Southwest Airlines [LUV] vs United Airlines [UAL] Detailed Stock Comparison
Southwest Airlines
NYSE
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United Airlines
NASDAQ
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TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary
Based on 20 vital metrics comparison: Southwest Airlines wins in 5 metrics, United Airlines wins in 14 metrics, with 0 ties. United Airlines appears stronger overall.
View Metrics Details
Vital Metrics Comparison
| Metric | Southwest Airlines | United Airlines | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 49.36 | 10.25 | United Airlines |
| Price-to-Book Ratio | 2.07 | 2.47 | Southwest Airlines |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio | 66.76 | 245.17 | Southwest Airlines |
| PEG Ratio | -1.43 | -0.41 | Southwest Airlines |
| EV/EBITDA | 10.96 | 6.04 | United Airlines |
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 1.43% | 5.71% | United Airlines |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 3.11% | 11.83% | United Airlines |
| EBITDA Margin (TTM) | 3.11% | 11.83% | United Airlines |
| Return on Equity | 4.25% | 27.71% | United Airlines |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 0.55% | 4.59% | United Airlines |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $-1.62B | $3.83B | United Airlines |
| Dividend Yield | 1.73% | N/A | N/A |
| 1-Year Return | 16.29% | 137.72% | United Airlines |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 0.60 | 0.57 | United Airlines |
| Enterprise Value | $18.09B | $50.31B | United Airlines |
| EV/Revenue Ratio | 0.66 | 0.87 | Southwest Airlines |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 18.75% | 31.15% | United Airlines |
| Revenue per Share (TTM) | $47 | $177 | United Airlines |
| Earnings per Share (Diluted) | $0.64 | $9.97 | United Airlines |
| Beta (Stock Volatility) | 1.25 | 1.49 | Southwest Airlines |
Performance
Key Stats
Valuation
Financials
Short Interest
Dividends
Southwest Airlines vs United Airlines Stock Performance Analysis
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Performance Comparison
Short-term Returns
| Stock | 1D | 1W | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 5.47% | 4.03% | -11.84% | 5.00% | 8.26% | -1.80% |
| United Airlines | 5.98% | 2.05% | 13.46% | 35.53% | 5.35% | 7.93% |
Long-term Returns
| Stock | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | 15Y | 20Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 16.29% | -12.68% | -15.56% | -11.67% | 194.43% | 142.56% |
| United Airlines | 137.72% | 181.60% | 175.79% | 80.29% | 403.57% | 200.76% |
Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Southwest Airlines vs United Airlines
| Metric | LUV | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Market Information | ||
| Market Cap | $16.59B | $33.08B |
| Market Cap Category | Large cap | Large cap |
| 10 Day Avg. Volume | 7,727,500 | 5,173,577 |
| 90 Day Avg. Volume | 11,700,513 | 7,213,856 |
| Last Close | $32.77 | $103.00 |
| 52 Week Range | $23.82 - $37.96 | $40.96 - $116.00 |
| % from 52W High | -13.67% | -11.21% |
| All-Time High | $66.99 (Dec 18, 2017) | $116.00 (Jan 20, 2025) |
| % from All-Time High | -51.08% | -11.21% |
| Growth Metrics | ||
| Quarterly Revenue Growth | -0.02% | 0.02% |
| Quarterly Earnings Growth | -0.42% | -0.27% |
| Financial Health | ||
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 0.01% | 0.06% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 0.03% | 0.12% |
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 0.04% | 0.28% |
| Debt to Equity (MRQ) | 66.76 | 245.17 |
| Cash & Liquidity | ||
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $15.23 | $41.30 |
| Cash per Share (MRQ) | $7.31 | $48.24 |
| Operating Cash Flow (TTM) | $1.85B | $9.65B |
| Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $-304,000,000 | $2.32B |
| Dividends | ||
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 1.73% | N/A |
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $0.54 | $0.00 |
Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Southwest Airlines vs United Airlines
| Metric | LUV | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Price Ratios | ||
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 49.36 | 10.25 |
| Forward P/E | 19.87 | 8.45 |
| PEG Ratio | -1.43 | -0.41 |
| Price to Sales (TTM) | 0.60 | 0.57 |
| Price to Book (MRQ) | 2.07 | 2.47 |
| Market Capitalization | ||
| Market Capitalization | $16.59B | $33.08B |
| Enterprise Value | $18.09B | $50.31B |
| Enterprise Value Metrics | ||
| Enterprise to Revenue | 0.66 | 0.87 |
| Enterprise to EBITDA | 10.96 | 6.04 |
| Risk & Other Metrics | ||
| Beta | 1.25 | 1.49 |
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $15.23 | $41.30 |
Financial Statements Comparison: Southwest Airlines vs United Airlines
Financial Metrics
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Revenue
EBITDA
Operating Margin
Free Cash Flow
Long Term Debt
Profit Margin
Current Ratio
Operating Cash Flow
Income Statement (MRQ)
| Metric (MRQ) | LUV | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue/Sales | $6.43B | $15.24B |
| Cost of Goods Sold | $5.56B | $10.49B |
| Gross Profit | $867.00M | $4.75B |
| Research & Development | N/A | N/A |
| Operating Income (EBIT) | $-223.00M | $1.77B |
| EBITDA | $257.00M | $1.98B |
| Pre-Tax Income | $-192.00M | $1.25B |
| Income Tax | $-43.00M | $275.00M |
| Net Income (Profit) | $-149.00M | $973.00M |
Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics (MRQ)
| Metric (MRQ) | LUV | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Cash & Equivalents | $8.13B | $9.37B |
| Total Current Assets | $10.73B | $20.15B |
| Total Current Liabilities | $13.90B | $25.80B |
| Long-Term Debt | $5.06B | $29.15B |
| Total Shareholders Equity | $9.37B | $12.62B |
| Retained Earnings | $16.08B | $7.14B |
| Property, Plant & Equipment | $9.87B | $47.52B |
Cash Flow Statement Comparison (MRQ)
| Metric (MRQ) | LUV | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash Flow | $989.00M | N/A |
| Capital Expenditures | $24.00M | $29.00M |
| Free Cash Flow | $359.00M | $2.48B |
| Debt Repayment | $-5.00M | $-1.01B |
| Common Stock Repurchase | $-750.00M | $-349.00M |
Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis
| Metric | LUV | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Shares Short | 36.26M | 13.38M |
| Short Ratio | 2.78 | 1.73 |
| Short % of Float | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Average Daily Volume (10 Day) | 7,727,500 | 5,173,577 |
| Average Daily Volume (90 Day) | 11,700,513 | 7,213,856 |
| Shares Outstanding | 593.31M | 327.90M |
| Float Shares | 465.00M | 321.01M |
| % Held by Insiders | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| % Held by Institutions | 0.97% | 0.88% |
Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Southwest Airlines vs United Airlines
| Metric | LUV | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $0.54 | $0.00 |
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 1.73% | N/A |
| 3-Year Avg Annual Dividend | $0.54 | $0.00 |
| 3-Year Avg Dividend Yield | 0.56% | N/A |
| 3-Year Total Dividends | $1.62 | $0.00 |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Mar 12, 2025 | N/A |