Investment Potential in United Airlines: United Airlines Holdings shows promising trends with an increasing return on capital employed (ROCE) of 11%, indicating profitable reinvestment opportunities.
Profitability and Growth: The company has recently turned profitable after years of losses, utilizing 25% more capital than before, which suggests a focus on growth and expansion.
Stock Performance: Over the last five years, United Airlines stock has returned 176% to shareholders, reflecting investor confidence in the company's turnaround and future potential.
Cautionary Notes: Despite its positive trends, there are two warning signs associated with United Airlines Holdings that investors should consider before making decisions.
UAL
$112.48+Infinity%1D
Analyst Views on UAL
Wall Street analysts forecast UAL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for UAL is 128.86 USD with a low forecast of 115.00 USD and a high forecast of 156.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
15 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast UAL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for UAL is 128.86 USD with a low forecast of 115.00 USD and a high forecast of 156.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
14 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 107.700
Low
115.00
Averages
128.86
High
156.00
Current: 107.700
Low
115.00
Averages
128.86
High
156.00
UBS
NULL
to
Buy
initiated
$128 -> $142
2025-12-12
New
Reason
UBS
Price Target
$128 -> $142
2025-12-12
New
initiated
NULL
to
Buy
Reason
UBS assumed coverage of United Airlines with a Buy rating with a price target of $142, up from $128. The market is not fully appreciating United's ability to capitalize on the tailwinds from premium and loyalty growth, which should enable the airline to generate strong RASM growth over the next few years despite mid single digit available seat miles, the analyst tells investors in a research note. UBS sees the potential for 80-100 basis points of pre-tax margin expansion in each of FY26 and FY27.
BMO Capital
Outperform
initiated
$125
2025-12-08
Reason
BMO Capital
Price Target
$125
2025-12-08
initiated
Outperform
Reason
BMO Capital initiated coverage of United Airlines with an Outperform rating and $125 price target while launching coverage of the U.S. airline sector. Conditions are improving after a challenging 2024-2025, with normalizing supply/demand and recovering corporate travel, says the analyst, who sees a longer-term opportunity for carriers who can deliver sustained margin expansion.
Citi
John Godyn
initiated
$132
2025-12-04
Reason
Citi
John Godyn
Price Target
$132
2025-12-04
initiated
Reason
Citi analyst John Godyn initiated coverage of United Airlines with a Buy rating and $132 price target. The firm believes the setup is positive for the airlines with an "elongated mid-cycle" beginning in 2026. Citi sees the largest beneficiaries as being the "supermajors." The large airlines offer the most favorable risk/reward, the analyst tells investors in a research note. On the other side, Citi believes the legacy low-cost carriers will be underperformers through the cycle.
JPMorgan
NULL -> Overweight
maintain
$149 -> $156
2025-10-20
Reason
JPMorgan
Price Target
$149 -> $156
2025-10-20
maintain
NULL -> Overweight
Reason
JPMorgan raised the firm's price target on United Airlines to $156 from $149 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares.
About UAL
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is a holding company. The Company transports people and cargo throughout North America and to destinations in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America. The Company, through United Airlines, Inc., and its regional carriers, operates across six continents, with hubs at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Denver International Airport (DEN), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and A.B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM). Its hub and spoke system allow it to transport passengers between a large number of destinations with frequent services. The Company has contractual relationships with various regional carriers to provide regional aircraft service branded as United Express. It provides freight and mail transportation services (Air Cargo).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
