{ "ticker": "UPS", "company": "United Parcel Service Inc.", "filing_type": "10-K", "year_current": "2026", "year_prior": "2025", "summary": { "added": 0, "removed": 0, "modified": 7, "unchanged": 15, "total_current": 22, "total_prior": 22 }, "source": "SEC EDGAR", "url": "https://riskdiff.com/ups/2026-vs-2025/", "markdown_url": "https://riskdiff.com/ups/2026-vs-2025/index.md", "json_url": "https://riskdiff.com/ups/2026-vs-2025/index.json", "generated": "2026-05-22", "ai_summary": "UPS maintained its overall risk factor structure between 2025 and 2026, with no new risks added or removed but seven existing risks substantively modified. The most significant modifications addressed climate change regulations and their cost implications, asset impairment risks tied to evolving business plans, competitive pressures in a rapidly transforming industry, and challenges in workforce recruitment and retention. These revisions reflect UPS's updated assessment of regulatory, operational, and market pressures rather than a fundamental shift in identified risk categories.", "risks": [ { "status": "MODIFIED", "current_title": "Regulations related to climate change, including reporting obligations, could materially increase our operating costs.", "prior_title": "Increasingly stringent regulations related to climate change, including reporting obligations, could materially increase our operating costs.", "similarity_score": 0.905, "confidence": "high", "key_changes": [ "Reworded sentence: \"Compliance with such regulations, and any increased or additional regulations, or the associated costs is further complicated by the fact that various countries and regions may adopt different approaches to climate change regulation and disclosures.\"", "Reworded sentence: \"International regulations also continue to increase and could materially increase our operating and other costs.\"", "Reworded sentence: \"15 15 15 In addition, in January 2026, the U.S.\"", "Reworded sentence: \"or abroad, especially aircraft, gasoline or diesel engine emissions, could, among other things, increase the cost of fuel and other energy we purchase and the costs associated with updating or replacing our aircraft or vehicles prematurely.\"", "Reworded sentence: \"It is likely that such regulation could significantly increase our operating costs and that we may not be willing or able to offset such costs.\"" ], "current_body": "Regulation and required disclosures of greenhouse gas (\"GHG\") emissions and related matters exposes us to potentially significant new taxes, fees, disclosure and compliance obligations and other costs. Compliance with such regulations, and any increased or additional regulations, or the associated costs is further complicated by the fact that various countries and regions may adopt different approaches to climate change regulation and disclosures. In the U.S., Congress has considered but, to date, not passed various bills that would regulate GHG emissions. Nevertheless, we believe some form of federal climate change legislation is possible in the future. Even in the absence of such legislation, the Environmental Protection Agency could determine to regulate GHG emissions, especially aircraft or diesel engine emissions, and this could impose substantial costs on us. International regulations also continue to increase and could materially increase our operating and other costs. For example, the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative, a European regulation, mandates jet fuel suppliers in Europe supply a target percentage of sustainable aviation fuel (\"SAF\") at airports inside the European Union. The SAF target percentage started at 2% in 2025 and increases to 70% by 2050. The cost of SAF can be higher than conventional jet fuel, and SAF suppliers can pass this cost along to purchasers, which can increase our operating costs, potentially significantly. This initiative has also mandated increased reporting requirements. Also beginning in 2025, we have been required to monitor and report the non-carbon dioxide aviation effects for certain routes in the European Union. These requirements are expected to increase in the future, and may expand beyond reporting, either of which would increase our compliance costs. In addition, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (\"CORSIA\"), a global, market-based emissions offset program to encourage carbon-neutral growth began a voluntary pilot phase in 2021, with mandatory participation scheduled to begin in 2027. Details regarding implementation of CORSIA continue to develop, and compliance may increase our operating costs, potentially significantly. 15 15 15 In addition, in January 2026, the U.S. withdrew from the Paris Climate Accords. The effect that the withdrawal may have on future U.S. policy regarding GHG emissions, on CORSIA and on other GHG regulation remains uncertain. The extent to which other countries implement those accords could also have a material adverse effect on us. Increased regulation relating to GHG emissions in the U.S. or abroad, especially aircraft, gasoline or diesel engine emissions, could, among other things, increase the cost of fuel and other energy we purchase and the costs associated with updating or replacing our aircraft or vehicles prematurely. We cannot predict the impact any future regulation will have on our cost structure or our operating results. It is likely that such regulation could significantly increase our operating costs and that we may not be willing or able to offset such costs. Moreover, even without such regulation, increased awareness and any adverse publicity about the GHGs emitted by airline and transportation companies could harm our reputation and reduce customer demand for our services, especially our air services. Furthermore, many countries and U.S. states have adopted, or are expected to adopt, additional requirements relating to GHG emissions disclosures and related matters. These requirements may differ or conflict from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Compliance with these requirements may increase our operating costs or require significant management time and attention. Any failure to comply with applicable regulations could result in substantial fines or other penalties, which could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_body": "Regulation and required disclosures of greenhouse gas (\"GHG\") emissions and related matters exposes us to potentially significant new taxes, fees, disclosure and compliance obligations and other costs. Compliance with such regulation, and any increased or additional regulation, or the associated costs is further complicated by the fact that various countries and regions may adopt different approaches to climate change regulation and disclosures. In the U.S., Congress has considered but, to date, not passed various bills that would regulate GHG emissions. Nevertheless, we believe some form of federal climate change legislation is possible in the future. Even in the absence of such legislation, the Environmental Protection Agency could determine to regulate GHG emissions, especially aircraft or diesel engine emissions, and this could impose substantial costs on us. International regulations also continue to increase and could materially increase our operating costs. For example, the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative, a European regulation, mandates jet fuel suppliers in Europe supply a target percentage of sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) at airports inside the European Union. The SAF target percentage starts at 2% in 2025 and increases to 70% by 2050. The cost of SAF can be higher than conventional jet fuel, and these suppliers can pass this cost along to purchasers, which can increase our operating costs, potentially significantly. In addition, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (\"CORSIA\"), a global, market-based emissions offset program to encourage carbon-neutral growth began a voluntary pilot phase in 2021, with mandatory participation scheduled to begin in 2027. Details regarding implementation of CORSIA continue to develop, and compliance may increase our operating costs, potentially significantly. In addition, in January 2025, the President of the U.S. signed an executive order indicating that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Climate Accords. The effect that the withdrawal may have on future U.S. policy regarding GHG emissions, on CORSIA and on other GHG regulation remains uncertain. The extent to which other countries implement those accords could also have a material adverse effect on us. Increased regulation relating to GHG emissions in the U.S. or abroad, especially aircraft, gasoline or diesel engine emissions, could, among other things, increase the cost of fuel and other energy we purchase and the capital costs associated with updating or replacing our aircraft or vehicles prematurely. We cannot predict the impact any future regulation will have on our cost structure or our operating results. It is likely that such regulation could significantly increase our operating costs and 15 15 15 that we may not be willing or able to pass such costs along to our customers. Moreover, even without such regulation, increased awareness and any adverse publicity in the global marketplace about the GHGs emitted by companies in the airline and transportation industries could harm our reputation and reduce customer demand for our services, especially our air services. Furthermore, many countries, as well as U.S. states, in which we operate or are subject to regulation have adopted, or are expected to adopt, additional requirements relating to the disclosure of GHG emissions and related matters. In many cases these requirements differ and may conflict from country to country. Compliance with these disclosure requirements may increase our operating costs or require significant management time and attention. Any failure to comply with applicable disclosure regulations in the U.S. (at either the federal or state level) or other countries could result in substantial fines or other penalties, which could materially adversely affect us." }, { "status": "MODIFIED", "current_title": "Changes in markets and our business plans have resulted, and may in the future result, in substantial impairments of the carrying value of our assets, thereby reducing our net income.", "prior_title": "Changes in markets and our business plans have resulted, and may in the future result, in substantial impairments of the carrying value of our assets, thereby reducing our net income.", "similarity_score": 0.902, "confidence": "high", "key_changes": [ "Reworded sentence: \"If the carrying value of an asset exceeds its estimated fair value, we may be required to incur charges to reduce its carrying value.\"" ], "current_body": "We regularly assess the carrying values of our assets relative to their estimated fair values. If the carrying value of an asset exceeds its estimated fair value, we may be required to incur charges to reduce its carrying value. Fair value determinations are dependent on a significant number of estimates and assumptions that could be impacted by a variety of factors, including changes in business strategy, revenues, expenses, acquisition integration activities, government regulations, costs of capital and economic or market conditions. The use of different estimates or assumptions could also result in different fair value estimates. Our fair value estimates have resulted from time to time, and may in the future result, in substantial impairments of our assets. While we did not incur any impairments of goodwill during 2025 or 2024, certain of our reporting units experienced a decrease in the excess of their estimated fair values over their respective carrying values during each year. We have been and may be required in the future to recognize additional impairments of long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and leases, which could be material. For example, as previously disclosed, we have recorded 14 14 14 $182 million in asset impairment charges during the fourth quarter of 2025. Furthermore, we have been and may be required in the future to recognize accelerated depreciation and amortization charges if we determine the useful lives or salvage values of our assets are less than we originally estimated. Changes in our business plans, including network changes that began in 2025, have led to and may in the future lead to revisions in our estimates of useful lives or salvage values of our assets. Such charges have in the past, and may in the future, reduce our net income, potentially materially.", "prior_body": "We regularly assess the carrying values of our assets relative to their estimated fair values. If the carrying value of an asset exceeds its estimated fair value, we may be required to incur charges to reduce the carrying value thereof. The determination of fair value is dependent on a significant number of estimates and assumptions that could be impacted by a variety of factors, including changes in business strategy, revenue, expenses, government regulations, including regulation related to climate change, costs of capital and economic or market conditions. The use of different estimates or assumptions could also result in different estimates of fair value. Our estimates of fair value have resulted from time to time, and may in the future result, in substantial impairments of our assets. For example, during the year ended December 31, 2023, as a result of a number of factors including changes in business strategy and challenging macroeconomic conditions such as increases in the risk-free interest rate and volatility of the stock prices of market comparables, we incurred impairment charges of $125 and $111 million in respect of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, respectively. While we did not identify any impairment of goodwill during 2024, certain of our reporting units experienced a decrease in the excess of their estimated fair values over their respective carrying values. Additional decreases could result in goodwill or other impairment charges, which could be material. We have been and may be required in the future to recognize impairments of long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and leases. Furthermore, we have been and may be required in the future to recognize increased depreciation and amortization charges if we determine the useful lives or salvage values of our assets are less than we originally estimated. Changes in our business plans, including anticipated changes to our network in 2025, have previously and may in the future lead to revisions in our estimates of useful lives or salvage values of our assets. Such charges have in the past, and may in the future, reduce our net income, potentially materially." }, { "status": "MODIFIED", "current_title": "Our industry continues to rapidly evolve. We expect to continue to face significant competition, which could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "Our industry is rapidly evolving. We expect to continue to face significant competition, which could materially adversely affect us.", "similarity_score": 0.896, "confidence": "high", "key_changes": [ "Reworded sentence: \"New and emerging technologies continue to create additional sources of competition, and if we fail to incorporate new and emerging technologies as effectively as our competitors, our competitive position may be harmed.\"" ], "current_body": "Our industry continues to rapidly evolve, including demands for faster deliveries, increased visibility into shipments and development of other services. We expect to continue to face significant local, regional, national and international competition. Competitors include the U.S. and international postal services, various motor carriers, express companies, freight forwarders, air couriers, large transportation companies, e-commerce companies and other retailers that continue to make significant investments in their own technology and logistics capabilities, some of whom are currently our customers. We also face competition from start-ups and other smaller companies that combine technologies with flexible labor solutions such as crowdsourcing. New and emerging technologies continue to create additional sources of competition, and if we fail to incorporate new and emerging technologies as effectively as our competitors, our competitive position may be harmed. Competitors have cost, operational and organizational structures that differ from ours and may offer services or pricing terms that we are not willing to offer. Additionally, from time to time we have raised, and may in the future raise, prices and our customers may not be willing to accept these higher prices. If we do not appropriately respond to competitive pressures, including retaining or replacing volume lost to competitors or maintaining our profitability, we could be materially adversely affected. Industry growth, or lack thereof, may further increase competition. As a result, opportunities for growth could be limited or competitors may improve their financial capacity and strengthen their competitive positions. Business combinations could also result in competitors providing a wider variety of services and products at competitive prices, which could also materially adversely affect us.", "prior_body": "Our industry continues to rapidly evolve, including demands for faster deliveries, increased visibility into shipments and development of other services. We expect to continue to face significant local, regional, national and international competition. Competitors include the U.S. and international postal services, various motor carriers, express companies, freight forwarders, air couriers, large transportation companies, e-commerce companies and other retailers that continue to make significant investments in their own technology and logistics capabilities, some of whom are currently our customers. We also face competition from start-ups and other smaller companies that combine technologies with flexible labor solutions such as crowdsourcing. New and emerging technologies are also creating additional sources of competition. Competitors have cost, operational and organizational structures that differ from ours and may offer services or pricing terms that we are not willing to offer. Additionally, from time to time we have raised, and may in the future raise, prices and our customers may not be willing to accept these higher prices. If we do not appropriately respond to competitive pressures, including retaining or replacing volume lost to competitors or maintaining our profitability, we could be materially adversely affected. Industry growth, or lack thereof, may further increase competition. As a result, opportunities for growth could be limited or competitors may improve their financial capacity and strengthen their competitive positions. Business combinations could also result in competitors providing a wider variety of services and products at competitive prices, which could also materially adversely affect us." }, { "status": "MODIFIED", "current_title": "Failure to attract or retain qualified employees could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "Failure to attract or retain qualified employees could materially adversely affect us.", "similarity_score": 0.871, "confidence": "high", "key_changes": [ "Reworded sentence: \"We depend on the skills and continued service of our large, global workforce.\"", "Reworded sentence: \"In addition, our Network Reconfiguration and Efficiency Reimagined initiatives have led to, and are expected to continue to lead to, consolidations of our facilities and workforce, as well as an end-to-end process redesign.\"" ], "current_body": "We depend on the skills and continued service of our large, global workforce. Annually, we also hire many part-time and seasonal workers. We must be able to attract, develop and retain a large global workforce. If we are unable to hire, properly train or retain qualified employees, we could experience increased labor costs, reduced revenues, increased workers' compensation and automobile liability claims costs, regulatory noncompliance, customer losses and diminution of our brand value or company culture, which could materially adversely affect us. Our ability to control labor costs has in the past been, and is expected to continue to be, subject to numerous factors, including labor-related contractual obligations, turnover, training costs, regulatory changes, market pressures, inflation, unemployment levels and healthcare and other benefit costs. In addition, our Network Reconfiguration and Efficiency Reimagined initiatives have led to, and are expected to continue to lead to, consolidations of our facilities and workforce, as well as an end-to-end process redesign. Our inability to continue to retain experienced and motivated employees through the execution of these and other initiatives may also materially adversely affect us.", "prior_body": "We depend on the skills and continued service of our large workforce. We also regularly hire a large number of part-time and seasonal workers. We must be able to attract, develop and retain a large and diverse global workforce. If we are unable to hire, properly train or retain qualified employees, we could experience higher labor costs, reduced revenues, further increased workers' compensation and automobile liability claims costs, regulatory noncompliance, customer losses and diminution of our brand value or company culture, which could materially adversely affect us. Our ability to control labor costs has in the past been, and is expected to continue to be, subject to numerous factors, including labor-related contractual obligations, turnover, training costs, regulatory changes, market pressures, inflation, unemployment levels and healthcare and other benefit costs. In addition, we continue to strive to lower our cost to serve, including labor costs, through various strategic initiatives. Our inability to continue to retain experienced and motivated employees through the execution of these initiatives may also materially adversely affect us." }, { "status": "MODIFIED", "current_title": "Increasingly complex and stringent laws, regulations and policies could materially increase our operating costs.", "prior_title": "Increasingly complex and stringent laws, regulations and policies could materially increase our operating costs.", "similarity_score": 0.866, "confidence": "high", "key_changes": [ "Reworded sentence: \"In addition, we are and expect to continue to be impacted by laws, regulations and policies that affect global trade, including tariff and trade policies, export requirements, embargoes, sanctions, taxes, monetary policies and other restrictions and charges.\"", "Reworded sentence: \"and various of its trading partners are unpredictable, and existing and future trade agreements are, and are expected to continue to be, subject to a number of uncertainties, including the imposition of new tariffs or adjustments and changes to existing tariff policies.\"", "Removed sentence: \"For example, as previously disclosed, the SEC recently investigated our controls and practices surrounding impairment analyses in connection with the divestiture of UPS Freight in April 2021.\"", "Removed sentence: \"On November 22, 2024, we entered into a settlement with the SEC, without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings in connection with alleged violations of Section 17(a)(2) and (3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (and related provisions), resolving the investigation.\"", "Removed sentence: \"Under the terms of the settlement, we agreed to pay a civil penalty, and agreed to remedial actions, training and process changes.\"" ], "current_body": "We are subject to complex and stringent aviation, transportation, environmental, security, labor, employment, safety, privacy, disclosure and data protection and other governmental laws, regulations and policies, both in the U.S. and internationally. In addition, we are and expect to continue to be impacted by laws, regulations and policies that affect global trade, including tariff and trade policies, export requirements, embargoes, sanctions, taxes, monetary policies and other restrictions and charges. Trade discussions and arrangements between the U.S. and various of its trading partners are unpredictable, and existing and future trade agreements are, and are expected to continue to be, subject to a number of uncertainties, including the imposition of new tariffs or adjustments and changes to existing tariff policies. The impact of new laws, regulations and policies or decisions or interpretations by authorities applying those laws and regulations, cannot be predicted. Compliance with any new laws, regulations or policies may increase our operating costs or require significant capital expenditures. Any failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations or policies in the U.S. or other countries could result in substantial fines or possible revocation of our authority to conduct our operations, which could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_body": "We are subject to complex and stringent aviation, transportation, environmental, security, labor, employment, safety, privacy, disclosure and data protection and other governmental laws, regulations and policies, both in the U.S. and internationally. In addition, we are impacted by laws, regulations and policies that affect global trade, including tariff and trade policies, export requirements, embargoes, sanctions, taxes, monetary policies and other restrictions and charges. Trade discussions and arrangements between the U.S. and various of its trading partners are fluid, and existing and future trade agreements are, and are expected to continue to be, subject to a number of uncertainties, including the imposition of new tariffs or adjustments and changes to the products covered by existing tariffs. The impact of new laws, regulations and policies or decisions or interpretations by authorities applying those laws and regulations, cannot be predicted. Compliance with any new laws, regulations or policies may increase our operating costs or require significant capital expenditures. Any failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations or policies in the U.S. or other countries could result in substantial fines or possible revocation of our authority to conduct our operations, which could materially adversely affect us. For example, as previously disclosed, the SEC recently investigated our controls and practices surrounding impairment analyses in connection with the divestiture of UPS Freight in April 2021. On November 22, 2024, we entered into a settlement with the SEC, without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings in connection with alleged violations of Section 17(a)(2) and (3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (and related provisions), resolving the investigation. Under the terms of the settlement, we agreed to pay a civil penalty, and agreed to remedial actions, training and process changes." }, { "status": "MODIFIED", "current_title": "Changes or continued uncertainty in general economic conditions, in the U.S. and internationally, may adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "Changes in general economic conditions, in the U.S. and internationally, may adversely affect us.", "similarity_score": 0.838, "confidence": "high", "key_changes": [ "Reworded sentence: \"Changes or continued uncertainty in general economic conditions are beyond our control, and it may be difficult for us to adjust our business model.\"" ], "current_body": "We conduct operations in over 200 countries and territories. Our operations are subject to national and international economic factors, as well as the local economic environments in which we operate. Changes or continued uncertainty in general economic conditions are beyond our control, and it may be difficult for us to adjust our business model. For example, we are affected by industrial production, inflation, unemployment, consumer spending, retail activity levels and international trade policies. We have been, and may in the future be, materially affected by adverse developments or uncertainty in these and other aspects of the economy. We have also been, and may in the future be, adversely impacted by changes in general economic conditions resulting from geopolitical uncertainty, tensions and/or conflicts in or arising from various countries and regions, including the European Union, Ukraine, the Russian Federation, the Middle East and the Trans-Pacific region. Changes or uncertainty in general economic conditions, or our inability to accurately forecast these changes or mitigate the impact of these conditions on our business, could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_body": "We conduct operations in over 200 countries and territories. Our operations are subject to national and international economic factors, as well as the local economic environments in which we operate. Changes in general economic conditions are beyond our control, and it may be difficult for us to adjust our business model. For example, we are affected by industrial production, inflation, unemployment, consumer spending and retail activity levels. We have been, and may in the future be, materially affected by adverse developments in these aspects of the economy. We have also been, and may in the future be, adversely impacted by changes in general economic conditions resulting from geopolitical uncertainty and/or conflicts in or arising from the countries and regions where we operate, including the European Union, Ukraine, the Russian Federation, the Middle East and the Trans-Pacific region. Changes in general economic conditions, or our inability to accurately forecast these changes or mitigate the impact of these conditions on our business, could materially adversely affect us." }, { "status": "MODIFIED", "current_title": "Changes in our relationships with any of our significant customers, including as a result of our strategy to reduce volume from our largest customer or the loss or reduction in business from one or more other customers, could have a material adverse effect on us.", "prior_title": "Changes in our relationships with any of our significant customers, including the loss or reduction in business from one or more of them, could have a material adverse effect on us.", "similarity_score": 0.77, "confidence": "high", "key_changes": [ "Reworded sentence: \"Our strategy includes planned volume declines from our largest customer, Amazon.com, Inc.\"", "Reworded sentence: \"Customer impact on our revenue and profitability can vary based on a number of factors including: contractual volume amounts; pricing terms; product launches; e-commerce or other industry trends, including those related to the holiday season; business combinations and the overall growth of a customer's underlying business; as well as any disruptions to their business.\"", "Reworded sentence: \"If all or a portion of our business relationships with one or more significant customers were to terminate or significantly change in an unplanned manner, this could materially adversely affect us.\"" ], "current_body": "Our strategy includes planned volume declines from our largest customer, Amazon.com, Inc. For 2025, this customer and its affiliates accounted for 10.6% of our consolidated revenues. In connection with the execution of this strategy, we have made and continue to make reductions in the number of our facilities, vehicles and aircraft, and our workforce, intended to better align our assets and workforce to our planned operations, and to eliminate stranded costs. In the event we are not able to successfully make appropriate adjustments or control related costs, our profitability could be materially impacted. For 9 9 9 additional information on the operational and financial impacts arising from this strategy, see \"Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations\". Some of our other larger customers can account for a relatively significant portion of our volume and revenues in a particular quarter or year. Customer impact on our revenue and profitability can vary based on a number of factors including: contractual volume amounts; pricing terms; product launches; e-commerce or other industry trends, including those related to the holiday season; business combinations and the overall growth of a customer's underlying business; as well as any disruptions to their business. Customers could choose, and have in the past chosen, to divert all or a portion of their business with us to one of our competitors, demand pricing concessions, request enhanced services that increase our costs, or develop their own logistics capabilities. In addition, certain of our significant customer contracts include termination rights of either party upon the occurrence of certain events or without cause upon advance notice to the other party. If all or a portion of our business relationships with one or more significant customers were to terminate or significantly change in an unplanned manner, this could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_body": "For the year ended December 31, 2024, one customer, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates, accounted for 11.8% of our consolidated revenues. In the first quarter of 2025, we entered into an agreement in principle with this customer that will provide for a reduction in their volume by more than 50% by June 2026. In connection therewith, we are making certain business and operational changes intended to match our workforce to our activity and eliminate our stranded costs. In the event we are not able to successfully reduce our costs in connection therewith, our profitability could be materially impacted. For additional information on the expected operational and financial impacts arising from this agreement, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. Some of our other larger customers can account for a relatively significant portion of our volume and revenues in a particular quarter or year. Customer impact on our revenue and profitability can vary based on a number of factors, including: contractual volume amounts; pricing terms; product launches; e-commerce or other industry trends, including those related to the holiday season; business combinations and the overall growth of a customer's underlying business; as well as any disruptions to their businesses. Customers could choose, and have in the past chosen, to divert all or a portion of their business 9 9 9 with us to one of our competitors, demand pricing concessions, request enhanced services that increase our costs, or develop their own logistics capabilities. In addition, certain of our significant customer contracts include termination rights of either party upon the occurrence of certain events or without cause upon advance notice to the other party. If all or a portion of our business relationships with one or more significant customers were to terminate or significantly change, this could materially adversely affect us." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "Failure to maintain our brand image and corporate reputation could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "Failure to maintain our brand image and corporate reputation could materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "Our success depends in part on our reputation and our ability to maintain a positive image of the UPS brand. Service quality issues, actual or perceived, could tarnish the image of our brand and may cause customers not to use our services. Also, adverse publicity or public sentiment surrounding labor relations, safety matters, environmental, sustainability and governance concerns, physical or cyber security matters, political activities and similar matters, or attempts to connect our company to such issues, either in the U.S. or elsewhere, could materially adversely affect us. For example, damage to our reputation or loss of brand equity could require the allocation of resources to rebuild our reputation and restore the value of our brand. The proliferation of social media may increase the likelihood, speed, and magnitude of negative brand events." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "Changes in foreign currency exchange rates or interest rates may have a material adverse effect on us.", "prior_title": "Changes in foreign currency exchange rates or interest rates may have a material adverse effect on us.", "current_body": "We conduct business in many countries, with a significant portion of our revenue derived from operations outside the United States. Our international operations are affected by changes in the exchange rates for local currencies, particularly the Euro, British Pound Sterling, Canadian Dollar, Chinese Renminbi and Hong Kong Dollar. We are affected by changes in interest rates, primarily on our short-term debt and that portion of our long-term debt that carries floating interest rates. Additionally, changes in interest rates impact the valuation of our pension and postretirement benefit obligations and the related costs recognized in the statements of consolidated income. The impact of changes in interest rates on our pension and postretirement benefit obligations and costs, and on our debt, is discussed further in Part I, \"Item 7 - Critical Accounting Estimates,\" and Part II, \"Item 7A - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk\", respectively, of this report. We monitor and manage foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate exposures, and use derivative instruments to mitigate the impact of changes in these rates on our financial condition and results of operations; however, changes in foreign 13 13 13 currency exchange rates and interest rates cannot always be predicted or effectively hedged, and may have a material adverse effect on us." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "We maintain significant physical operations. Increases in operational security requirements impose substantial costs on us and we could be the target of an attack or have a security breach, which could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "We maintain significant physical operations. Increases in operational security requirements impose substantial costs on us and we could be the target of an attack or have a security breach, which could materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "As a result of concerns about global terrorism and physical security, various governments have adopted and may adopt additional heightened security requirements, significantly increasing our operating costs. Regulatory and legislative requirements may change in response to evolving threats. We cannot determine the effect that any new requirements will have on our operations, cost structure or operating results, and new rules or other future security requirements may significantly increase our operating costs and reduce operating efficiencies. Compliance with security requirements or our own security measures may not prevent attacks or security breaches, which could materially adversely affect us." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "Severe weather or other natural or man-made disasters could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "Severe weather or other natural or man-made disasters could materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "The increased severity or frequency of certain weather conditions (including as a result of climate change) or other natural or man-made disasters, including storms, floods, fires, wind gusts, earthquakes, rising temperatures, epidemics, pandemics, conflicts, civil or political unrest, safety failures or terrorist attacks, have in the past and may in the future disrupt our business. Customers may reduce shipments, supply chains may be disrupted, demand may be negatively impacted, property may be 12 12 12 damaged, employees may be injured, or our costs to operate our business may increase, any of which could have a material adverse effect on us. Any such event affecting one of our major facilities could result in a significant interruption in or disruption of our business. To the extent that weather conditions or other disasters become more frequent or severe, disruptions to our business and those of our customers and costs to repair damaged facilities or maintain or resume operations could increase. Furthermore, as a result of the impact of climate change on the frequency or severity of weather conditions and other disasters, insurance providers may reduce the availability or increase the cost of insurance." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "Employee health and retiree health and pension benefit costs represent a significant expense to us; further cost increases could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "Employee health and retiree health and pension benefit costs represent a significant expense to us; further cost increases could materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "Our employee health, retiree health and pension benefit expenses are significant. In recent years, we have experienced increases in some of these costs, including increased healthcare costs exceeding the rate of inflation and discount rates that we use to value our company-sponsored defined benefit plan obligations. Increasing healthcare costs, volatility in investment returns and discount rates, as well as changes in laws, regulations and assumptions used to calculate retiree health and pension benefit expenses, may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations, and have required, and may in the future require, significant contributions to our benefit plans. Our national master agreement with the Teamsters includes provisions that are designed to mitigate certain healthcare expenses, but there can be no assurance that our efforts will be successful or that these expense increases will not materially adversely affect us. We participate in various trustee-managed multiemployer pension and health and welfare plans for employees covered under collective bargaining agreements. As part of the collective bargaining process, we have agreed to contribute certain amounts to the multiemployer benefit plans during the contract period. The multiemployer benefit plans set benefit levels and are responsible for benefit delivery to participants. Future contribution amounts to multiemployer benefit plans will be determined through collective bargaining. In future collective bargaining negotiations we could agree to make significantly higher contributions to one or more of these plans. At this time, we are unable to determine the amount of additional future contributions, if any, or whether any material adverse effect on us could result from our participation in these plans." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "Changing fuel and energy prices, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, and interruptions in supplies of these commodities could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "Changing fuel and energy prices, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, and interruptions in supplies of these commodities could materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "Fuel and energy costs have a significant impact on our operations. We require significant quantities of fuel for our aircraft and delivery vehicles and are exposed to the risks associated with variations in the market price for petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. We seek to mitigate our exposure to changing fuel prices through pricing strategies and have in the past and may in the future utilize hedging transactions. There can be no assurance that these strategies will be effective. If we are unable to maintain or increase our fuel surcharges, higher fuel costs could materially adversely impact our operating results. Even if we can offset changes in fuel costs with surcharges, high fuel surcharges have in the past, and may in the future, result in customers shifting from our higher-yielding products to lower-yielding products or an overall reduction in volume, revenue and profitability. Moreover, we could experience a disruption in energy supplies as a result of new or increased regulations, war or other conflicts, weather-related events or natural disasters, actions by producers (including as part of their own sustainability efforts) or other factors beyond our control, which could have a material adverse effect on us." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "Insurance and claims expense could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "Insurance and claims expense could materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "We have a combination of both self-insurance and high-deductible insurance programs for the risks arising out of our business and operations, including claims exposure resulting from cargo loss, cyber-attacks, personal injury, property damage, aircraft and related liabilities, business interruption and workers' compensation. Self-insured workers' compensation, automobile and general liabilities are determined using actuarial estimates of the aggregate liability for claims incurred and an estimate of incurred but not reported claims, on an undiscounted basis. Our accruals for insurance reserves reflect certain actuarial assumptions and management judgments, which are subject to a high degree of variability. If the number, severity or cost of claims for which we retain risk increases, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. If we lose our ability to, or decide not to, self-insure these risks, our insurance costs could materially increase and it could be difficult to obtain adequate levels of insurance coverage." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "We may have significant additional tax liabilities that could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "We may have significant additional tax liabilities that could materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and many foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes. There are many transactions and calculations where our ultimate tax liability is uncertain. We are regularly under audit by tax authorities in many jurisdictions. Economic and political pressures to increase tax revenue may make resolving tax disputes more difficult. The final determination of tax audits and any related litigation could be materially different from our historical income tax provisions and accruals. In addition, changes in U.S. federal and state or international tax laws, other fundamental law changes currently being considered by many countries, and changes in taxing jurisdictions’ administrative interpretations, decisions, policies and positions may materially adversely impact our tax expense and cash flows." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "Our business requires significant capital and other investments; if we do not accurately forecast our future investment needs, we could be materially adversely affected.", "prior_title": "Our business requires significant capital and other investments; if we do not accurately forecast our future investment needs, we could be materially adversely affected.", "current_body": "Our business requires significant capital investments, including in aircraft, vehicles, technology, facilities and sortation and other equipment. In addition to forecasting our capital investment requirements, we adjust other elements of our operations and cost structure in response to strategic initiatives, and economic and regulatory conditions. These investments support both our existing business and our strategic initiatives. Forecasting amounts, types and timing of investments involves many factors which are subject to uncertainty and may be beyond our control, such as technological changes, general economic trends, revenues, profitability, changes in governmental regulation and competition. If we do not accurately forecast our future capital investment needs, we could under- or over-invest, or have excess capacity or insufficient capacity, which could materially adversely affect us." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "Strikes, work stoppages or slowdowns by our employees could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "Strikes, work stoppages or slowdowns by our employees could materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "Many of our U.S. employees are employed under a national master agreement with the Teamsters and various supplemental agreements with affiliated local unions. Our national master agreement with the Teamsters expires on July 31, 2028. Our airline pilots, airline mechanics, ground mechanics and certain other employees are employed under other collective bargaining agreements that expire at various times. In addition, some of our international employees are employed under collective bargaining or similar agreements. Employees who are not employed under a collective bargaining agreement may choose to organize in the future. Actual or threatened strikes, work stoppages or slowdowns could adversely affect our ability to meet our customers' needs. As a result, customers have in the past reduced, and in the future may reduce, their business or stop doing business with us if they believe that such actions may adversely affect our ability to provide services. We may permanently lose customers if we are unable to provide uninterrupted service, and this could materially adversely affect us. The terms of collective bargaining agreements also may affect our competitive position and results of operations. Furthermore, our actions or responses to any such negotiations, labor disputes, strikes or work stoppages could negatively impact how our brand is perceived and our reputation and could materially adversely affect us." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "Economic, political, or social developments and other risks associated with international operations could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "Economic, political, or social developments and other risks associated with international operations could materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "We have significant international operations and, as a result, we are exposed to changing economic, political and social developments in several countries which are beyond our control. Emerging markets are often more volatile than those in developed countries, and any broad-based downturn in these markets could reduce our revenues and materially adversely affect us. We are subject to many laws governing our international operations, including those that prohibit improper payments to government officials and commercial customers, govern our environmental impact or labor matters, restrict where we can do business, regulate our services to certain countries and limit information that we can provide to non-U.S. governments. Our failure to manage and anticipate these and other risks associated with our international operations could materially adversely affect us." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "A significant cybersecurity incident, increased data protection regulations, or other information technology related risks, could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "A significant cybersecurity incident, or increased data protection regulations, could materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "We rely on information technology networks and systems and other operational technologies to operate our business, including the internet and internally developed systems and applications, as well as certain technology systems from third-party vendors (collectively referred to as \"IT\"). For example, we rely on IT to receive package level information in advance of the 10 10 10 physical receipt of packages, move and track packages through our operations, efficiently plan deliveries, execute billing processes, provide information to package recipients, manage employee data and track and report financial and operational data. Our franchise locations and subsidiaries also rely on IT to manage their business processes and activities. IT (ours, as well as those of our franchisees, acquired businesses, and third-party service providers) have been and will continue to be susceptible to damage, disruptions and shutdowns due to programming errors, defects or other vulnerabilities, power outages, hardware failures, misconfigurations, computer viruses, cyber-attacks, encryption caused by ransomware or malware attacks, exfiltration of data, attacks by foreign governments, state-sponsored actors, or criminal groups, theft, misconduct by employees or other insiders, telecommunications failures, misuse, human errors or other catastrophic events. In recent periods, the frequency and sophistication of cyber-attacks have increased and are expected to continue to increase, including as a result of state-sponsored cybersecurity attacks during periods of geopolitical conflict. In addition, we are increasing our utilization of artificial intelligence (\"AI\") to optimize our operations, improve the customer experience and support decision-making. The rapid evolution and increased adoption of AI technologies has and may continue to intensify our cybersecurity risks. AI technologies often require access to large volumes of sensitive data. If our AI systems are compromised through cyberattacks or unauthorized access, it could result in data breaches, a loss of proprietary information, or violations of data protection laws. Additionally, leveraging AI capabilities for our internal functions may introduce additional operational vulnerabilities by producing inaccurate outcomes, recommendations or other suggestions based on flaws in the underlying data, or other unintended results. Accordingly, we may be unable to anticipate these risks or implement adequate measures to recognize, detect or prevent the occurrence of any of the events described above. In addition, our security processes, protocols and standards may not be sufficient, effective or may not be complied with, either intentionally or inadvertently. Cybersecurity incidents have in the past and may in the future expose us, our customers, employees, franchisees, service providers or others, to loss, disclosure or misuse of proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data or result in disruptions to our operations or those of our customers, franchisees, service providers or others. For example, cyber criminals have in the past gained access to customer accounts and are expected to continue to try to gain access to customer accounts. Criminal activity includes fraudulently inserting, diverting and misappropriating items being transported in our network, fraudulently charging shipment fees to customer or franchisee accounts, and fraudulently sending text messages to recipients purporting to be from UPS. The occurrence of any of the events described above could result in material disruptions in our business, the loss of existing or potential customers, damage to our brand and reputation, additional regulatory scrutiny, litigation and other potential material liability. We also may not discover the occurrence of any of the events described above for a significant period after the event occurs. Additionally, it may take considerable time for us to investigate and evaluate the full impact of incidents, particularly for sophisticated attacks. These factors may inhibit our ability to provide prompt, full, and reliable information about the incident to our customers, regulators and the public. We utilize and interact with the IT of third parties for many aspects of our business, including related to our customers, franchisees and service providers such as cloud service providers and third-party delivery service providers. These third parties have access to information we maintain about our company, operations, customers, employees and vendors, or operating systems that are critical to or can significantly impact our business operations. These third parties are subject to risks described above, and other risks, that could damage, disrupt or close down their networks or systems. The security processes, protocols and standards that we implement, and the contractual provisions requiring security measures that we impose on such third parties, may not be sufficient or effective at preventing such events or may not be adhered to. These events have in the past and could in the future result in unauthorized access to, or disruptions or denials of access to, misuse or disclosure of, information or systems that are important to us, including proprietary information, sensitive or confidential data, and other information about our operations, customers, employees and suppliers, including personal information. We have invested and expect to continue to invest in IT security initiatives, IT risk management and disaster recovery capabilities. The costs and operational consequences of implementing, maintaining and enhancing data or system protection measures could increase significantly to mitigate increasingly frequent, complex and sophisticated cyber threats and regulatory requirements. In addition, our customers’ confidence in our ability to protect data and systems and to provide services consistent with their expectations could be impacted, further disrupting our operations. While we maintain cyber insurance, we cannot be certain that our coverage will be adequate for any liabilities actually incurred, that insurance will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all, or that any insurer will not deny coverage as to any claim. To date we are unaware of any material data breach or cybersecurity incident, including an information system disruption, although we cannot provide any assurances that a material event or impact will not occur in the future. Our efforts to deter, 11 11 11 identify, mitigate and/or eliminate future breaches or cybersecurity incidents may require significant additional effort and expense and may not be successful. In addition, there has recently been heightened regulatory and enforcement focus relating to the collection, use, retention, transfer, and processing of personal data in the U.S. (at both the state and federal level) and internationally. This includes the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, the California Privacy Rights Act, the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act, and other similar laws that have been or are expected to be enacted by other jurisdictions. In addition, China and certain other jurisdictions have enacted more stringent data localization requirements. An actual or alleged failure to comply with applicable data protection laws, regulations, or other data protection standards has in the past and may in the future expose us to litigation, fines, sanctions, or other penalties, which could harm our reputation and materially adversely affect us. The regulatory environment is increasingly challenging, based on discretionary factors, and difficult to predict. Consequently, compliance with applicable regulations may present material obligations and risks to our business, including significantly expanded compliance burdens, costs, and enforcement risks which are expected to increase over time; require us to make extensive system or operational changes; or adversely affect the cost or attractiveness of the services we offer." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "We may be subject to various other claims and lawsuits that could result in significant expenditures which may materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "We may be subject to various claims and lawsuits that could result in significant expenditures which may materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "The nature of our business exposes us to the potential for various claims and litigation related to labor and employment, personal injury, property damage, business practices, environmental liability and other matters. Any material litigation or a catastrophic accident or series of accidents could result in significant expenditures and have a material adverse effect on us." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "Inability to effectively integrate acquired businesses and realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisitions, joint ventures or strategic alliances could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "Our inability to effectively integrate any acquired businesses and realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisitions, joint ventures or strategic alliances could materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "As part of our strategy, from time to time we acquire businesses, form joint ventures and enter strategic alliances. Whether we realize the anticipated benefits from these transactions depends, in part, upon successful integration between the businesses involved, the performance of the underlying operations, capabilities or technologies and the management of the acquired operations. Accordingly, our financial results could be materially adversely affected by our delay or failure to effectively integrate acquired operations, unanticipated performance or other issues or transaction or other integration-related charges." }, { "status": "UNCHANGED", "current_title": "The effects of global climate change could materially adversely affect us.", "prior_title": "Global climate change could materially adversely affect us.", "current_body": "The effects of climate change have presented and will continue to present financial and operational risks to our business, both directly and indirectly. We have disclosed an intention to reduce our carbon emissions, including our goal to achieve carbon neutrality in our global operations by 2050 and our other short- and mid-term environmental sustainability goals. Our ability to meet our goals will depend in part on significant technological advancements, many of which are beyond our control. This includes the development and availability of reliable, affordable and low emission energy solutions, including sustainable aviation fuel and alternative fuel and battery electric vehicles. There can be no assurances that our goals and strategic plans to achieve those goals will be successful, that the related costs will not be higher than expected, that the necessary technological advancements will occur in the timeframe we expect, or at all, that the severity of and or the pace of negative climate-related effects will not accelerate faster than expected, or that proposed regulation or deregulation related to climate change will not have a negative competitive impact, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on us. Furthermore, methodologies for reporting climate-related information may change and previously reported information may need to be adjusted to reflect new reporting protocols or regulations. These could include changes in the availability and quality of third-party data, changing assumptions, changes in the nature and scope of our operations and other changes in circumstances. Our processes and controls for reporting climate-related information across our operations are evolving along with multiple disparate standards for identifying, measuring and reporting sustainability metrics, including disclosures that may be required by U.S. federal or state, or international, regulators. Such standards may change over time, which could result in significant revisions to our current goals, reported progress in achieving such goals, or our ability to achieve such goals. Changes in regulation or technology impacting our business could require us to write down the carrying value of assets, which could result in material impairment charges. Moreover, we may determine that it is in our best interests to prioritize other investments over the achievement of our goals based on economic, regulatory, business strategy or other factors. If we do not meet our goals or there is perception that we failed to meet these goals, then, in addition to regulatory and legal risks related to compliance, we could incur adverse publicity and reaction, which could materially adversely impact us." } ] }