Susquehanna Has Lowered Expectations for United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) Stock Price

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) had its target price cut by analysts at Susquehanna from $150.00 to $130.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a “positive” rating on the transportation company’s stock. Susquehanna’s price objective suggests a potential upside of 27.86% from the stock’s current price.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on UAL. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of United Airlines from $131.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 2nd. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $160.00 price target on shares of United Airlines in a research note on Tuesday. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of United Airlines from $157.50 to $140.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 28th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on United Airlines from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price target on United Airlines from $146.00 to $139.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 16th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Airlines presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $157.44.

United Airlines Trading Up 4.0%

UAL stock opened at $101.67 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $33.00 billion, a PE ratio of 11.09, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.30. United Airlines has a 12 month low of $84.64 and a 12 month high of $138.77. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $109.91 and its 200 day moving average is $110.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.72.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 20th. The transportation company reported $2.54 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.57 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $17.88 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.89 billion. United Airlines had a net margin of 5.46% and a return on equity of 18.09%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 17.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.78 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that United Airlines will post 7.87 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, President Brett Hart sold 30,108 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.72, for a total value of $3,634,637.76. Following the completion of the sale, the president directly owned 371,583 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $44,857,499.76. This represents a 7.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, EVP Torbjorn J. Enqvist sold 20,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.91, for a total transaction of $2,398,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 114,800 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,765,668. This trade represents a 14.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 62,308 shares of company stock worth $7,520,754. Company insiders own 0.86% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Primecap Management Co. CA bought a new stake in shares of United Airlines in the 2nd quarter valued at about $2,238,617,000. Deutsche Bank AG purchased a new stake in shares of United Airlines in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $178,571,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new position in shares of United Airlines during the second quarter valued at approximately $178,508,000. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in shares of United Airlines during the second quarter valued at approximately $153,537,000. Finally, PointState Capital LP bought a new position in shares of United Airlines during the second quarter valued at approximately $120,968,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.69% of the company’s stock.

United Airlines News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: United forecast fourth-quarter revenue of approximately $18.5 billion, above the $18.2 billion analyst consensus and representing year-over-year growth of more than 20%. The outlook suggests customers continue to spend despite higher fares. United Airlines forecasts record fourth-quarter revenue growth above 20%
• Positive Sentiment: Management said United recaptured 72% of the increase in quarterly fuel expenses through pricing and other measures. The airline also expanded its revolving credit facility from $3 billion to $5 billion, strengthening liquidity amid an uncertain cost environment. United Airlines: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors
• Positive Sentiment: Approval of Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 could eventually help United receive additional aircraft and improve fleet capacity, though the benefit is more relevant to 2027 and beyond. Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 Approval
• Neutral Sentiment: Unusually heavy call-option activity—123,676 contracts, about 546% above average—signals increased speculative bullish interest, but options trading does not change United’s underlying fundamentals.
• Negative Sentiment: United’s third-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.54 missed the $2.57 consensus, while revenue of $17.88 billion was essentially in line with expectations. EPS also declined from $2.78 a year earlier as fuel costs rose. UAL Q3 Earnings Miss on Surging Fuel Costs
• Negative Sentiment: Fourth-quarter EPS guidance of $0.50–$1.50 was well below the $1.81 consensus. United also warned that elevated fuel costs may persist through 2027, raising concerns about margins and forcing a reduction in its profit outlook. United Airlines Sees Elevated Fuel Costs Through 2027
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Scott Kirby’s support for a wealth tax has attracted political criticism, particularly given his reported compensation. The controversy may create reputational noise, but it is unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Doubles Down on Wealth Tax Support

About United Airlines

United Airlines Holdings, Inc is the parent company of United Airlines, a major U.S. commercial airline headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company provides scheduled passenger air transportation and air cargo services, connecting customers across the United States and to international destinations.

United operates a broad network serving North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Its operations are supported by hubs in major U.S. cities, including Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington, DC, as well as an extensive network of regional carriers operating under the United Express brand.

The company offers several travel classes and related services, including premium-cabin seating, onboard amenities, airport lounges and the MileagePlus customer loyalty program.