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A United Airlines plane heads onto a runway at Newark Liberty International Airport in front of the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center in New York City on December 4, 2024, in Newark, New Jersey.
Gary Hershorn | Corbis News | fake images
united airlines forecast first-quarter earnings that topped analyst estimates as the airline looks to grow profits again in 2025 on strong travel demand.
The airline said Tuesday it expects to earn an adjusted 75 cents to $1.25 in the first three months of the year, above the 54 cents analysts expected, according to LSEG estimates.
United shares have risen more than 180% in the past 12 months through Tuesday’s close, more than any other U.S. airline. United shares rose more than 3% in extended trading after the results were released.
Here’s what United reported for the fourth quarter compared to what Wall Street expected, according to estimates compiled by LSEG:
- Earnings per share: $3.26 Adjusted vs. $3.00 Expected
- Revenue: $14.70 billion vs. $14.47 billion expected
For the full year 2025, United expects to grow adjusted earnings between $11.50 and $13.50, in line with expectations of around $12.82, according to LSEG.
United and rivals Delta They have benefited from strong demand for more expensive seats, such as business class, international travel and their massive loyalty programs. Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta earlier this month said it expects 2025 to be the airline’s “best financial year ever.”
United reported a profit of $985 million for the fourth quarter, up 64% from last year, on $14.70 billion in revenue, up about 8% from a year earlier. Adjusting for one-time items, United reported $3.26 per share for the fourth quarter, also above expectations.
Loyalty program revenue, as well as international, domestic, and basic economy revenue increased year-over-year and unit revenue, which measures pricing power, turned positive during the same quarter in 2023.
