Southwest Airlines (LUV) 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
Southwest Airlines (LUV) has outperformed United Airlines (UAL) over the past year, gaining 28.8% versus a gain of 14.0%. Over five years, UAL leads with a +129.5% price change compared with -17.2% for LUV. United Airlines is the larger company by market cap ($35.76 billion vs $20.41 billion), about 1.8 times the size.
On valuation, United Airlines trades at a lower forward P/E (8.0x vs 9.2x for Southwest Airlines). Southwest Airlines pays a dividend yielding 1.73%, while United Airlines does not currently pay one. United Airlines converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 5.7% versus 1.6%.
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 | LUV | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $41.72 | $110.17 |
| Market cap | $20.41B | $35.76B |
| 1-day change | -1.72% | -1.52% |
| YTD return | +0.94% | -1.48% |
| 1-year return | +28.81% | +13.99% |
| 5-year return | -17.16% | +129.52% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 26.08 | 10.47 |
| Forward P/E | 9.23 | 8.00 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.60 | $10.52 |
| Dividend yield | 1.73% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.72 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $28.06B | $59.07B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.11% | +3.52% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $441.00M | $3.35B |
| Operating margin | 1.53% | 7.98% |
| Net margin | 1.57% | 5.68% |
| 52-week high | $55.11 | $138.77 |
| 52-week low | $29.26 | $84.64 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -24.30% | -20.61% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.50% | +39.51% |
| Average volume | 5.34M | 3.81M |
| Shares outstanding | 489.21M | 324.58M |
| Employees | 73,456 | 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
- LUV has outperformed UAL by 14.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Southwest Airlines trades at a higher earnings multiple (26.1x vs 10.5x trailing P/E).
- Southwest Airlines offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.73% vs 0.00%).
About Southwest Airlines
LUV stock →Southwest Airlines Co. operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Air Freight/Delivery Services · 73,456 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
LUV vs UAL FAQ
Which is bigger, Southwest Airlines or United Airlines?
United Airlines (UAL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $35.76B compared with $20.41B for Southwest Airlines (LUV).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LUV or UAL?
LUV returned +28.81% over the past 12 months, compared with +13.99% for UAL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LUV or UAL?
UAL has the lower trailing P/E at 10.5, versus 26.1 for LUV. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Southwest Airlines or United Airlines?
Southwest Airlines pays a dividend yielding 1.73%, while United Airlines does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Southwest Airlines and United Airlines in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Air Freight/Delivery Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.