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

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) updated its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 9.000-11.000 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 9.960. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their target price on United Airlines from $136.00 to $153.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 1st. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on United Airlines from $182.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of United Airlines from $132.00 to $171.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, June 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of United Airlines from $131.00 to $162.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of United Airlines from $130.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $151.62.

United Airlines Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of UAL stock opened at $120.97 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 1.25. United Airlines has a 12-month low of $82.42 and a 12-month high of $138.77. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $113.92 and its 200-day moving average price is $106.56.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The transportation company reported $1.99 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.89 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $17.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.57 billion. United Airlines had a return on equity of 24.33% and a net margin of 6.06%.The firm’s revenue was up 16.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.87 earnings per share. United Airlines has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.000-11.000 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that United Airlines will post 10.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at United Airlines

In related news, EVP Andrew P. Nocella sold 7,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.19, for a total value of $631,330.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 215,345 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,421,965.55. The trade was a 3.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO J Scott Kirby sold 1,078 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.74, for a total transaction of $130,157.72. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 797,851 shares in the company, valued at $96,332,529.74. This represents a 0.13% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 96,381 shares of company stock valued at $10,837,575 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.86% of the company’s stock.

United Airlines News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: United beat Q2 estimates, reporting adjusted EPS of $1.99 versus consensus near $1.89-$1.92 and revenue of $17.67 billion, slightly ahead of expectations. United Airlines (UAL) Beats Q2 Earnings Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: The company lifted FY 2026 EPS guidance to $9 to $11, signaling management expects profits to land at the high end of its prior range despite a more volatile operating backdrop. United Airlines Lifts Outlook as Higher Fares Blunt Turbulent Fuel Prices
• Positive Sentiment: Management said strong travel demand and higher fares are helping offset fuel pressure, and United also expanded premium seating on select aircraft, which could support revenue per seat over time. United Expands Premium Seating With Empty Middle Seat on Select Flights
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and media coverage continue to frame United as a high-expectations name, with recent preview pieces highlighting resilient demand but also the importance of how the airline manages fuel volatility. United Airlines Q2 Preview: High-End Beat Expected, Fuel a Wild Card
• Negative Sentiment: Higher fuel assumptions are the main headwind, with United warning of about $6 billion in added fuel costs, which is pressuring sentiment even after the earnings beat. United Airlines Earnings Top Estimates but $6 Billion in Added Fuel Costs Bites

Institutional Trading of United Airlines

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Compound Planning Inc. grew its position in United Airlines by 9.8% in the fourth quarter. Compound Planning Inc. now owns 4,905 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $548,000 after acquiring an additional 437 shares in the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its stake in United Airlines by 109.7% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 193,974 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $21,690,000 after acquiring an additional 101,487 shares during the last quarter. Virtue Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in United Airlines during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $201,000. Owlhouse Capital LP purchased a new stake in United Airlines during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $5,166,000. Finally, First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. lifted its stake in shares of United Airlines by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 104,142 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $11,645,000 after purchasing an additional 2,277 shares during the last quarter. 69.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About United Airlines

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.