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United Parcel Service Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 27 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue of $24.5 billion: The company reported fourth-quarter 2025 consolidated revenue of $24.5 billion, with operating profit of $2.6 billion and non-GAAP adjusted operating profit of $2.9 billion. Source
  • MD-11 fleet retirement and write-off: UPS accelerated its fleet modernization plans and completed retirement of the MD-11 fleet in the quarter, with a non-cash, after-tax write-off of $137 million. Source
  • U.S. Domestic volume fell in fourth quarter: Average daily U.S. Domestic package volume was 19,970 thousand in the fourth quarter, against 22,382 thousand a year earlier. Source
  • 2026 inflection tied to Amazon glide-down: Management said 2026 will be an inflection point in executing its strategy for growth and sustained margin expansion, once the Amazon glide-down is complete. Source
  • $6.4 billion returned to shareowners: In 2025 the company returned $6.4 billion of cash to shareowners through dividends and share repurchases. Source
  • Full-year 2026 guidance issued: Management issued full-year 2026 guidance covering revenue, adjusted operating margin, capital expenditures, dividends and tax rate, with figures listed under guidance. Source
  • Network savings targeted for 2026: Management expects savings of about $3 billion in 2026 from the Network Reconfiguration and Efficiency Reimagined programs. Source

“I want to thank UPSers across the globe for their tireless commitment to serving our customers as we delivered best-in-class service during peak for the eighth year in a row and outperformed our financial expectations in the fourth quarter,”

Carol Tomé, UPS chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Consolidated revenue Sourcefull year 2026approximately $89.7 billionNew
Non-GAAP adjusted operating margin Sourcefull year 2026approximately 9.6%New
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026about $3.0 billionNew
Dividend payments Sourcefull year 2026around $5.4 billion, subject to board approvalNew
Effective tax rate Sourcefull year 2026approximately 23.0%New
Network programs cost savings Sourcefull year 2026approximately $3 billionNew
Quarterly dividend per share Sourcefirst quarter 2026$1.64 per share

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance was given for revenue, adjusted operating margin, capital expenditures, dividend payments and tax rate; the prior release gave guidance for 2025 items only. Source
  • New guidance: A 2026 cost savings target from the network programs was added; the prior release did not include a 2026 savings figure. Source
  • Ended: The Transformation 2.0 program was completed in 2025, after the prior release said remaining costs were expected during 2025. Source

Fourth-quarter results and drivers

  • Revenue of $24.5 billion: The company reported fourth-quarter 2025 consolidated revenue of $24.5 billion, with operating profit of $2.6 billion and non-GAAP adjusted operating profit of $2.9 billion. Source
  • Diluted EPS of $2.10: Fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $2.10 and non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS was $2.38. Source
  • MD-11 fleet retirement and write-off: UPS accelerated its fleet modernization plans and completed retirement of the MD-11 fleet in the quarter, with a non-cash, after-tax write-off of $137 million. Source
  • Charges of $238 million: Total GAAP charges were $238 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, including $101 million of after-tax transformation charges. Source
  • Full-year 2025 revenue and profit: Full-year 2025 operating profit was $7.9 billion, and non-GAAP adjusted operating profit was $8.7 billion, on revenue of $88.7 billion. Source
  • Full-year diluted EPS of $6.56: Full-year 2025 diluted EPS was $6.56, and non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS was $7.16. Source

Segments and regions

  • U.S. Domestic revenue down 3.2%: U.S. Domestic revenue was $16,756 million, and operating margin was 8.5%, or 10.2% on a non-GAAP adjusted basis. Source
  • International revenue up 2.5%: International revenue was $5,045 million, up 2.5%, and operating margin was 17.5%, or 18.0% on a non-GAAP adjusted basis. Source
  • Supply Chain Solutions revenue lower: Supply Chain Solutions revenue was $2,678 million, and operating margin was 9.8%, or 10.3% on a non-GAAP adjusted basis. Source

“Looking ahead, upon completion of the Amazon glide-down, 2026 will be an inflection point in the execution of our strategy to deliver growth and sustained margin expansion.”

Carol Tomé, UPS chief executive officer

Costs and network reconfiguration

  • Operational workforce cut by 48,000: The company reduced its operational workforce by about 48,000 positions in 2025, including 15,000 fewer seasonal positions, and closed daily operations at 93 buildings. Source
  • Program costs $544 million to date: Program costs incurred through December 31, 2025 total $544 million, of which $509 million was recorded in 2025. Source
  • Planned volume declines from largest customer: Management said the network reconfiguration followed its strategic execution of planned volume declines from its largest customer, with some additional volume the company elected to serve. Source

Margins and pricing

  • Adjusted operating margin of 11.8%: Consolidated non-GAAP adjusted operating margin was 11.8%, against a GAAP operating margin of 10.5%, after excluding transformation strategy costs and impairment charges. Source
  • Operating profit lower in two segments: U.S. Domestic operating profit was $1,428 million, against $1,681 million a year earlier, and International operating profit was $884 million, against $1,019 million. Source
  • Revenue per piece rose in both regions: Revenue per piece rose in U.S. Domestic and in International, and management tied 2025 actions to revenue quality. Source

Demand and volume

  • U.S. Domestic volume fell in fourth quarter: Average daily U.S. Domestic package volume was 19,970 thousand in the fourth quarter, against 22,382 thousand a year earlier. Source
  • 2026 inflection tied to Amazon glide-down: Management said 2026 will be an inflection point in executing its strategy for growth and sustained margin expansion, once the Amazon glide-down is complete. Source
  • Mail Innovations volume declined: Supply Chain Solutions revenue declined 12.7%, primarily from lower volume in the Mail Innovations business. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • $6.4 billion returned to shareowners: In 2025 the company returned $6.4 billion of cash to shareowners through dividends and share repurchases. Source
  • Free cash flow of $5.5 billion: Cash from operations was $8.5 billion in 2025, and non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow was $5.5 billion. Source
  • Capital expenditures of $3.7 billion: Capital expenditures were $3,685 million in 2025, partly offset by $700 million of proceeds from property disposals. Source
  • Property sales and tax reversal: Property sales in 2025 led the company to expect all previously excluded capital losses to be realized, so the related valuation allowance reversal is excluded from non-GAAP results. Source

2026 guidance and strategy

  • Full-year 2026 guidance issued: Management issued full-year 2026 guidance covering revenue, adjusted operating margin, capital expenditures, dividends and tax rate, with figures listed under guidance. Source
  • Network savings targeted for 2026: Management expects savings of about $3 billion in 2026 from the Network Reconfiguration and Efficiency Reimagined programs. Source
  • Strategic initiative costs not estimated: Expenses for certain strategic initiatives, including separation programs, will be excluded from non-GAAP adjusted expenses, but management cannot reasonably estimate them yet. Source

Coming up, as management said on 27 January 2026

  • Dividend payment in March: The $1.64 per share dividend is payable March 5, 2026, to shareowners of record on February 17, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
U.S. Domestic average daily package volume, 2025 Source17,510 thousand (2024: 19,161 thousand)
U.S. Domestic revenue per piece growth, fourth quarter Source+8.3%
International revenue per piece growth, fourth quarter Source+7.1%
U.S. Domestic non-GAAP adjusted cost per piece, fourth quarter Source$11.92 (2024: $10.95), up 8.9%
U.S. Domestic non-GAAP adjusted cost per piece, 2025 Source$12.20 (2024: $11.38), up 7.2%
Fleet: MD-11 aircraft Sourcefleet retirement completed in fourth quarter 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Planned volume declines from the largest customer continue to shape the U.S. Domestic network and revenue. Source
  • Operational: Management continues to review expected volume changes to identify additional buildings for closure, which could change the network further. Source
  • Financial: The MD-11 retirement carried a $182 million pre-tax impairment charge, which is excluded from non-GAAP adjusted results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the company outperformed its fourth-quarter financial expectations while delivering best-in-class peak service for the eighth year. Source
  • Met: Management reported the Transformation 2.0 initiative as completed in 2025. Source
  • Not stated: Management computed about $3.5 billion of year-over-year cost savings in 2025 from the network initiative. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the Network Reconfiguration and Efficiency Reimagined initiatives are expected to conclude by 2027. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.