I’m Zack Fuss and today we are breaking down UPS. We cover the impetus behind UPS’ better not bigger strategy, Amazon’s position in the parcel delivery market, and the secular shifts taking place in the industry.
Our guest is the CEO of Colossus and former Transport Analyst Matt Reustle.
Show Notes
[00:00:00] – Introduction
[00:02:37] – [First question] – The footprint of UPS in the US economy
[00:04:11] – What relevant metrics analysts use to understand UPS’ value
[00:06:57] – How logistics networks work and operating leverage on their fixed assets
[00:10:43] – UPS’ origin story and key differences between it, Amazon, and FedEx
[00:18:24] – Whether or not Amazon is consuming the market or if the market is growing
[00:22:20] – Decreased return on capital and the roadmap to increase returns going forward
[00:25:14] – Making a decision to lean into their network and what it meant for their customers
[00:27:33] – The importance of management and needing outsider management
[00:31:40] – Capital investment programs and what Amazon’s growth means for UPS
[00:34:41] – Secular changes versus historical cyclicality of fulfillment businesses
[00:36:35] – Competitive impacts Amazon and USPS could have on UPS’ future success
[00:42:26] – Why cross-border delivery is such a lucrative aspect of this market
[00:42:51] – Lessons for investors and builders when studying UPS’ story