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A United Airlines plane taxis onto a runway at Newark Liberty International Airport in front of the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center on December 4, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey.
Gary Hershorn | Corbis News | Getty Images
United Airlines It forecasts first-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ estimates as the carrier looks to grow profits again in 2025 thanks to strong travel demand.
The airline said Tuesday it expects adjusted earnings of 75 cents to $1.25 in the first three months of the year, up from the 54 cents analysts were expecting, according to LSEG estimates.
United’s shares are up more than 180% in the past 12 months since Tuesday’s close, more than any other U.S. carrier.
Here’s how United fared in the fourth quarter compared to what Wall Street expected, based on estimates from LSEG:
- Earnings per share: Adjusted $3.26 and expected $3.00
- Income: $14.7 billion vs. $14.47 billion was expected
For the full year 2025, United expects adjusted earnings to grow to $11.50 to $13.50, compared with expectations of around $12.82, according to LSEG.
United and rival delta They have benefited from high demand for more expensive seats in business class, international travel and their massive loyalty programs. Delta CEO Ed Bastian at the beginning of this month said he expects 2025 to be the carrier’s “best event in our history.”
United earned $985 million in the fourth quarter, up 64 percent from last year, with $14.7 billion in revenue, up about 8 percent from a year earlier. Adjusting for one-time items, United reported fourth-quarter earnings of $3.26 per share, also ahead of estimates.
Loyalty program revenue, as well as international, domestic and core economy revenue, were up from a year earlier and unit revenue, which measures pricing power, was positive in the same quarter of 2023.
