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UAL vs. UNP: United Airlines vs. Union Pacific Stock Comparison

How do United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP) 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

United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but UAL is classified in Passenger Airlines while UNP is classified in Ground Transportation.

Company profile comparison for United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Profile ItemUALUNP
NameUnited Airlines Holdings, Inc.Union Pacific Corp.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryPassenger AirlinesGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryPassenger AirlinesRail Transportation
Market Capitalization36.63 billion USD172.38 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateFebruary 6, 2006January 2, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

UAL
UNP
GSPC
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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP), 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 United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricUALUNP
Total Return (1Y)22.35%36.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)47.27%14.66%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)17.68%6.62%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

UAL
UNP
GSPC
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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP), 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 United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricUALUNP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.88%23.12%
Beta (5Y)1.320.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)-49.19%-31.83%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.24M2.49M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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UAL and UNP 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 United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricUALUNP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.371.40
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.592.22

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both United Airlines (UAL) at 22.31% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 38.75% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

UAL

Transportation industry group

22.31%

Max
45.08%
UAL
22.31%
Q3
22.02%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%

UNP

Transportation industry group

38.75%

Max
45.08%
UNP
38.75%
Q3
22.02%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%
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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 28.90% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of United Airlines (UAL) at 5.46%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

UAL

Transportation industry group

5.46%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
Median
5.58%
UAL
5.46%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%

UNP

Transportation industry group

28.90%

Max
50.36%
UNP
28.90%
Q3
21.18%
Median
5.58%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%
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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 41.34% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of United Airlines (UAL) at 7.03%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

UAL

Transportation industry group

7.03%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
UAL
7.03%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%

UNP

Transportation industry group

41.34%

Max
59.18%
UNP
41.34%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%
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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricUALUNP
ROE (TTM)22.31%38.75%
ROA (TTM)3.31%9.51%
Net Margin (TTM)5.46%28.90%
Operating Margin (TTM)7.03%41.34%
Gross Margin (TTM)30.87%55.77%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both United Airlines (UAL) at 3.52% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.07% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both United Airlines (UAL) at 7.94% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 8.03% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricUALUNP
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.52%1.07%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.53%-0.49%
EPS Growth (YoY)7.94%8.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)66.00%2.24%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.16 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while United Airlines (UAL) at 0.75 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for UAL.

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.75

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
UAL
0.75
Min
0.22

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.16

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both United Airlines (UAL) at 1.93 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.41 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

UAL

Transportation industry group

1.93

Max
2.75
UAL
1.93
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.41

Max
2.75
UNP
1.41
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricUALUNP
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.751.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.931.41
Net Debt / EBITDA2.792.11

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 Union Pacific (UNP) reports a yield of 1.87%, ranking against industry peers normally.

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.00%

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

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.87%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
UNP
1.87%
Median
0.74%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): 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 Union Pacific (UNP) reports a payout of 43.37%, ranking against industry peers normally.

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.00%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
Median
20.43%
UAL
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UNP

Transportation industry group

43.37%

Max
100.89%
UNP
43.37%
Q3
41.68%
Median
20.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricUALUNP
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.87%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%43.37%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

United Airlines (UAL) at 10.32 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 22.63 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for UAL, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

UAL

Transportation industry group

10.32

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
Median
20.58
Q1
10.44
UAL
10.32
Min
0.00

UNP

Transportation industry group

22.63

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
UNP
22.63
Median
20.58
Q1
10.44
Min
0.00
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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

United Airlines (UAL) at 0.56 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 6.54 clears its benchmark range — UNP looks notably rich on sales.

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.56

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
UAL
0.56
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04

UNP

Transportation industry group

6.54

UNP
6.54
Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04
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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

United Airlines (UAL) at 2.06 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 7.83 prices above its benchmark range — UNP looks rich relative to book.

UAL

Transportation industry group

2.06

Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
UAL
2.06
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07

UNP

Transportation industry group

7.83

UNP
7.83
Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07
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United Airlines (UAL) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for United Airlines (UAL) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricUALUNP
P/E Ratio (TTM)10.3222.63
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.566.54
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.067.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-1.57%2.94%