UPS recorded adjusted diluted earnings per share of US$5.43 for 2015, a year-on-year increase of 14%, as well as an annual adjusted operating profit of US$2.2 billion for the International business segment.

The figures for EPS and International operating profit were both the company’s highest ever.

“Our flexible integrated network, close collaboration with customers and the extraordinary efforts of UPSers enabled us to achieve great service and record financial performance this quarter,” said David Abney, chief executive officer of UPS. “This year’s results build on our multi-year strategy to deliver improved shareowner value.”

In total, UPS delivered 4.7 billion packages in 2015, a 2.1% increase compared to 2014.

In terms of international packages, UPS attributed the increased profitability to strong performance in Europe, saying that growth in European trans-border products and exports to the US offset a drop in US and Asian exports.

UPS Freight Forwarding also generated a higher operating profit and margin expansion despite a fall in tonnage, according to the company.

Richard Peretz, chief financial officer of UPS, said that the company would continue to invest for profitable growth in the face of macro-economic uncertainties.

“Our guidance for 2016 full-year diluted earnings per share is US$5.70 to US$5.90, an increase of 5% to 9% over adjusted 2015 results,” said Peretz. “Excluding the 2015 discrete tax credits, the growth rate is 7% to 11%.”