A United Airlines plane lands on the runway of Newark Liberty International Airport in front of the skyline of Lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center in New York on December 4, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey.
Gary Hershorn | Corbes News | Getty Images
United Airlines The airline is looking to post profit growth again in 2025 due to strong travel demand, with first-quarter profit expected to beat analysts’ expectations.
The airline said on Tuesday it expected adjusted earnings of 75 cents to $1.25 in the first three months of the year, based on LSEG estimates, above analysts’ expectations of 54 cents.
As of Tuesday’s close, United shares were up more than 180% in the past 12 months, more than any other U.S. airline. After the results were announced, United’s stock price rose more than 4% in after-hours trading.
Here’s how United’s fourth-quarter report compared with Wall Street expectations, according to estimates compiled by London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG):
- Earnings per share: Adjusted $3.26, expected $3.00
- income: US$14.7 billion, expected US$14.47 billion
For full-year 2025, United expects adjusted earnings to increase to $11.50 to $13.50, in line with expectations of about $12.82, according to LSEG.
Unity and rivalry delta Benefiting from strong demand for expensive seats such as business class and international travel, as well as a massive loyalty program. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian earlier this month said he expected 2025 to be the airline’s “best financial year in history.”
United Airlines reported fourth-quarter profits of US$985 million, an increase of 64% over the same period last year, and revenue of US$14.7 billion, an increase of approximately 8% over the same period last year. After adjusting for one-time items, United’s fourth-quarter earnings per share were $3.26, also exceeding expectations.
Loyalty program revenue and international, domestic and basic economy class revenue were all up from the prior year, and unit revenue, a measure of pricing power, turned positive from the same quarter in 2023.