PBI vs UPS

For growth investors, United Parcel Service, Inc.

(UPS) is the stronger pick with -2. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 6% for Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI). United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) offers the better valuation at 15. 2x trailing P/E (14. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI) a "Hold" — based on 7 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, United Parcel Service, Inc.

(UPS) is the cheapest at 15. 2x versus Pitney Bowes Inc. at 17. 9x. On forward P/E, Pitney Bowes Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Pitney Bowes Inc.

(PBI) delivered a total return of +113. 9%, compared to -39. 4% for United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UPS returned +45. 4% versus PBI's +1. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), United Parcel Service, Inc.

(UPS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 90β versus Pitney Bowes Inc. 's 1. 07β — meaning PBI is approximately 19% more volatile than UPS relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), United Parcel Service, Inc.

(UPS) is pulling ahead at -2. 5% versus -6. 6% for Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Pitney Bowes Inc. grew EPS 174. 3% year-over-year, compared to -3. 0% for United Parcel Service, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, UPS leads at -4. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Pitney Bowes Inc.

(PBI) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 6% net margin versus 6. 3% for United Parcel Service, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PBI leads at 20. 4% versus 9. 6% for UPS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PBI leads at 54. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Pitney Bowes Inc.

(PBI) trades at 9. 9x forward P/E versus 14. 1x for United Parcel Service, Inc. — 4. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UPS: 15. 4% to $115. 23.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) offers the highest yield at 6. 4%, versus 2. 0% for Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, United Parcel Service, Inc.

(UPS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 90), 6. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UPS: +45. 4%, PBI: +1. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.