United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) Releases Q4 2026 Earnings Guidance

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) issued an update on its fourth quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 0.500-1.500 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 1.810. The company issued revenue guidance of $18.5 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $18.2 billion.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have issued reports on UAL. Rothschild & Co Redburn cut their target price on United Airlines from $165.00 to $150.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of United Airlines from $156.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of United Airlines from $131.00 to $162.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 2nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of United Airlines in a research report on Thursday, October 15th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein set a $160.00 price target on shares of United Airlines in a research note on Tuesday. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $156.19.

United Airlines Stock Up 0.3%

UAL stock opened at $102.00 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.75. United Airlines has a fifty-two week low of $84.64 and a fifty-two week high of $138.77. The company has a market capitalization of $33.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.30. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $109.43 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $110.78.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 20th. The transportation company reported $2.54 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.57 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $17.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $17.89 billion. United Airlines had a return on equity of 17.59% and a net margin of 5.46%. The company’s revenue was up 17.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.78 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that United Airlines will post 7.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at United Airlines

In other news, President Brett J. Hart sold 30,108 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was 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 in the company, valued at $44,857,499.76. This represents a 7.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, EVP Andrew Nocella sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.00, for a total value of $585,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 214,955 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $25,149,735. This represents a 2.27% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 42,308 shares of company stock valued at $5,122,554 over the last 90 days. 0.86% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Key Stories Impacting United Airlines

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

• Positive Sentiment: United forecast fourth-quarter revenue growth of more than 20%, accelerating from 17.4% in the third quarter. Strong passenger demand, premium-travel spending and pricing power are supporting the outlook. United Airlines forecasts record fourth-quarter revenue growth above 20%
• Positive Sentiment: United is emphasizing higher fares, premium products and double-digit margins rather than maximizing aircraft capacity, a strategy that could help offset operating-cost inflation over time. United Airlines targets double-digit margins, builds on premium travel
• Positive Sentiment: Airline sentiment received support from Southwest’s strong third-quarter results, while TD Cowen maintained a Buy rating on UAL. Several analysts still see substantial upside despite reducing their targets. Airline Stocks Rise After Southwest’s Strong Q3 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually heavy call-option buying indicates speculative bullish positioning: investors purchased 123,676 UAL calls, roughly 6.5 times typical daily volume. Stock Traders Purchase Large Volume of United Airlines Call Options
• Neutral Sentiment: United is opening an 800-seat lounge at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport as part of a $2.6 billion hub overhaul. The investment may strengthen the premium-customer proposition but is unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. United Airlines set to open its biggest airport lounge
• Negative Sentiment: Jet-fuel costs are the principal pressure. Management expects elevated fuel prices through 2027 and said higher expenses are squeezing margins even with full planes and resilient travel demand. United Airlines sees elevated fuel costs through 2027
• Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.54 missed consensus by $0.03, while fourth-quarter EPS guidance of $0.50–$1.50 was well below the $1.81 analyst estimate. This profit outlook is offsetting the company’s strong $17.9 billion revenue performance. United Airlines misses Q3 estimates as fuel costs weigh on profitability
• Negative Sentiment: Price targets were reduced by BMO, Wells Fargo, Argus and Susquehanna, reflecting near-term margin risks, although each firm retained a constructive rating. BMO Capital Adjusts Price Target on United Airlines

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.