Summary
United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) reported total revenues of $51.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2008, representing a 3.6% increase compared to the prior year. The company navigated a challenging economic environment, with its U.S. Domestic Package segment showing modest revenue growth of 0.9%, primarily driven by increased revenue per piece. International Package revenue saw a more robust increase of 9.8%, supported by volume growth and favorable currency exchange rates, though trends slowed in the latter half of the year due to global economic conditions. The company's financial results were significantly impacted by a substantial charge of $6.1 billion related to its withdrawal from the Central States Pension Fund in 2007, which heavily influenced year-over-year comparisons. Excluding this one-time item and other charges, operating profit showed improvement, reflecting strong performance in the International Package and Supply Chain & Freight segments. Despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop, UPS demonstrated resilience through pricing adjustments, cost management, and strategic investments in its global network and technology, positioning it for future growth. Key financial highlights include a strong balance sheet with $1.049 billion in cash and marketable securities and $6.780 billion in shareholder equity as of year-end 2008, alongside robust credit ratings from Moody's and Standard & Poor's. The company also continued its commitment to shareholder returns through dividends and share repurchases.
Financial Highlights
50 data points| Revenue | $51.49B |
| Operating Expenses | $46.10B |
| Operating Income | $5.38B |
| Interest Expense | $442.00M |
| Net Income | $3.00B |
| EPS (Basic) | $2.96 |
| EPS (Diluted) | $2.94 |
| Shares Outstanding (Basic) | 1.02B |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted) | 1.02B |
Key Highlights
- 1Total revenue for 2008 reached $51.5 billion, up 3.6% from $49.7 billion in 2007.
- 2U.S. Domestic Package revenue grew by 0.9% to $31.3 billion, with a 3.0% increase in revenue per piece, partially offset by a 2.0% decline in average daily package volume due to the recession.
- 3International Package revenue increased by 9.8% to $11.3 billion, driven by a 6.8% volume increase in export products and a 6.1% rise in revenue per piece.
- 4The company reported a net income of $3.003 billion ($2.94 diluted EPS) for 2008, a significant increase from $382 million ($0.36 diluted EPS) in 2007, largely due to the absence of a $6.1 billion pension withdrawal charge in 2007.
- 5Operating expenses decreased by 6.1% primarily due to a reduction in compensation and benefits, largely attributable to the absence of the prior year's pension withdrawal charge.
- 6The company maintained strong financial health with $1.049 billion in cash and marketable securities and $6.780 billion in shareowners' equity at year-end 2008.
- 7Significant investments were made in capital expenditures, totaling $2.6 billion, including expansion of the Worldport hub and international facilities in China.