Key Stats for UAL Stock
- Pre-market price change for UAL stock: 3.6%
- $UAL Share Price as of Jan. 20: $108.57
- 52-Week High: $119
- $UAL Stock Price Target: $132
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What Happened?
United Airlines (UAL) stock soared more than 8% on Tuesday after United Airlines delivered a strong earnings beat and issued bullish guidance for 2026.
The carrier reported adjusted fourth-quarter earnings of $3.10 per share, crushing analyst expectations of $2.94 per share. Revenue came in at $15.4 billion, matching Wall Street’s forecast.
For the full year ahead, United expects adjusted earnings between $12 and $14 per share, right in line with analyst estimates of $13.16.
First quarter guidance came in at $1 to $1.50 per share, slightly above the $1.13 consensus. If United hits the high end of its range, 2026 would mark record earnings for the airline.
The results show United is winning with travelers across all cabin classes.
- Premium revenue jumped 9% in the fourth quarter and 11% for the full year.
- Even basic economy fares, which compete directly with budget airlines, grew 7% in the final three months of 2025.
- The company flew over 181 million passengers in 2025 while setting a company record for Net Promoter Score in the fourth quarter.
United CEO Scott Kirby pointed to strong momentum heading into 2026. The week ending January 4th was the highest revenue week in United’s history.
The following week set records for both ticketing and business sales. That kind of revenue strength is exactly what investors want to see.
The quarter wasn’t without challenges.
- The government shutdown in November cost United roughly $250 million in pretax earnings. Air traffic controller shortages temporarily caused delays and hurt bookings.
- But United handled it well, offering full refunds to all customers even if their flights weren’t canceled.
- That customer-first approach paid off with November marking United’s highest-ever monthly Net Promoter Score.
For the full year 2025, United posted adjusted earnings of $10.62 per share, up from the prior year. The airline generated $8.4 billion in operating cash flow and $2.7 billion in free cash flow, with similar free cash flow expected in 2026.
United also repurchased $640 million in shares during the year while maintaining a strong balance sheet with $15.2 billion in available liquidity.
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What the Market Is Telling Us About UAL Stock
The massive jump in UAL stock signals investors are betting United can deliver on its ambitious 2026 targets.
The carrier is positioning itself alongside Delta Air Lines as one of only two U.S. airlines expected to generate record earnings this year. Together, these two accounted for nearly all of the U.S. airline industry’s profits in the first nine months of 2025.
United is making smart investments to keep winning customers. The airline plans to take delivery of over 100 narrowbody aircraft and approximately 20 Boeing 787 widebody jets in 2026.
That’s more widebody deliveries in a single year than any U.S. passenger airline has taken since 1988. These new planes will support United’s industry-leading international routes and growing domestic network.
The airline is also aggressively upgrading the customer experience. Starlink Wi-Fi is now installed on nearly all dual-cabin United Express aircraft, and installations are accelerating on mainline planes.
United announced a new Boeing 787-9 interior featuring 25% larger Polaris Studio suites with privacy doors and 27-inch screens. Premium seats now account for 12% of all flown seats, up from prior years.
With strong revenue momentum, capacity discipline, and major product upgrades in the works, UAL stock appears well-positioned for continued gains.
The 8% pop shows investors are buying the growth story and betting United can execute on its record earnings forecast for the year ahead.
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Disclaimer:
Please note that the articles on TIKR are not intended to serve as investment or financial advice from TIKR or our content team, nor are they recommendations to buy or sell any stocks. We create our content based on TIKR Terminal’s investment data and analysts’ estimates. Our analysis might not include recent company news or important updates. TIKR has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading, and happy investing!
