SkyWest (SKYW) vs United Airlines (UAL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
United Airlines (UAL) has outperformed SkyWest (SKYW) over the past year, gaining 9.5% versus a loss of 2.9%. Over five years, UAL leads with a +123.8% price change compared with +95.7% for SKYW. United Airlines is the larger company by market cap ($34.87 billion vs $3.76 billion), about 9.3 times the size, while SkyWest is growing revenue faster (+15.0% vs +3.5%).
On valuation, United Airlines trades at a lower forward P/E (7.8x vs 8.0x for SkyWest). SkyWest converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 10.6% versus 5.7%.
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 | SKYW | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $96.73 | $107.44 |
| Market cap | $3.76B | $34.87B |
| 1-day change | +0.09% | -2.48% |
| YTD return | -3.66% | -3.92% |
| 1-year return | -2.85% | +9.53% |
| 5-year return | +95.73% | +123.83% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 9.62 | 10.06 |
| Forward P/E | 7.98 | 7.81 |
| EPS (TTM) | $10.06 | $10.68 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.06B | $59.07B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +15.03% | +3.52% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $428.33M | $3.35B |
| Operating margin | 15.22% | 7.98% |
| Net margin | 10.55% | 5.68% |
| 52-week high | $117.72 | $138.77 |
| 52-week low | $77.89 | $84.64 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.83% | -22.58% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +29.57% | +42.25% |
| Average volume | 360.14K | 3.87M |
| Shares outstanding | 38.83M | 324.58M |
| Employees | 13,818 | 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 9.3 times larger than SkyWest by market value ($34.87B vs $3.76B).
- UAL has outperformed SKYW by 12.4 percentage points over the past year.
- SkyWest grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+15.03% vs +3.52%).
About SkyWest
SKYW stock →SkyWest, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of a regional airline in the United States. It operates through SkyWest Airlines and SWC; and SkyWest Leasing segments.
Consumer Discretionary · Air Freight/Delivery Services · 13,818 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
SKYW vs UAL FAQ
Which is bigger, SkyWest or United Airlines?
United Airlines (UAL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $34.87B compared with $3.76B for SkyWest (SKYW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, SKYW or UAL?
UAL returned +9.53% over the past 12 months, compared with -2.85% for SKYW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, SKYW or UAL?
SKYW has the lower trailing P/E at 9.6, versus 10.1 for UAL. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are SkyWest and United Airlines in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Air Freight/Delivery Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.