United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) Shares Gap Down on Analyst Downgrade

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL)’s share price gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday after Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on the stock from $154.00 to $80.00. The stock had previously closed at $69.05, but opened at $67.45. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a buy rating on the stock. United Airlines shares last traded at $65.66, with a volume of 1,850,742 shares changing hands.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of United Airlines from $140.00 to $107.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Barclays set a $140.00 price target on shares of United Airlines and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 12th. Susquehanna reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of United Airlines in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Raymond James reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $130.00 price target (up from $120.00) on shares of United Airlines in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their target price on United Airlines from $142.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $111.75.

Institutional Trading of United Airlines

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new position in shares of United Airlines during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Hemington Wealth Management raised its position in shares of United Airlines by 70.8% during the fourth quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 316 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares during the period. Capital A Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Airlines during the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in United Airlines in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC acquired a new stake in United Airlines during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Institutional investors own 69.69% of the company’s stock.

United Airlines Stock Down 4.9 %

The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $92.76 and its 200 day simple moving average is $86.85. The company has a market capitalization of $21.50 billion, a PE ratio of 6.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 21st. The transportation company reported $3.26 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.96 by $0.30. United Airlines had a net margin of 5.52% and a return on equity of 32.26%. The firm had revenue of $14.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.40 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.00 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that United Airlines Holdings, Inc. will post 12.96 EPS for the current year.

About United Airlines

United Airlines Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides air transportation services in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America. The company transports people and cargo through its mainline and regional fleets. It also offers catering, ground handling, flight academy, and maintenance services for third parties.