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United Parcel Service Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 lowered, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Non-GAAP profit rose, GAAP profit fell: Consolidated revenue was $22.8 billion. Non-GAAP adjusted operating profit was $2.1 billion, against $1,876 million a year earlier. GAAP operating profit was $930 million, against $1,822 million. Source
  • Transformation charges weighed on GAAP: After-tax transformation charges were mainly employee separation costs linked to the Driver Choice Program. The charges are excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin rose to 9.2%: GAAP operating margin was 4.1%, against 8.6% a year earlier. Non-GAAP adjusted operating margin was 9.2%, against 8.8%. Source
  • Transformation costs reached $1.8 billion: Transformation costs were $1,172 million this quarter, against $74 million a year earlier, and are excluded from non-GAAP results. Costs to date total $1.8 billion. Source
  • Domestic revenue rose on revenue per piece: U.S. Domestic revenue was $14,930 million, up 6.0%. GAAP operating margin was 0.1%; non-GAAP adjusted operating margin was 8.0%, against 7.0%. Source
  • Network changes followed largest customer decline: The Network Reconfiguration initiative began with planned volume declines from the largest customer and expands the Network of the Future program. Source
  • Amazon glide down completed as designed: The CEO said the Amazon glide down and related network reconfiguration were completed as designed over the past 18 months. Source

“Our second-quarter results marked an expected and significant shift in our performance and we delivered both consolidated revenue and non-GAAP adjusted operating profit growth.”

Carol Tomé, UPS chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Consolidated revenue SourceFull year 2026approximately $91.2 billionRaised from approximately $89.7 billion
Non-GAAP adjusted operating profit SourceFull year 2026approximately $8.65 billionRaised
Non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026approximately $7.22Raised
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026about $3.0 billionKept
Dividend payments SourceFull year 2026around $5.4 billion, subject to board approvalKept
Effective tax rate SourceFull year 2026approximately 23.0%Kept
Transformation costs excluded from non-GAAP operating expense SourceFull year 2026between $1.3 and $1.5 billionKept
Driver Choice Program share of transformation costs SourceFull year 2026$1.1 billionLowered from $1.2 billion
Network initiative program benefits SourceFull year 2026approximately $3 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year consolidated revenue guidance raised from about $89.7 billion to about $91.2 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year non-GAAP adjusted operating profit target of about $8.65 billion. The prior release framed the target as a margin of about 9.6%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS guidance raised to about $7.22. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Driver Choice Program share of excluded transformation costs lowered from $1.2 billion to $1.1 billion. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capital expenditure, dividend payment and effective tax rate figures confirmed without change from the prior release. Source
  • Ended: Amazon glide down and related network reconfiguration described as completed. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Non-GAAP profit rose, GAAP profit fell: Consolidated revenue was $22.8 billion. Non-GAAP adjusted operating profit was $2.1 billion, against $1,876 million a year earlier. GAAP operating profit was $930 million, against $1,822 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose, GAAP EPS fell: Non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS was $1.76, against $1.55. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.71, against $1.51, with net income of $604 million against $1,283 million. Source
  • Transformation charges weighed on GAAP: After-tax transformation charges were mainly employee separation costs linked to the Driver Choice Program. The charges are excluded from non-GAAP results. Source

Margins and transformation spend

  • Adjusted operating margin rose to 9.2%: GAAP operating margin was 4.1%, against 8.6% a year earlier. Non-GAAP adjusted operating margin was 9.2%, against 8.8%. Source
  • Transformation costs reached $1.8 billion: Transformation costs were $1,172 million this quarter, against $74 million a year earlier, and are excluded from non-GAAP results. Costs to date total $1.8 billion. Source
  • Domestic cost per piece higher: U.S. Domestic non-GAAP adjusted cost per piece was $13.09, against $12.12. GAAP cost per piece was $14.23, against $12.18. Source

“and are raising our full-year consolidated revenue, non-GAAP adjusted operating profit and non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS guidance.”

Carol Tomé, UPS chief executive officer

Segments and regions

  • Domestic revenue rose on revenue per piece: U.S. Domestic revenue was $14,930 million, up 6.0%. GAAP operating margin was 0.1%; non-GAAP adjusted operating margin was 8.0%, against 7.0%. Source
  • International revenue up, margin lower: International revenue was $5,044 million, up 12.5%. Operating margin was 12.4% on both bases, against 15.2% adjusted a year earlier. Source
  • Supply Chain Solutions revenue rose: Supply Chain Solutions revenue was $2,860 million, up 7.8%. Operating margin was 10.2% on both bases, against 8.0% adjusted a year earlier. Source

Volume and customer concentration

  • Six-month domestic volume lower: Average daily U.S. Domestic package volume for the six months was 16,020 thousand, against 16,991 thousand a year earlier. Source
  • Network changes followed largest customer decline: The Network Reconfiguration initiative began with planned volume declines from the largest customer and expands the Network of the Future program. Source

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Six-month free cash flow higher: Six-month free cash flow was $1,573 million, against $742 million. Operating cash flow was $3,083 million, against $2,666 million. Source
  • Capital spending lower than last year: Six-month capital expenditures were $1,724 million, against $1,999 million. Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment were $198 million, against $91 million. Source

Strategy and transformation program

  • Amazon glide down completed as designed: The CEO said the Amazon glide down and related network reconfiguration were completed as designed over the past 18 months. Source
  • Transformation designed to change structure: The transformation strategy is designed to change spans and layers, processes, technologies and the business portfolio, and has spanned several years. Source
  • Efficiency Reimagined extends network redesign: Efficiency Reimagined was launched to redesign processes end to end and align them with the network reconfiguration, beyond ordinary ongoing efforts. Source

Workforce and leadership

  • Workforce of about 460,000 employees: The company describes its workforce as about 460,000 employees, and a strategy it summarizes as Customer First, People Led, Innovation Driven. Source
  • Driver Choice Program recently completed: The Driver Choice Program, described as recently completed, is the main source of employee separation costs in this quarter's transformation charges. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 July 2026

  • Further facility and workforce reductions: Management said the network reconfiguration will continue to lead to further reductions in facilities, vehicles, aircraft and workforce. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volumes SourceAverage daily U.S. Domestic package volume 16,002 thousand, against 16,553 thousand
Revenue per unit SourceInternational revenue per piece up 18.9%; U.S. Domestic up 9.3%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Network changes reduced the operational workforce and closed some daily operations at leased and owned buildings. Source
  • Financial: Transformation costs are excluded from non-GAAP results, and management states such costs are not expected to drive incremental revenue. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: In April, management said the second quarter would bring revenue and operating profit growth and adjusted margin expansion. This release reports both growth items as delivered.
  • Not stated: Management reiterated that the transformation 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.