on asset-light truckload, while UPS ($91B) dominates parcel delivery.
- Upcoming earnings for both highlight contrasts: LSTR anticipates modest growth; UPS faces EPS decline expectations.
Introduction
Landstar System (LSTR) and United Parcel Service (UPS) represent key players in the transportation and logistics sector, offering traders and investors a study in contrasts between specialized truckload services and global parcel delivery. This stock comparison examines their recent market positioning, performance drivers, and relative strengths amid fluctuating freight demand and supply chain dynamics. Value-oriented investors may favor UPS's scale and dividends, while growth seekers eye LSTR's momentum. Understanding these dynamics aids in assessing sector rotation opportunities and portfolio diversification in the current environment.
LSTR Overview and Recent Performance
Landstar System, Inc. (LSTR) operates an asset-light model, connecting shippers with truck capacity through a network of independent agents and carriers, primarily in truckload transportation. In recent weeks, LSTR shares have rallied, climbing from the mid-$160s to around $179, approaching the 52-week high of $182. This uptrend reflects robust YTD gains of 27%, driven by stabilizing freight volumes and positive analyst revisions, including Susquehanna raising its price target to $185 while maintaining a Neutral rating. Market sentiment has improved on anticipation of Q1 2026 earnings, projecting revenue near $1.19 billion and EPS of $0.72, amid broader recovery in trucking demand. However, high P/E ratio of 54 signals caution on valuation stretch.
UPS Overview and Recent Performance
United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) is a global leader in package delivery, supply chain management, and logistics, with a vast asset-heavy network. Shares have advanced to about $107 in recent market activity, posting YTD returns of 9.4% and trading midway in the 52-week range of $82-$122. Influences include new initiatives like RFID technology adoption, Happy Returns expansion, and a temporary surge fee on imports/exports to offset fuel costs, boosting operational efficiency. Despite this, sentiment tempers on expected 29% EPS drop in upcoming earnings, reflecting softer volumes. At a P/E of 16 and 6.13% dividend yield, UPS attracts stability seekers, with analysts like Citigroup upholding Buy ratings and targets around $118.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
LSTR and UPS both navigate logistics headwinds but via divergent models: LSTR's agent-based, asset-light structure offers flexibility and lower capital intensity, contrasting UPS's integrated, scale-driven parcel empire. Growth drivers differ—LSTR benefits from truckload rate recovery, while UPS contends with e-commerce volume shifts and fuel volatility. Recent momentum favors LSTR with superior relative performance, but UPS edges on stability via dividends and diversification. Risks include freight market cycles for LSTR and labor costs/union dynamics for UPS. Sector exposure overlaps in industrials, yet sentiment tilts toward LSTR on upside catalysts.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models currently lean toward LSTR with higher probability in short-term positioning, citing consistent upward trend, stronger YTD momentum, and favorable pre-earnings setup relative to UPS. Factors like trend stability and sector rotation into trucking outweigh UPS's yield advantages amid softer volume outlook. This assessment reflects observable patterns, not guarantees.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is LSTR is a StrongBuy and UPS is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
LSTR’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileUPS’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- LSTR’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- UPS’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
LSTR’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while UPS’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- LSTR’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- UPS’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
LSTR (@Other Transportation) experienced а +2.85% price change this week, while UPS (@Other Transportation) price change was -0.41% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Other Transportation industry was +5.67%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +7.16%, and the average quarterly price growth was +5.82%.
Reported Earning Dates
LSTR is expected to report earnings on Jul 28, 2026.
UPS is expected to report earnings on Jul 28, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Other Transportation (+5.67% weekly)Other Transportation includes transportation services like providing airport ground transportation, airport management and equipment, shipping services, as well as businesses that operate bridges, expressways and other public services such as taxis and subways. Grupo Aero-pac, Corporacion America Airports S.A. and Matson, Inc. are some of the major companies operating in this space.
| LSTR | UPS | LSTR / UPS | |
| Capitalization | 7.61B | 91.9B | 8% |
| EBITDA | 229M | 11.6B | 2% |
| Gain YTD | 58.962 | 12.365 | 477% |
| P/E Ratio | 61.95 | 17.49 | 354% |
| Revenue | 4.76B | 88.3B | 5% |
| Total Cash | 411M | 5.8B | 7% |
| Total Debt | 124M | 28.7B | 0% |
LSTR | UPS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 85 | 85 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 78 Overvalued | 7 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 52 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 60 | 30 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 37 | 24 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 9 | 34 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
UPS's Valuation (7) in the Air Freight Or Couriers industry is significantly better than the same rating for LSTR (78) in the Trucking industry. This means that UPS’s stock grew significantly faster than LSTR’s over the last 12 months.
LSTR's Profit vs Risk Rating (52) in the Trucking industry is somewhat better than the same rating for UPS (100) in the Air Freight Or Couriers industry. This means that LSTR’s stock grew somewhat faster than UPS’s over the last 12 months.
UPS's SMR Rating (30) in the Air Freight Or Couriers industry is in the same range as LSTR (60) in the Trucking industry. This means that UPS’s stock grew similarly to LSTR’s over the last 12 months.
UPS's Price Growth Rating (24) in the Air Freight Or Couriers industry is in the same range as LSTR (37) in the Trucking industry. This means that UPS’s stock grew similarly to LSTR’s over the last 12 months.
LSTR's P/E Growth Rating (9) in the Trucking industry is in the same range as UPS (34) in the Air Freight Or Couriers industry. This means that LSTR’s stock grew similarly to UPS’s over the last 12 months.
| LSTR | UPS | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 90% | 3 days ago 63% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 68% | 3 days ago 57% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 61% | 3 days ago 66% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 61% | 3 days ago 60% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 58% | 3 days ago 51% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 56% | 3 days ago 57% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 11 days ago 57% | 14 days ago 60% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 57% | 7 days ago 52% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 67% | 3 days ago 55% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 54% | 3 days ago 53% |
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