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United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL), a Chicago-based company with a market cap of $15.9 billion, operates a vast global network with major hubs across the U.S. and offers comprehensive air transportation and related services. The company is expected to announce its fiscal Q2 earnings results after the market closes on Wednesday, July 17.
Ahead of this event, analysts are expecting UAL to report a profit of $4.02 per share, down 20.1% from $5.03 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company has consistently surpassed Wall Street's bottom-line estimates in each of the last four quarterly reports. United Airlines surpassed the consensus EPS estimate by an impressive 71.7% in the most recent quarter, fueled by robust passenger demand and efficient cost management.
For fiscal 2024, analysts expect UAL to report EPS of $9.93, down 1.2% from $10.05 in fiscal 2023. However, looking forward to fiscal 2025, EPS is expected to grow by 15% annually to $11.42.
UAL has outpaced the broader markets in 2024, with shares up 17.6% on a YTD basis compared to the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 16.1% gain and the US Global Jets ETF's (JETS) 3.3% gains over the same period.
Since the beginning of this year, United Airlines' stock price has been influenced by its positive 2024 outlook despite challenges from the Boeing 737 MAX 9 grounding. Factors such as anticipated revenue growth from premium travel demand, exceeding Q4 earnings expectations driven by robust holiday travel demand, a 17.5% rise on Apr. 17 following its better-than-expected Q1 earnings, and upbeat profit forecasts for Q2 impact have positively impacted the stock despite Boeing's safety crisis.
Analysts' consensus rating on United Airlines stock is bullish, with a "Strong Buy" rating overall. Out of 19 analysts covering the stock, 16 recommend a "Strong Buy," one has a "Moderate Buy" rating, and two give a "Hold" rating. This configuration is more bullish than three months ago, with 13 analysts suggesting a "Strong Buy."
The average analyst price target for UAL is $67.59, suggesting a modest potential upside of 39.3% from the current levels.
On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
