Debt to Equity
since 2005
Calculation
United Parcel Service Inc., debt to equity, long-term trends, calculation
| Debt to equity | = | Long-term debt, finance leases and commercial paper1 | ÷ | Equity for controlling interests1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2024 | 1.27 | = | 21,284) | ÷ | 16,718) |
| Dec 31, 2023 | 1.29 | = | 22,264) | ÷ | 17,306) |
| Dec 31, 2022 | 0.99 | = | 19,662) | ÷ | 19,786) |
| Dec 31, 2021 | 1.54 | = | 21,915) | ÷ | 14,253) |
| Dec 31, 2020 | 37.53 | = | 24,654) | ÷ | 657) |
| Dec 31, 2019 | 7.73 | = | 25,238) | ÷ | 3,267) |
| Dec 31, 2018 | 7.53 | = | 22,736) | ÷ | 3,021) |
| Dec 31, 2017 | 24.29 | = | 24,289) | ÷ | 1,000) |
| Dec 31, 2016 | 39.69 | = | 16,075) | ÷ | 405) |
| Dec 31, 2015 | 5.80 | = | 14,334) | ÷ | 2,470) |
| Dec 31, 2014 | 5.04 | = | 10,787) | ÷ | 2,141) |
| Dec 31, 2013 | 1.68 | = | 10,872) | ÷ | 6,474) |
| Dec 31, 2012 | 2.77 | = | 12,870) | ÷ | 4,653) |
| Dec 31, 2011 | 1.58 | = | 11,128) | ÷ | 7,035) |
| Dec 31, 2010 | 1.36 | = | 10,846) | ÷ | 7,979) |
| Dec 31, 2009 | 1.25 | = | 9,521) | ÷ | 7,630) |
| Dec 31, 2008 | 1.46 | = | 9,871) | ÷ | 6,780) |
| Dec 31, 2007 | 0.90 | = | 11,018) | ÷ | 12,183) |
| Dec 31, 2006 | 0.27 | = | 4,116) | ÷ | 15,482) |
| Dec 31, 2005 | 0.24 | = | 3,980) | ÷ | 16,884) |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2010-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2009-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2008-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2007-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2006-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2005-12-31).
1 US$ in millions
The financial data reveals several notable trends in long-term debt, equity, and debt-to-equity ratio over the examined period.
- Long-term debt, finance leases and commercial paper
- The company’s long-term debt demonstrates an overall increasing trend from 2005 through 2017, rising from approximately $3.98 billion in 2005 to a peak of nearly $24.3 billion in 2017. After 2017, the debt levels decreased to around $21.3 billion by 2024, with some fluctuations in the interim. This pattern indicates an expansion phase followed by a period of controlled deleveraging or stabilization of debt levels in recent years.
- Equity for controlling interests
- Equity experienced a substantial decline from 2005 to 2012, falling from $16.9 billion to just $4.7 billion. Thereafter, a recovery phase ensued, with equity rising gradually to $14.3 billion by 2021. Subsequently, equity values again showed a slight decline to approximately $16.7 billion by 2024. The initial decline in equity may reflect operational challenges or restructuring, while the recovery signifies restored shareholder value or capital infusion in the latter period.
- Debt to equity ratio
- This ratio exhibited significant volatility over the period. It was relatively low and stable around 0.24 to 0.27 in 2005-2006, then sharply increased to above 2.7 by 2012, peaking even more dramatically to 39.69 in 2016. After 2016, the ratio declined substantially to below 2 by 2021 and remained steady around 1.27 in 2024. The sharp spikes reflect periods where debt vastly exceeded equity, likely due to the substantial erosion of equity rather than surges in debt alone. The subsequent normalization suggests efforts to improve the capital structure balance.
Overall, the company experienced phases of heavy leverage buildup with very high leverage ratios coinciding with depressed equity levels. The more recent trend indicates a strategic move toward reducing financial risk by bolstering equity and managing debt, resulting in more stable and moderate leverage metrics.
Comparison to Competitors
United Parcel Service Inc., debt to equity, long-term trends, comparison to competitors
| United Parcel Service Inc. | FedEx Corp. | Uber Technologies Inc. | Union Pacific Corp. | United Airlines Holdings Inc. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2024 | 1.27 | 0.73 | 0.39 | 1.85 | 2.26 |
| Dec 31, 2023 | 1.29 | 0.79 | 0.84 | 2.20 | 3.40 |
| Dec 31, 2022 | 0.99 | 0.81 | 1.26 | 2.74 | 4.68 |
| Dec 31, 2021 | 1.54 | 0.86 | 0.64 | 2.10 | 7.03 |
| Dec 31, 2020 | 37.53 | 1.20 | 0.62 | 1.58 | 4.75 |
| Dec 31, 2019 | 7.73 | 0.99 | 0.40 | 1.39 | 1.29 |
| Dec 31, 2018 | 7.53 | 0.85 | — | 1.10 | 1.47 |
| Dec 31, 2017 | 24.29 | 0.93 | — | 0.68 | 1.63 |
| Dec 31, 2016 | 39.69 | 1.01 | — | 0.75 | 1.35 |
| Dec 31, 2015 | 5.80 | 0.48 | — | 0.69 | 1.31 |
| Dec 31, 2014 | 5.04 | 0.31 | — | 0.54 | 5.06 |
| Dec 31, 2013 | 1.68 | 0.17 | — | 0.45 | 4.16 |
| Dec 31, 2012 | 2.77 | 0.11 | — | 0.45 | 27.37 |
| Dec 31, 2011 | 1.58 | 0.11 | — | 0.48 | 7.05 |
| Dec 31, 2010 | 1.36 | 0.14 | — | 0.52 | 8.76 |
| Dec 31, 2009 | 1.25 | 0.19 | — | 0.58 | — |
| Dec 31, 2008 | 1.46 | 0.14 | — | 0.58 | — |
| Dec 31, 2007 | 0.90 | 0.21 | — | 0.49 | 3.49 |
| Dec 31, 2006 | 0.27 | 0.21 | — | 0.44 | 4.93 |
| Dec 31, 2005 | 0.24 | 0.29 | — | 0.54 | — |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2010-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2009-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2008-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2007-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2006-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2005-12-31).
Comparison to Sector (Transportation)
United Parcel Service Inc., debt to equity, long-term trends, comparison to sector (transportation)
| United Parcel Service Inc. | Transportation | |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2024 | 1.27 | 1.15 |
| Dec 31, 2023 | 1.29 | 1.48 |
| Dec 31, 2022 | 0.99 | 1.61 |
| Dec 31, 2021 | 1.54 | 1.63 |
| Dec 31, 2020 | 37.53 | 2.02 |
| Dec 31, 2019 | 7.73 | 1.36 |
| Dec 31, 2018 | 7.53 | 1.45 |
| Dec 31, 2017 | 24.29 | 1.39 |
| Dec 31, 2016 | 39.69 | 1.32 |
| Dec 31, 2015 | 5.80 | 1.01 |
| Dec 31, 2014 | 5.04 | 0.95 |
| Dec 31, 2013 | 1.68 | 0.75 |
| Dec 31, 2012 | 2.77 | 0.92 |
| Dec 31, 2011 | 1.58 | 0.81 |
| Dec 31, 2010 | 1.36 | 0.90 |
| Dec 31, 2009 | 1.25 | 0.86 |
| Dec 31, 2008 | 1.46 | 0.84 |
| Dec 31, 2007 | 0.90 | 0.70 |
| Dec 31, 2006 | 0.27 | 0.54 |
| Dec 31, 2005 | 0.24 | 1.07 |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2010-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2009-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2008-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2007-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2006-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2005-12-31).
Comparison to Industry (Industrials)
United Parcel Service Inc., debt to equity, long-term trends, comparison to industry (industrials)
| United Parcel Service Inc. | Industrials | |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2024 | 1.27 | 1.38 |
| Dec 31, 2023 | 1.29 | 1.52 |
| Dec 31, 2022 | 0.99 | 1.42 |
| Dec 31, 2021 | 1.54 | 1.37 |
| Dec 31, 2020 | 37.53 | 1.82 |
| Dec 31, 2019 | 7.73 | 1.82 |
| Dec 31, 2018 | 7.53 | 1.85 |
| Dec 31, 2017 | 24.29 | 1.65 |
| Dec 31, 2016 | 39.69 | 1.54 |
| Dec 31, 2015 | 5.80 | 1.51 |
| Dec 31, 2014 | 5.04 | 1.89 |
| Dec 31, 2013 | 1.68 | 1.79 |
| Dec 31, 2012 | 2.77 | 2.29 |
| Dec 31, 2011 | 1.58 | 2.60 |
| Dec 31, 2010 | 1.36 | 2.68 |
| Dec 31, 2009 | 1.25 | 3.01 |
| Dec 31, 2008 | 1.46 | 3.54 |
| Dec 31, 2007 | 0.90 | 2.73 |
| Dec 31, 2006 | 0.27 | 2.49 |
| Dec 31, 2005 | 0.24 | 2.42 |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2010-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2009-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2008-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2007-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2006-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2005-12-31).