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

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

Company Profile

SymbolRKLBUAL
Company NameRocket Lab CorporationUnited Airlines Holdings, Inc.
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS IndustryAerospace & DefensePassenger Airlines
Market Capitalization22.31 billion USD33.74 billion USD
ExchangeNasdaqCMNasdaqGS
Listing DateNovember 24, 2020February 6, 2006
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of RKLB 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.

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

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolRKLBUAL
5-Day Price Return11.37%7.23%
13-Week Price Return60.81%33.30%
26-Week Price Return96.39%8.68%
52-Week Price Return586.20%143.60%
Month-to-Date Return0.72%18.00%
Year-to-Date Return81.59%7.32%
10-Day Avg. Volume22.67M4.19M
3-Month Avg. Volume21.22M6.93M
3-Month Volatility75.00%51.46%
Beta2.191.52

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

RKLB

-48.14%

Aerospace & Defense Industry

Max
43.89%
Q3
22.42%
Median
12.50%
Q1
5.21%
Min
-6.24%

RKLB has a negative Return on Equity of -48.14%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.

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.

RKLB vs. UAL: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Aerospace & Defense and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

RKLB

-45.87%

Aerospace & Defense Industry

Max
14.54%
Q3
8.08%
Median
6.17%
Q1
2.49%
Min
-1.63%

RKLB has a negative Net Profit Margin of -45.87%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.

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.

RKLB vs. UAL: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Aerospace & Defense and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

RKLB

-44.08%

Aerospace & Defense Industry

Max
16.63%
Q3
10.38%
Median
8.29%
Q1
6.21%
Min
0.95%

RKLB has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -44.08%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.

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.

RKLB vs. UAL: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Aerospace & Defense and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolRKLBUAL
Return on Equity (TTM)-48.14%26.43%
Return on Assets (TTM)-17.98%4.41%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)-45.87%5.71%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)-44.08%8.62%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)29.04%64.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

RKLB

2.67

Aerospace & Defense Industry

Max
3.09
Q3
1.98
Median
1.23
Q1
1.03
Min
0.02

RKLB’s Current Ratio of 2.67 is in the upper quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.

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.

RKLB vs. UAL: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Aerospace & Defense and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

RKLB

0.63

Aerospace & Defense Industry

Max
1.70
Q3
1.04
Median
0.68
Q1
0.41
Min
0.00

RKLB’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.63 is typical for the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

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.

RKLB vs. UAL: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Aerospace & Defense and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

RKLB

-45.87

Aerospace & Defense Industry

Max
36.57
Q3
19.90
Median
7.04
Q1
2.40
Min
-7.63

RKLB has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -45.87. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.

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.

RKLB vs. UAL: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Aerospace & Defense and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolRKLBUAL
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.670.70
Quick Ratio (MRQ)2.210.62
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.632.02
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)-45.875.76

Growth

Revenue Growth

RKLB 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

RKLB 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)

RKLB

0.00%

Aerospace & Defense Industry

Max
2.03%
Q3
1.22%
Median
0.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RKLB 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.

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.

RKLB vs. UAL: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Aerospace & Defense and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

RKLB

0.00%

Aerospace & Defense Industry

Max
83.87%
Q3
49.90%
Median
16.48%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RKLB 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.

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.

RKLB vs. UAL: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Aerospace & Defense and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolRKLBUAL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

RKLB

--

Aerospace & Defense Industry

Max
65.97
Q3
54.11
Median
34.53
Q1
23.66
Min
0.00

P/E Ratio data for RKLB is currently unavailable.

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.

RKLB vs. UAL: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Aerospace & Defense and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

RKLB

38.93

Aerospace & Defense Industry

Max
8.07
Q3
4.49
Median
2.42
Q1
1.39
Min
0.00

With a P/S Ratio of 38.93, RKLB trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Aerospace & Defense industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.

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.

RKLB vs. UAL: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Aerospace & Defense and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

RKLB

23.97

Aerospace & Defense Industry

Max
13.67
Q3
7.92
Median
4.65
Q1
2.68
Min
0.82

At 23.97, RKLB’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Aerospace & Defense industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

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.

RKLB vs. UAL: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Aerospace & Defense and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolRKLBUAL
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)--9.78
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)38.930.56
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)23.971.94
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)--8.00