Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) vs Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL)
DAL leads on 10 of 17 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 14, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
DAL
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
$83.06Industrials
ODFL
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.
$245.75Industrials
Total return — DAL vs ODFL
growth of $100 · last 19yDAL +297.2%ODFL +5324.9%ODFL compounded faster
Log scale — wide-divergence pair
DAL ODFL
DAL vs ODFL: by the numbers
- •DAL is the larger company ($54.57B vs $51.11B market cap).
- •DAL trades at the lower earnings multiple (12.13 vs 51.41 P/E).
- •ODFL converts more revenue to profit (18.46% vs 6.87% net margin).
- •DAL grew revenue faster over the past five years (38.80% vs 5.60% CAGR).
- •DAL pays the higher dividend yield (0.90% vs 0.46%).
Which is better, DAL or ODFL?
Metric tally: DAL 10 · ODFL 7It depends on what you're optimizing for:
ValueDAL(lower P/E)
GrowthDAL(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeDAL(higher dividend yield)
QualityODFL(higher ROIC)
Valuation
| Metric | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 12.13● | 51.41 |
| Forward P/E | 15.17● | 38.80 |
| P/S ratio | 0.83● | 9.43 |
| P/B ratio | 2.66● | 11.69 |
| PEG ratio | 0.21● | 4.62 |
| EV / EBITDA | 6.95● | 29.99 |
| FCF yield | 7.24%● | 1.98% |
Profitability
| Metric | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 26.19% | 30.91%● |
| Operating margin | 8.83% | 24.57%● |
| Net margin | 6.87% | 18.46%● |
| ROE | 21.97% | 22.89%● |
| ROIC | 8.30% | 19.91%● |
Dividends
| Metric | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 0.90%● | 0.46% |
| Payout ratio | 9.72% | 23.51% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | DAL | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 38.80%● | 5.60% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 0.89% | 11.14%● |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | 115.85%● | 4.53% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 13.04% | 14.94%● |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, DAL or ODFL?
- It depends on your goal. value: DAL (lower P/E); growth: DAL (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: DAL (higher dividend yield); quality: ODFL (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, DAL leads 10 to 7.
- Is DAL or ODFL cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, DAL is cheaper: DAL trades at a 12.13 P/E and ODFL at 51.41.
- Which has grown faster, DAL or ODFL?
- Over the past five years, DAL grew revenue faster — DAL at a 38.80% CAGR versus ODFL at 5.60%.
- Does DAL or ODFL pay a bigger dividend?
- DAL yields 0.90% and ODFL yields 0.46% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is DAL or ODFL more profitable?
- ODFL runs the higher net margin — DAL at 6.87% versus ODFL at 18.46%.
- Which has been the better investment, DAL or ODFL?
- Over the past 10-year, ODFL delivered the higher annualized total return — DAL at 8.36% versus ODFL at 29.03%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Delta Air Lines P/E ratioOld Dominion Freight Line P/E ratioDelta Air Lines dividend yieldOld Dominion Freight Line dividend yieldDelta Air Lines ROEOld Dominion Freight Line ROEDelta Air Lines operating marginOld Dominion Freight Line operating marginDelta Air Lines revenue growthOld Dominion Freight Line revenue growthDelta Air Lines free cash flowOld Dominion Freight Line free cash flow
Delta Air Lines & Old Dominion Freight Line appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 14, 2026.