GPN vs. UAL: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on August 29, 2025

Here’s a clear look at GPN and UAL, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Symbol	GPN	UAL
Company Name	Global Payments Inc.	United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Financials	Industrials
GICS Industry	Financial Services	Passenger Airlines
Market Capitalization	21.31 billion USD	33.74 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NasdaqGS
Listing Date	January 16, 2001	February 6, 2006
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of GPN and UAL by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

GPN vs. UAL: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	GPN	UAL
5-Day Price Return	2.47%	7.23%
13-Week Price Return	15.96%	33.30%
26-Week Price Return	-14.87%	8.68%
52-Week Price Return	-20.43%	143.60%
Month-to-Date Return	9.87%	18.00%
Year-to-Date Return	-21.61%	7.32%
10-Day Avg. Volume	2.21M	4.19M
3-Month Avg. Volume	3.00M	6.93M
3-Month Volatility	37.18%	51.46%
Beta	1.01	1.52

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

GPN

6.36%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 40.58%
Q3: 20.06%
Median: 10.67%
Q1: 4.19%
Min: -10.31%

GPN’s Return on Equity of 6.36% is on par with the norm for the Financial Services industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

UAL

26.43%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 49.96%
Q3: 28.15%
Median: 15.41%
Q1: 8.29%
Min: -11.01%

UAL’s Return on Equity of 26.43% is on par with the norm for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

GPN vs. UAL: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

GPN

15.07%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 52.86%
Q3: 25.58%
Median: 12.23%
Q1: 6.64%
Min: -9.92%

GPN’s Net Profit Margin of 15.07% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Financial Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

UAL

5.71%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 17.65%
Q3: 8.90%
Median: 5.80%
Q1: 2.02%
Min: -3.12%

UAL’s Net Profit Margin of 5.71% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Passenger Airlines industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

GPN vs. UAL: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

GPN

23.26%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 77.28%
Q3: 37.68%
Median: 18.17%
Q1: 9.27%
Min: -8.19%

GPN’s Operating Profit Margin of 23.26% is around the midpoint for the Financial Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

UAL

8.62%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 22.47%
Q3: 12.33%
Median: 8.62%
Q1: 4.43%
Min: -2.88%

UAL’s Operating Profit Margin of 8.62% is around the midpoint for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

GPN vs. UAL: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	GPN	UAL
Return on Equity (TTM)	6.36%	26.43%
Return on Assets (TTM)	2.96%	4.41%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	15.07%	5.71%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	23.26%	8.62%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	65.01%	64.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

GPN

0.95

Financial Services Industry

Max: 4.58
Q3: 2.59
Median: 1.33
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.01

For the Financial Services industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.

UAL

0.70

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.94
Median: 0.76
Q1: 0.54
Min: 0.17

UAL’s Current Ratio of 0.70 aligns with the median group of the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

GPN vs. UAL: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Financial Services and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

GPN

0.74

Financial Services Industry

Max: 4.96
Q3: 2.10
Median: 0.57
Q1: 0.12
Min: 0.00

The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Financial Services industry.

UAL

2.02

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 9.80
Q3: 4.82
Median: 1.30
Q1: 0.89
Min: 0.00

UAL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.02 is typical for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

GPN vs. UAL: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Financial Services and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

GPN

5.15

Financial Services Industry

Max: 136.23
Q3: 56.08
Median: 6.55
Q1: 2.01
Min: -33.27

The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Financial Services industry.

UAL

5.76

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 22.60
Q3: 16.29
Median: 6.75
Q1: 1.94
Min: -8.55

UAL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.76 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

GPN vs. UAL: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	GPN	UAL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.95	0.70
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.90	0.62
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.74	2.02
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	5.15	5.76

Growth

Revenue Growth

GPN vs. UAL: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

GPN vs. UAL: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

GPN

1.18%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 8.18%
Q3: 3.60%
Median: 1.56%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

GPN’s Dividend Yield of 1.18% is consistent with its peers in the Financial Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

UAL

0.00%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 6.71%
Q3: 3.95%
Median: 1.10%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UAL currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.

GPN vs. UAL: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

GPN

17.30%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 155.56%
Q3: 63.71%
Median: 18.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

GPN’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 17.30% is within the typical range for the Financial Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

UAL

0.00%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 71.59%
Q3: 38.54%
Median: 8.16%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UAL has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.

GPN vs. UAL: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	GPN	UAL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.18%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.30%	0.00%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

GPN

14.61

Financial Services Industry

Max: 63.23
Q3: 32.10
Median: 14.41
Q1: 10.81
Min: 0.37

GPN’s P/E Ratio of 14.61 is within the middle range for the Financial Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

UAL

9.78

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 13.29
Q3: 11.94
Median: 8.78
Q1: 7.42
Min: 3.07

UAL’s P/E Ratio of 9.78 is within the middle range for the Passenger Airlines industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

GPN vs. UAL: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

GPN

2.20

Financial Services Industry

Max: 11.16
Q3: 5.45
Median: 2.61
Q1: 1.25
Min: 0.04

The P/S Ratio is often not a primary valuation tool in the Financial Services industry.

UAL

0.56

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 1.09
Q3: 0.74
Median: 0.61
Q1: 0.44
Min: 0.09

UAL’s P/S Ratio of 0.56 aligns with the market consensus for the Passenger Airlines industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

GPN vs. UAL: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

GPN

0.86

Financial Services Industry

Max: 7.09
Q3: 3.79
Median: 1.46
Q1: 0.83
Min: 0.04

GPN’s P/B Ratio of 0.86 is within the conventional range for the Financial Services industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

UAL

1.94

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 3.44
Q3: 2.89
Median: 1.84
Q1: 1.22
Min: 0.56

UAL’s P/B Ratio of 1.94 is within the conventional range for the Passenger Airlines industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

GPN vs. UAL: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Financial Services and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	GPN	UAL
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	14.61	9.78
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	2.20	0.56
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	0.86	1.94
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	6.69	8.00