Primecap Management Co. CA Purchases Shares of 16,461,630 United Airlines Holdings Inc $UAL

Primecap Management Co. CA acquired a new position in shares of United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:UAL) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 16,461,630 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,238,617,000. United Airlines accounts for about 1.3% of Primecap Management Co. CA’s portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest position. Primecap Management Co. CA owned 5.07% of United Airlines as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of United Airlines in the 4th quarter valued at $234,244,000. Deutsche Bank AG purchased a new stake in United Airlines during the 2nd quarter worth $178,571,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new stake in United Airlines in the 2nd quarter valued at $178,508,000. Holocene Advisors LP purchased a new position in United Airlines in the second quarter valued at about $84,753,000. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of United Airlines by 56.8% during the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 2,928,657 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $325,549,000 after purchasing an additional 1,060,371 shares in the last quarter. 69.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Airlines Stock Up 3.4%

Shares of NASDAQ UAL opened at $117.41 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.78. United Airlines Holdings Inc has a 1 year low of $84.64 and a 1 year high of $138.77. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $123.85 and its 200-day simple moving average is $108.63. The firm has a market cap of $38.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.98, a PEG ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 1.28.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 15th. The transportation company reported $1.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.88 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $17.67 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.62 billion. United Airlines had a return on equity of 19.05% and a net margin of 5.56%.United Airlines’s revenue for the quarter was up 16.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $3.87 EPS. United Airlines has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.000-11.000 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that United Airlines Holdings Inc will post 10.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Key Stories Impacting United Airlines

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

• Positive Sentiment: United will add 10 international destinations and three new routes across Europe and Asia to its 2027 schedule, including locations such as Marseille, Sardinia, Luxembourg, Ibiza and Okinawa. The expansion could increase revenue opportunities and strengthen United’s premium international travel business. United Airlines adds 2027 flights spanning Sardinia to Okinawa
• Positive Sentiment: The carrier expects sufficient deliveries of Airbus A321XLR aircraft to support its 2027 European expansion. These long-range narrow-body jets can allow United to profitably operate routes to smaller cities without relying on larger wide-body aircraft. United Airlines expects enough Airbus A321XLR deliveries for 2027 Europe expansion
• Positive Sentiment: CEO Scott Kirby said demand for overseas travel remains strong and discussed the company’s ability to offset higher oil prices. Continued robust international demand supports United’s revenue and earnings outlook. United Airlines CEO on Expansion Plans, Airfares, Demand
• Neutral Sentiment: TD Cowen lowered its price target for United from $205 to $192 but retained a Buy rating. The reduced target may reflect valuation or industry risks, although the rating still signals a favorable long-term view. TD Cowen price target update
• Neutral Sentiment: Reported short interest was zero shares, providing no meaningful evidence of short-covering or bearish positioning. The figure may reflect a data-reporting issue rather than a substantive change in investor sentiment.

Insider Activity at United Airlines

In other news, CEO J Scott Kirby sold 159,321 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.05, for a total value of $18,807,844.05. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 797,851 shares in the company, valued at approximately $94,186,310.55. This represents a 16.64% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, President Brett J. Hart sold 30,108 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.72, for a total transaction of $3,634,637.76. Following the transaction, the president directly owned 371,583 shares in the company, valued at $44,857,499.76. The trade was a 7.50% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders sold 266,010 shares of company stock valued at $31,732,909 in the last 90 days. 0.86% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on UAL. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on United Airlines from $131.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 2nd. UBS Group boosted their price target on United Airlines from $148.00 to $153.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 23rd. TD Cowen decreased their price target on United Airlines from $205.00 to $192.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of United Airlines in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their price objective on shares of United Airlines from $172.00 to $165.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $157.74.

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.