On December 4, 2024, in Newark, New Jersey, a United Airlines plane landed on the runway of Newark Liberty International Airport in front of lower Manhattan and the skyline of One World Trade Center in New York City.
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 profit 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’s shares had risen more than 180% in the past 12 months, outperforming other U.S. airlines. United shares rose more than 3% in after-hours trading after the results were announced.
Here’s how United’s fourth-quarter report compares to 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 expects 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 all increased year-over-year, and unit revenue, a measure of pricing power, turned positive in the same quarter of 2023.
