UBS Group Boosts United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) Price Target to $140.00

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) had its price target upped by analysts at UBS Group from $139.00 to $140.00 in a report released on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a “buy” rating on the transportation company’s stock. UBS Group’s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 34.98% from the company’s previous close.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Melius Research upgraded United Airlines to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. Bank of America upped their target price on United Airlines from $70.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Raymond James lifted their target price on shares of United Airlines from $90.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, December 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $119.00 price objective on shares of United Airlines in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their price target on shares of United Airlines from $70.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $104.68.

United Airlines Trading Up 2.5 %

Shares of United Airlines stock opened at $103.72 on Tuesday. United Airlines has a fifty-two week low of $37.02 and a fifty-two week high of $105.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.79. The company has a market cap of $34.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.44. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $94.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $66.42.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The transportation company reported $3.33 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.10 by $0.23. United Airlines had a return on equity of 30.72% and a net margin of 4.94%. The company had revenue of $14.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $14.76 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.65 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that United Airlines will post 10.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Airlines announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback plan on Tuesday, October 15th that permits the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the transportation company to repurchase up to 7.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity

In other United Airlines news, EVP Linda P. Jojo sold 60,000 shares of United Airlines stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.12, for a total transaction of $5,707,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 63,599 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,049,536.88. The trade was a 48.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Torbjorn J. Enqvist sold 14,500 shares of United Airlines stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.00, for a total transaction of $1,044,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 30,427 shares in the company, valued at $2,190,744. The trade was a 32.27 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 92,000 shares of company stock worth $8,158,900. 0.63% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Global Trust Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in United Airlines during the third quarter worth about $29,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in shares of United Airlines during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of United Airlines in the third quarter valued at $36,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in shares of United Airlines by 108.6% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 753 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 392 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quest Partners LLC lifted its holdings in United Airlines by 3,504.8% in the 2nd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 757 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 736 shares in the last quarter. 69.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Airlines Company Profile

United Airlines Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides air transportation services in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America. The company transports people and cargo through its mainline and regional fleets. It also offers catering, ground handling, flight academy, and maintenance services for third parties.