United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) Issues FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 12.000-14.000 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 13.130. The company issued revenue guidance of -. United Airlines also updated its Q1 2026 guidance to 1.000-1.500 EPS.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UAL has been the topic of several recent research reports. Weiss Ratings cut United Airlines from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on United Airlines from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of United Airlines in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on shares of United Airlines from $105.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of United Airlines from $115.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $134.94.

United Airlines Trading Down 4.3%

Shares of NASDAQ:UAL opened at $108.57 on Wednesday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $107.36 and its 200 day moving average is $100.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.61. United Airlines has a 1 year low of $52.00 and a 1 year high of $119.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.88, a P/E/G ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.31.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 20th. The transportation company reported $3.10 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.97 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $15.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.35 billion. United Airlines had a return on equity of 26.94% and a net margin of 5.64%.The company’s revenue was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.26 earnings per share. United Airlines has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.000-1.500 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 12.000-14.000 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that United Airlines will post 12.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO J Scott Kirby sold 120,000 shares of United Airlines stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.86, for a total transaction of $12,943,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 666,535 shares in the company, valued at approximately $71,892,465.10. The trade was a 15.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.63% of the company’s stock.

United Airlines News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting United Airlines this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 beat and record revenue — United posted Q4 EPS above consensus ($3.10 vs. $2.97) and reported its highest quarterly revenue in company history, signaling robust demand and margin improvement. United Airlines Q4 and Full Year EPS Beat Wall Street Expectations
• Positive Sentiment: Premium-travel strength and record ticket-sales week — Management and multiple reports highlighted stronger premium and corporate demand (higher-yield customers), which lifts revenue per seat and supports the outlook for record profits in 2026. United Airlines could hit record earnings after strong start to 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Market reaction: shares rally — After-hours and morning coverage note that UAL shares rose on the results and optimistic commentary about premium demand and loyalty revenue growth. United offers upbeat outlook on strong premium travel demand
• Neutral Sentiment: Guidance is encouraging but wide — United set FY2026 EPS guidance of $12.00–$14.00 (consensus ~13.13) and Q1 guidance of $1.00–$1.50 (consensus ~1.07). The ranges imply confidence in the year while leaving room for variability — investors will watch cadence and macro sensitivity. United Airlines Press Release (earnings & guidance)
• Negative Sentiment: Macro risk-off pressure — Broader market volatility (risk-off moves tied to political/tariff headlines and Davos activity) is pressuring futures and could cap upside for airline stocks despite company-specific strength. Markets Switch to “Risk-Off” Ahead of Trump at Davos

Institutional Trading of United Airlines

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bison Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Airlines during the fourth quarter worth about $246,000. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. raised its position in United Airlines by 4.7% during the 3rd quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 6,119 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $591,000 after buying an additional 275 shares during the last quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC lifted its stake in United Airlines by 35.5% during the 3rd quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC now owns 5,595 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $540,000 after acquiring an additional 1,465 shares during the period. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of United Airlines by 36.2% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 4,821 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $465,000 after acquiring an additional 1,282 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Equitable Holdings Inc. increased its stake in shares of United Airlines by 4.9% in the third quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 4,675 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $451,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.69% of the company’s stock.

United Airlines Company Profile

United Airlines Holdings, Inc operates United Airlines, a major U.S. full-service passenger carrier providing scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo. The company offers a comprehensive route network that covers domestic markets across the United States as well as extensive international service to Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific. United operates a mixed fleet of narrow- and wide-body aircraft on point-to-point and hub-and-spoke routes, and supports corporate and leisure travel through offerings such as premium cabins, basic economy, and ancillary services including baggage, seat selection and in-flight amenities.

In addition to passenger operations, United provides cargo services through United Cargo, handling freight, mail and specialized shipments.