United Airlines Holdings (XSWX:UAL) Owner Earnings per Share (TTM): -3.68 (As of Mar. 2026)


XSWX:UAL United Airlines Holdings Inc XSWX:UAL
79 GF Score
Price CHF104.26
GF Value CHF64.00
! 8 Warning Signs
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What is United Airlines Holdings Owner Earnings per Share (TTM)?

United Airlines Holdings XSWX:UAL -3.62% 79 Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) is -3.68 as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus rates XSWX:UAL with a GF Score™ of 79/100 and a GF Value™ of CHF64.00. The stock has 8 warning signs investors should review. Among 542 Transportation companies, United Airlines Holdings ranks worse than 184501.66% on this metric.

In 1986 Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Letter, Warren Buffett defined owner earnings as follows:

"These represent (a) reported earnings plus (b) depreciation, depletion, amortization, and certain other non-cash charges...less (c) the average annual amount of capitalized expenditures for plant and equipment, etc. that the business requires to fully maintain its long-term competitive position and its unit volume (If the business requires additional working capital to maintain its competitive position and unit volume, the increment also should be included in (c))...Our owner-earnings equation does not yield the deceptively precise figures provided by GAAP, since (c) must be a guess - and one sometimes very difficult to make. Despite this problem, we consider the owner earnings figure, not the GAAP figure, to be the relevant item for valuation purposes - both for investors in buying stocks and for managers in buying entire businesses...All of this points up the absurdity of the 'cash flow' numbers that are often set forth in Wall Street reports. These numbers routinely include (a) plus (b) - but do not subtract (c)."

United Airlines Holdings's Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF-3.68. It's Price-to-Owner-Earnings ratio for today is 0.


The historical rank and industry rank for United Airlines Holdings's Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) or its related term are showing as below:


During the past 13 years, the highest Price-to-Owner-Earnings ratio of United Airlines Holdings was 101.72. The lowest was 3.27. And the median was 74.37.


XSWX:UAL's Price-to-Owner-Earnings is not ranked *
in the Transportation industry.
Industry Median: 13.09
* Ranked among companies with meaningful Price-to-Owner-Earnings only.

United Airlines Holdings's Earnings per Share (Diluted) for the three months ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF1.69. Its Earnings per Share (Diluted) for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF8.95. It's PE Ratio (TTM) ratio for today is 11.65.

United Airlines Holdings's EPS without NRI for the three months ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF0.94. Its EPS without NRI for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF8.77. It's PE Ratio without NRI ratio for today is 11.89.


Be Aware

Assumption: Companies usually do not report maintenance capital expenditures and growth capital expenditures separately. Here we use estimated numbers and average them over 5 years. The method to estimate maintenance capital expenditures can be found in above part 4.

Note: GuruFocus' Change In Working Capital is provided by Morningstar. It is calculated by adding the items under "Change in operating assets and liabilities" (may refer to a different name for different company) section in Cash Flow Statement from original financial report. And it includes non-current parts of assets and liabilities.


United Airlines Holdings Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) Related Terms


United Airlines Holdings Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for United Airlines Holdings's Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

United Airlines Holdings Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) Chart

United Airlines Holdings Annual Data
Trend Dec16 Dec17 Dec18 Dec19 Dec20 Dec21 Dec22 Dec23 Dec24 Dec25
Owner Earnings per Share (TTM)
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

United Airlines Holdings Quarterly Data
Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23 Mar24 Jun24 Sep24 Dec24 Mar25 Jun25 Sep25 Dec25 Mar26
Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.45

XSWX:UAL vs DAL, LUV, AAL: Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) Comparison

For the Airlines subindustry, United Airlines Holdings's Price-to-Owner-Earnings, along with its competitors' market caps and Price-to-Owner-Earnings data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


United Airlines Holdings Price-to-Owner-Earnings vs Transportation Industry

For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, United Airlines Holdings's Price-to-Owner-Earnings distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where United Airlines Holdings's Price-to-Owner-Earnings falls into.


XSWX:UAL
79GF Score
United Airlines Holdings Inc XSWX:UAL
Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

United Airlines Holdings Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) Calculation

In 1986 Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Letter, Warren Buffett defined owner earnings as follows:

"These represent (a) reported earnings plus (b) depreciation, depletion, amortization, and certain other non-cash charges...less (c) the average annual amount of capitalized expenditures for plant and equipment, etc. that the business requires to fully maintain its long-term competitive position and its unit volume. (If the business requires additional working capital to maintain its competitive position and unit volume, the increment also should be included in (c))...Our owner-earnings equation does not yield the deceptively precise figures provided by GAAP, since (c) must be a guess - and one sometimes very difficult to make. Despite this problem, we consider the owner earnings figure, not the GAAP figure, to be the relevant item for valuation purposes - both for investors in buying stocks and for managers in buying entire businesses...All of this points up the absurdity of the 'cash flow' numbers that are often set forth in Wall Street reports. These numbers routinely include (a) plus (b) - but do not subtract (c)."

To make it simple, then you will have:

Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) = (Net Income + Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization + Change In Deferred Tax - 5Y Average of Maintenance Capital Expenditure + Change In Working Capital) / Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average)

United Airlines Holdings's Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) Calculation:

TTM / Last Quarter Average of Last 20 Quarters
Net Income 2,929
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 0
Change In Deferred Tax 0
5Y Average of Maintenance Capital Expenditure 4,512
Change In Working Capital 0
Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average) 327

1. Start with "Net Income" from income statement. United Airlines Holdings's Net Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF2,929 Mil.

2. "Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization" is from cashflow statement. United Airlines Holdings's Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF0 Mil. This needs to be added back because company does not actually need to pay cash for it. It is a non-cash item.

3. Other non-cash charges usually include "Stock Based Compensation" and "Change In Deferred Tax":
However, to be conservative, GuruFocus will not add Stock Based Compensation back to net income. United Airlines Holdings's Change In Deferred Tax for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF0 Mil.

4. Average maintenance capital expenditure over a business/industry cycle: 5-Year Average Maintenance Capital Expenditure = CHF4,512 Mil

It is usually best to take a long-term average of maintenance capital expenditure. Ideally this would be as long as 10 years and include at least one economic downturn. However, since many companies do not have as long as 10-year history, here GuruFocus uses the latest 5 years data to do the calculation. To smooth out unusual years but reflect recent developments, we take an average of the 5 year maintenance capital expenditure.

The following shows how to get maintenance capital expenditure.

First, calculate the revenue change regarding to the previous quarter. If the revenue decreased from the previous quarter, then the Maintenance Capital Expenditure = Capital Expenditure (positive).
Second, if the revenue increased from the previous quarter, then calculate the percentage of Net PPE as of corresponding Revenue.
Growth Capital Expenditure = Percentage of Property, Plant and Equipment as of corresponding Revenue * Revenue Increase
Third, calculate Capital Expenditure (positive) - Growth Capital Expenditure.
If [Capital Expenditure (positive) - Growth Capital Expenditure] was negative, then the Maintenance Capital Expenditure = Capital Expenditure (positive).
If [Capital Expenditure (positive) - Growth Capital Expenditure] was positive, then the Maintenance Capital Expenditure = Capital Expenditure (positive) - Growth Capital Expenditure.
Fourth, get the average of the 5 years maintenance capital expenditure.

United Airlines Holdings's 5-Year Average Maintenance Capital Expenditure = CHF4,512 Mil

5. "Change In Working Capital" is from cashflow statement. United Airlines Holdings's Change In Working Capital for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF0 Mil.
Note: GuruFocus' Change in Working Capital is provided by Morningstar. It is calculated by adding the items under "Change in operating assets and liabilities" (may refer to a different name for different company) section in Cash Flow Statement from original financial report. And sometimes it includes non-current parts of assets and liabilities.

6. United Airlines Holdings's Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average) for the months ended in Mar. 2026 was 326.800 Mil.

United Airlines Holdings's Onwer Earnings Per Share for Mar. 2026 is calculated as:

Owner Earnings per Share (TTM)
=( Net Income+Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization+Change In Deferred Tax
=( 2929.03 +0+0
-5Y Avg of Maintenance CAPEX+Change In Working Capital )/Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average)
-4512.1742265788+0)/326.800
=-3.68

Price-to-Owner-Earnings=Current Price/Owner Earnings per Share (TTM)
=104.26/-3.68
=0

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

What does a Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) of -3.68 mean?
United Airlines Holdings (XSWX:UAL) has a Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) of -3.68 as of Mar. 2026. Warren Buffett defined owner earnings as reported earnings plus depreciation less average maintenance capital expenditure. View historical data on United Airlines Holdings. Over the past decade, United Airlines Holdings' Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) has ranged from 3.27 to 101.72. According to the industry distribution chart, United Airlines Holdings ranks #999999 out of 542 companies in the Transportation industry.
Is United Airlines Holdings' Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) too high?
United Airlines Holdings' current Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) is -3.68. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 3.27 to a high of 101.72. Based on the distribution chart, United Airlines Holdings ranks #999999 out of 542 companies in the Transportation industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, United Airlines Holdings has a GF Score™ of 79/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does United Airlines Holdings' Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) compare to DAL and LUV?
According to the Transportation industry distribution chart, United Airlines Holdings ranks #999999 out of 542 companies for Owner Earnings per Share (TTM). This places United Airlines Holdings in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) is 13.09. Historically, United Airlines Holdings' own Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) has ranged from 3.27 to 101.72 over the past decade. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) for a Transportation company?
The median Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) among Transportation companies is 13.09, based on 542 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) mean?
A high Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Warren Buffett defined owner earnings as reported earnings plus depreciation less average maintenance capital expenditure. View historical data on United Airlines Holdings. For the Transportation industry, the median Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) is 13.09 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. United Airlines Holdings's current Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) is -3.68. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is United Airlines Holdings stock overvalued right now?
United Airlines Holdings (XSWX:UAL) has a current Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) of -3.68. The stock's GF Value™ is CHF64.00, compared to a current price of CHF104.26 — trading 62.9% above its estimated fair value. The current Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) is -3.68. United Airlines Holdings' overall GF Score™ is 79/100 with 8 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) calculated?
Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) is calculated from a company's financial statements. For United Airlines Holdings (XSWX:UAL), the current Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) is -3.68 as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is United Airlines Holdings (XSWX:UAL) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, United Airlines Holdings stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of CHF104.26 is trading 62.9% above its estimated GF Value™ of CHF64.00.

Key valuation signals for XSWX:UAL:

  • Owner Earnings per Share (TTM): -3.68
  • GF Value™: CHF64.00 vs. price of CHF104.26 (62.9% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 79/100 with 8 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the XSWX:UAL stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


United Airlines Holdings Business Description

Address 233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, USA, 60606
Chicago-based United Airlines is a major US network carrier with hubs in San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Denver, Los Angeles, Newark, and Washington, D.C. United operates a hub-and-spoke system that is more focused on international and long-haul travel, especially across the Pacific, than its large US peers.
79GF Score

Get the complete analysis for XSWX:UAL

Owner Earnings per Share (TTM) is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

CHF104.26
Price
CHF64.00
GF Value