United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) Issues Q1 2026 Earnings Guidance

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) issued an update on its first quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 1.000-1.500 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 1.070. The company issued revenue guidance of -. United Airlines also updated its FY 2026 guidance to 12.000-14.000 EPS.

United Airlines Trading Down 4.3%

Shares of UAL stock traded down $4.92 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $108.57. 9,135,462 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,464,740. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.31. United Airlines has a 12-month low of $52.00 and a 12-month high of $119.21. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $107.08 and its 200-day moving average price is $100.51. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 20th. The transportation company reported $3.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.13. United Airlines had a net margin of 5.64% and a return on equity of 26.94%. The business had revenue of $15.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.35 billion. 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. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that United Airlines will post 12.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on UAL shares. Morgan Stanley set a $150.00 price objective on United Airlines and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Loop Capital set a $110.00 price target on shares of United Airlines in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of United Airlines in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of United Airlines in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of United Airlines from $105.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, United Airlines presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $134.94.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Airlines

In related news, CEO J Scott Kirby sold 120,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.86, for a total value of $12,943,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 666,535 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $71,892,465.10. The trade was a 15.26% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.63% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Key United Airlines News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings beat — United reported $3.10 EPS vs. $2.97 expected and posted record Q4 revenue and full?year FY25 diluted EPS of $10.20 (adjusted $10.62), signaling strong profitability and margin improvement. View Press Release
• Positive Sentiment: Premium and loyalty strength — Management said premium cabin and loyalty revenue grew faster than overall sales, helping unit revenue and positioning United to capture higher-yield travel demand. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Positive industry commentary — TV and market commentators (including Jim Cramer) are upbeat on the “big five” travel names, which can support sentiment but is not a direct driver of fundamentals. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst activity ahead of/after the print — Several analysts revised forecasts ahead of the call and commentary on whether 2026 can sustain record earnings will drive near?term moves. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Market and competitor caution — Delta’s earlier cautious tone lowered the bar for airlines and left investors focused on guidance and global volatility; broad U.S. futures weakness also pressured stocks today. UAL Earnings Seek to Reverse Airline Caution Signaled by DAL
• Negative Sentiment: Safety incident headline risk — A widely circulated report about a near crash?landing after a mechanical issue creates reputational and short?term headline risk despite no regulatory action reported so far. Article Title

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Bison Wealth LLC acquired a new position in United Airlines in the fourth quarter worth about $246,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its position in shares of United Airlines by 24.0% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 39,872 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $2,753,000 after acquiring an additional 7,713 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth increased its holdings in shares of United Airlines by 92.7% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 12,349 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $853,000 after acquiring an additional 5,939 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP raised its position in shares of United Airlines by 23.5% during the 2nd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 292,580 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $23,298,000 after acquiring an additional 55,728 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cresset Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in United Airlines by 73.5% during the second quarter. Cresset Asset Management LLC now owns 9,410 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $749,000 after purchasing an additional 3,987 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.69% of the company’s stock.

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.