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LTM vs. UAL: LATAM Airlines vs. United Airlines Stock Comparison

How do LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL) are both classified in the Passenger Airlines sub-industry within the broader Passenger Airlines industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

United Airlines (UAL) carries decades of public-market history since February 6, 2006, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) listed on July 25, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the UAL side.

United Airlines (UAL) trades as ordinary local shares, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL)
Profile ItemLTMUAL
NameLATAM Airlines Group S.A. ADRUnited Airlines Holdings, Inc.
Country/RegionChileUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryPassenger AirlinesPassenger Airlines
GICS Sub-IndustryPassenger AirlinesPassenger Airlines
Market Capitalization13.60 billion USD36.63 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJuly 25, 2024February 6, 2006
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LTM
UAL
GSPC
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricLTMUAL
Total Return (1Y)12.94%22.35%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)--47.27%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)--17.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LTM
UAL
GSPC
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

United Airlines (UAL) has an aggressive beta of 1.32, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) is defensive at 0.64 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricLTMUAL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)45.42%48.88%
Beta (5Y)0.641.32
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.94%-49.19%
Avg. Volume (3M)862.11K4.24M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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LTM and UAL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricLTMUAL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.190.37
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.300.59

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 98.02% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; United Airlines (UAL) at 22.31% also sits in the top quartile.

LTM

Transportation industry group

98.02%

LTM
98.02%
Max
45.08%
Q3
22.02%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%

UAL

Transportation industry group

22.31%

Max
45.08%
UAL
22.31%
Q3
22.02%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 9.82% and United Airlines (UAL) at 5.46% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

LTM

Transportation industry group

9.82%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
LTM
9.82%
Median
5.58%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%

UAL

Transportation industry group

5.46%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
Median
5.58%
UAL
5.46%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 13.14% and United Airlines (UAL) at 7.03% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

LTM

Transportation industry group

13.14%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
LTM
13.14%
Median
11.50%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%

UAL

Transportation industry group

7.03%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
UAL
7.03%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricLTMUAL
ROE (TTM)98.02%22.31%
ROA (TTM)7.59%3.31%
Net Margin (TTM)9.82%5.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.14%7.03%
Gross Margin (TTM)24.99%30.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 11.16% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while United Airlines (UAL) at 3.52% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LTM.

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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 53.28% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while United Airlines (UAL) at 7.94% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for LTM.

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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricLTMUAL
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.16%3.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)15.07%9.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)53.28%7.94%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.05%66.00%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 0.68 and United Airlines (UAL) at 0.75 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

LTM

Transportation industry group

0.68

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
LTM
0.68
Min
0.22

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.75

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
UAL
0.75
Min
0.22
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but LTM is more stretched: United Airlines (UAL) at 1.93 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 4.18 is above its industry benchmark range.

LTM

Transportation industry group

4.18

LTM
4.18
Max
2.75
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00

UAL

Transportation industry group

1.93

Max
2.75
UAL
1.93
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricLTMUAL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.680.75
Debt / Equity (MRQ)4.181.93
Net Debt / EBITDA1.752.79

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

United Airlines (UAL) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile LATAM Airlines (LTM) reports a yield of 0.00%, ranking against industry peers normally.

LTM

Transportation industry group

0.00%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
Median
0.74%
LTM
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.00%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
Median
0.74%
UAL
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

United Airlines (UAL) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile LATAM Airlines (LTM) reports a payout of 27.08%, ranking against industry peers normally.

LTM

Transportation industry group

27.08%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
LTM
27.08%
Median
20.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.00%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
Median
20.43%
UAL
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricLTMUAL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)27.08%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 8.44 and United Airlines (UAL) at 10.32 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.

LTM

Transportation industry group

8.44

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
Median
20.58
Q1
10.44
LTM
8.44
Min
0.00

UAL

Transportation industry group

10.32

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
Median
20.58
Q1
10.44
UAL
10.32
Min
0.00
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 0.82 and United Airlines (UAL) at 0.56 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

LTM

Transportation industry group

0.82

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
LTM
0.82
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.56

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
UAL
0.56
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

United Airlines (UAL) at 2.06 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 5.96 carries an above-peer premium to book — LTM is pricier on assets.

LTM

Transportation industry group

5.96

Max
6.29
LTM
5.96
Q3
3.39
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07

UAL

Transportation industry group

2.06

Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
UAL
2.06
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricLTMUAL
P/E Ratio (TTM)8.4410.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.820.56
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.962.06
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)11.80%-1.57%