United Airlines [UAL] vs Southwest Airlines [LUV] Detailed Stock Comparison

TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 20 vital metrics comparison: United Airlines wins in 14 metrics, Southwest Airlines wins in 5 metrics, with 0 ties. United Airlines appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

MetricUnited AirlinesSouthwest AirlinesBetter
P/E Ratio (TTM)9.5650.81United Airlines
Price-to-Book Ratio2.312.13Southwest Airlines
Debt-to-Equity Ratio245.1766.76Southwest Airlines
PEG Ratio-0.38-1.48Southwest Airlines
EV/EBITDA5.7710.85United Airlines
Profit Margin (TTM)5.71%1.43%United Airlines
Operating Margin (TTM)11.83%3.11%United Airlines
EBITDA Margin (TTM)11.83%3.11%United Airlines
Return on Equity27.71%4.25%United Airlines
Return on Assets (TTM)4.59%0.67%United Airlines
Free Cash Flow (TTM)$3.83B$-1.62BUnited Airlines
Dividend YieldN/A1.73%N/A
1-Year Return57.07%6.40%United Airlines
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)0.530.62United Airlines
Enterprise Value$48.03B$18.58BUnited Airlines
EV/Revenue Ratio0.830.68Southwest Airlines
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)31.15%18.75%United Airlines
Revenue per Share (TTM)$177$47United Airlines
Earnings per Share (Diluted)$9.97$0.64United Airlines
Beta (Stock Volatility)1.461.20Southwest Airlines
Performance
News Sentiment
Key Stats
Valuation
Financials
Short Interest
Dividends

United Airlines vs Southwest Airlines Stock Performance Analysis

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Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
United Airlines1.83%-1.59%-9.93%19.68%65.17%1.72%
Southwest Airlines0.18%-0.55%2.74%-3.64%25.50%-2.37%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
United Airlines57.07%173.67%184.16%73.43%271.20%183.50%
Southwest Airlines6.40%-0.55%-17.89%-19.67%151.58%109.92%

News Based Sentiment: United Airlines vs Southwest Airlines

United Airlines

News based Sentiment: MIXED

October presented a mixed bag for United Airlines, with positive analyst revisions and strategic initiatives offset by operational disruptions and insider selling. While long-term projections remain favorable, near-term challenges require careful monitoring, making this a moderately significant month for investors.

View United Airlines News Sentiment Analysis

Southwest Airlines

News based Sentiment: MIXED

October presented a mixed bag for Southwest, with positive developments like network expansion and cost-saving initiatives countered by an earnings miss and fluctuating investor sentiment. The share repurchase program and insider buying offer some reassurance, but the projected earnings decline for the next quarter introduces uncertainty.

View Southwest Airlines News Sentiment Analysis

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: United Airlines vs Southwest Airlines

MetricUALLUV
Market Information
Market Cap i$32.44B$17.21B
Market Cap CategoryLarge capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i5,299,3809,326,670
90 Day Avg. Volume i5,247,9638,896,210
Last Close$97.07$32.58
52 Week Range$52.00 - $116.00$23.82 - $37.96
% from 52W High-16.32%-14.17%
All-Time High$116.00 (Jan 20, 2025)$66.99 (Dec 18, 2017)
% from All-Time High-16.32%-51.37%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.02%-0.02%
Quarterly Earnings Growth-0.27%-0.42%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.06%0.01%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.12%0.03%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.28%0.04%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i245.1766.76
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$41.30$15.23
Cash per Share (MRQ)$48.24$7.31
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$9.65B$1.85B
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$2.32B$-265,250,000
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield iN/A1.73%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$0.00$0.54

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: United Airlines vs Southwest Airlines

MetricUALLUV
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i9.5650.81
Forward P/E i7.8920.45
PEG Ratio i-0.38-1.48
Price to Sales (TTM) i0.530.62
Price to Book (MRQ) i2.312.13
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$32.44B$17.21B
Enterprise Value i$48.03B$18.58B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i0.830.68
Enterprise to EBITDA i5.7710.85
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i1.461.20
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$41.30$15.23

Financial Statements Comparison: United Airlines vs Southwest Airlines

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

EBITDA

Shareholders Equity

Operating Margin

Free Cash Flow

Long Term Debt

Profit Margin

Current Ratio

Operating Cash Flow

Income Statement (MRQ)

Metric (MRQ)UALLUV
Revenue/Sales i$15.24B$6.43B
Cost of Goods Sold i$10.49B$5.56B
Gross Profit i$4.75B$867.00M
Research & Development iN/AN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i$1.77B$-223.00M
EBITDA i$1.98B$257.00M
Pre-Tax Income i$1.25B$-192.00M
Income Tax i$275.00M$-43.00M
Net Income (Profit) i$973.00M$-149.00M

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics (MRQ)

Metric (MRQ)UALLUV
Cash & Equivalents i$9.37B$8.13B
Total Current Assets i$20.15B$10.73B
Total Current Liabilities i$25.80B$13.90B
Long-Term Debt i$29.15B$5.06B
Total Shareholders Equity i$12.62B$9.37B
Retained Earnings i$7.14B$16.08B
Property, Plant & Equipment i$47.52B$9.87B

Cash Flow Statement Comparison (MRQ)

Metric (MRQ)UALLUV
Operating Cash Flow iN/A$989.00M
Capital Expenditures i$29.00M$24.00M
Free Cash Flow i$2.48B$359.00M
Debt Repayment i$-1.01B$-5.00M
Common Stock Repurchase i$-349.00M$-750.00M

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricUALLUV
Shares Short i14.83M38.32M
Short Ratio i3.085.21
Short % of Float i0.05%0.08%
Average Daily Volume (10 Day) i5,299,3809,326,670
Average Daily Volume (90 Day) i5,247,9638,896,210
Shares Outstanding i327.90M593.31M
Float Shares i320.97M467.83M
% Held by Insiders i0.01%0.01%
% Held by Institutions i0.88%0.96%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: United Airlines vs Southwest Airlines

MetricUALLUV
Last 12-Month Dividend i$0.00$0.54
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield iN/A1.73%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$0.00$0.54
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield iN/A0.56%
3-Year Total Dividends i$0.00$1.62
Ex-Dividend DateN/AMar 12, 2025