Alaska Air Group (ALK) 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 Alaska Air Group (ALK) over the past year, gaining 14.0% versus a loss of 19.2%. Over five years, UAL leads with a +129.5% price change compared with -31.5% for ALK. United Airlines is the larger company by market cap ($34.60 billion vs $4.37 billion), about 7.9 times the size, while Alaska Air Group is growing revenue faster (+21.3% vs +3.5%).
On valuation, United Airlines trades at a lower forward P/E (7.7x vs 12.5x for Alaska Air Group). United Airlines converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 5.7% versus 0.7%.
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 | ALK | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $39.14 | $106.61 |
| Market cap | $4.37B | $34.60B |
| 1-day change | -1.14% | -3.23% |
| YTD return | -21.29% | -1.48% |
| 1-year return | -19.20% | +13.99% |
| 5-year return | -31.47% | +129.52% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 9.98 |
| Forward P/E | 12.49 | 7.75 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-1.59 | $10.68 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $14.24B | $59.07B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +21.34% | +3.52% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $100.00M | $3.35B |
| Operating margin | 2.13% | 7.98% |
| Net margin | 0.70% | 5.68% |
| 52-week high | $60.63 | $138.77 |
| 52-week low | $33.03 | $84.64 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -35.44% | -23.18% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +42.13% | +44.17% |
| Average volume | 2.75M | 3.84M |
| Shares outstanding | 111.60M | 324.58M |
| Employees | 31,596 | 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 7.9 times larger than Alaska Air Group by market value ($34.60B vs $4.37B).
- UAL has outperformed ALK by 33.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Alaska Air Group grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+21.34% vs +3.52%).
About Alaska Air Group
ALK stock →Alaska Air Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. It operates through three segments: Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Regional.
Consumer Discretionary · Air Freight/Delivery Services · 31,596 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
ALK vs UAL FAQ
Which is bigger, Alaska Air Group or United Airlines?
United Airlines (UAL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $34.60B compared with $4.37B for Alaska Air Group (ALK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ALK or UAL?
UAL returned +13.99% over the past 12 months, compared with -19.20% for ALK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are Alaska Air Group and United Airlines in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Air Freight/Delivery Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.