American Airlines Group (AAL) vs United Airlines (UAL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
United Airlines (UAL) has outperformed American Airlines Group (AAL) over the past year, gaining 14.0% versus a gain of 10.2%. Over five years, UAL leads with a +129.5% price change compared with -35.7% for AAL. United Airlines is the larger company by market cap ($35.02 billion vs $8.41 billion), about 4.2 times the size.
On valuation, United Airlines trades at a lower forward P/E (7.8x vs 8.9x for American Airlines Group). United Airlines converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 5.7% versus 0.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AAL | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $12.70 | $107.90 |
| Market cap | $8.41B | $35.02B |
| 1-day change | -1.17% | -2.06% |
| YTD return | -16.18% | -1.48% |
| 1-year return | +10.21% | +13.99% |
| 5-year return | -35.69% | +129.52% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 10.10 |
| Forward P/E | 8.94 | 7.84 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.49 | $10.68 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $54.63B | $59.07B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.78% | +3.52% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $111.00M | $3.35B |
| Operating margin | 2.69% | 7.98% |
| Net margin | 0.20% | 5.68% |
| 52-week high | $18.79 | $138.77 |
| 52-week low | $10.09 | $84.64 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -32.41% | -22.25% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +27.09% | +42.45% |
| Average volume | 76.65M | 3.84M |
| Shares outstanding | 661.97M | 324.58M |
| Employees | 143,400 | 117,500 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Air Freight/Delivery Services | Air Freight/Delivery Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- United Airlines is about 4.2 times larger than American Airlines Group by market value ($35.02B vs $8.41B).
- United Airlines is more profitable, keeping 5.7 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 0.2 cents for American Airlines Group.
About American Airlines Group
AAL stock →American Airlines Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a network air carrier in the United States, Latin America, Atlantic, and Pacific. The company provides scheduled air transportation services for passengers and cargo through its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C., as well as through partner gateways in London, Doha, Madrid, Seattle/Tacoma, Sydney, and Tokyo.
Consumer Discretionary · Air Freight/Delivery Services · 143,400 employees
About United Airlines
UAL stock →United Airlines Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides air transportation services in the United States, Canada, Atlantic, the Pacific, and Latin America. It transports people and cargo through its mainline and regional fleets.
Consumer Discretionary · Air Freight/Delivery Services · 117,500 employees
AAL vs UAL FAQ
Which is bigger, American Airlines Group or United Airlines?
United Airlines (UAL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $35.02B compared with $8.41B for American Airlines Group (AAL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AAL or UAL?
UAL returned +13.99% over the past 12 months, compared with +10.21% for AAL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are American Airlines Group and United Airlines in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Air Freight/Delivery Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.