Investors Buy High Volume of United Airlines Call Options (NASDAQ:UAL)

United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:UAL) saw unusually large options trading on Wednesday. Stock investors bought 39,781 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 44% compared to the average daily volume of 27,633 call options.

United Airlines Stock Up 3.2%

Shares of NASDAQ:UAL opened at $93.19 on Wednesday. United Airlines has a 1 year low of $52.00 and a 1 year high of $119.21. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $107.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is $104.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.14 billion, a PE ratio of 9.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.59.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 20th. The transportation company reported $3.10 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $15.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.35 billion. United Airlines had a net margin of 5.68% and a return on equity of 25.13%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.26 earnings per share. United Airlines has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.000-1.500 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 12.000-14.000 EPS. Analysts predict that United Airlines will post 12.96 EPS for the current year.

More United Airlines News

Here are the key news stories impacting United Airlines this week:

• Positive Sentiment: United solidifies its pilot pipeline as Thrust Flight’s Phoenix campus was named an official United Aviate participating flight school, giving UAL a clearer internal path to crew supply and reducing long‑term hiring risk. Thrust Flight Named United Aviate-Participating Flight School
• Positive Sentiment: Industry demand remains sturdy: airlines report strong corporate and leisure bookings despite geopolitical tensions, supporting revenue prospects for carriers including United and helping offset some fuel pressure. Airlines Seeing Sturdy Demand for Flights
• Positive Sentiment: Long‑term hub economics may improve: renovation plans at Washington Dulles could benefit United’s network and yields at a major hub, a constructive structural tailwind for future margins. United Airlines Holdings (UAL) Long-Term Hub Economics Improves
• Neutral Sentiment: Management outreach: United presented at the JPMorgan Industrials Conference (transcript available) — useful for detail on strategy and execution, but no market‑moving surprise reported in the transcript. United Airlines Presents at JPMorgan Industrials Conference 2026 Transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Quarterly context: industry write‑ups unpack UAL’s Q4 results and guidance—useful for framing performance versus peers but not a fresh catalyst. Unpacking Q4 Earnings: United Airlines
• Negative Sentiment: Rising jet fuel and analyst cuts: higher jet fuel tied to Middle East tensions prompted UBS and other analysts to lower estimates and price targets for U.S. carriers—near‑term margin pressure that has weighed on UAL’s valuation. US airline stocks near potential bottom as UBS cuts estimates on rising fuel costs
• Negative Sentiment: Negative analyst/market commentary: several media pieces outline reasons to avoid UAL after recent pullbacks, highlighting short‑term volatility, higher fuel, and valuation risk even as longer‑term returns remain positive. 3 Reasons to Avoid UAL and 1 Stock to Buy Instead

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, President Brett J. Hart sold 19,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.45, for a total value of $2,022,550.00. Following the transaction, the president directly owned 264,638 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $28,170,715.10. This represents a 6.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.63% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of United Airlines

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Root Financial Partners LLC grew its holdings in United Airlines by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 1,840 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $206,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Apella Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of United Airlines by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Apella Capital LLC now owns 36,617 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,595,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of United Airlines by 51.4% during the 4th quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 318 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its position in shares of United Airlines by 9.1% during the 4th quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 1,352 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $151,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp grew its stake in shares of United Airlines by 20.5% during the third quarter. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp now owns 669 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $63,000 after purchasing an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. 69.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UAL has been the topic of several recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of United Airlines from $148.00 to $125.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 12th. TD Cowen lowered United Airlines from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 10th. Susquehanna boosted their target price on shares of United Airlines from $117.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Morgan Stanley set a $150.00 price target on United Airlines and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of United Airlines in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Fifteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $132.31.

United Airlines Company Profile

United Airlines Holdings, Inc operates United Airlines, a major U.S. full-service passenger carrier providing scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo. The company offers a comprehensive route network that covers domestic markets across the United States as well as extensive international service to Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific. United operates a mixed fleet of narrow- and wide-body aircraft on point-to-point and hub-and-spoke routes, and supports corporate and leisure travel through offerings such as premium cabins, basic economy, and ancillary services including baggage, seat selection and in-flight amenities.

In addition to passenger operations, United provides cargo services through United Cargo, handling freight, mail and specialized shipments.