Advertisement
JBLU vs UAL
Which Stock Would AI Choose? JetBlue Airways (JBLU) vs. United Airlines Holdings (UAL) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- UAL exhibits stronger profitability with a trailing twelve-month (TTM) earnings per share (EPS) of $10.20, contrasting JBLU's -$1.66, amid ongoing losses for the smaller carrier.
- JBLU has delivered superior year-to-date (YTD) performance at +21.1% versus UAL's +11.6%, driven by route expansions and rebound momentum.
- Both airlines face jet fuel supply pressures in recent weeks, but UAL's larger scale and lower debt-to-equity ratio (203% vs. 444%) offer greater resilience.
- Analyst sentiment leans toward UAL with an average price target of $130 from current levels near $99, while JBLU targets hover around $4.50.
- Over the past 12 months, UAL gained 26% compared to JBLU's 24% decline, highlighting relative stability.
Introduction
This comparison pits JBLU, a low-cost leisure-focused carrier, against UAL, a major full-service airline, in the context of volatile fuel markets and recovering travel demand. Both operate in the cyclical airline sector, sensitive to economic shifts, capacity constraints, and geopolitical events impacting jet fuel. Traders seeking short-term momentum plays and investors eyeing long-term recovery may find value in analyzing their divergent paths—JBLU's high-volatility rebound versus UAL's steadier profitability. Recent market activity underscores contrasts in scale, cost management, and growth catalysts.
JBLU Overview and Recent Performance
JetBlue Airways (JBLU) focuses on low-cost, high-amenity service, primarily targeting leisure routes with a fleet emphasizing efficiency. In recent market activity, shares have rebounded sharply YTD (+21.1%), trading around $5.50 within a 52-week range of $3.40–$6.50, reflecting heightened volatility (beta 1.75). Key influences include new transatlantic expansions like Boston to Barcelona flights and a Punta Cana maintenance hub to cut costs. However, persistent losses (TTM EPS -$1.66), elevated debt-to-equity (444%), and rising cost per available seat mile (CASM, a key unit cost metric) amid fuel shortages have tempered sentiment. Upcoming Q1 earnings on April 28 highlight capacity adjustments and demand resilience, though analyst targets average $4.50 amid hold/sell ratings.
UAL Overview and Recent Performance
United Airlines Holdings (UAL) operates a vast hub-and-spoke network as one of the largest U.S. carriers by capacity, benefiting from premium international routes. Recent weeks saw shares near $99 (down slightly), with YTD gains of +11.6% in a 52-week range of $65–$119 (beta 1.29). Profitability stands out with TTM EPS $10.20 and PE ratio of 9.70, supported by record Q4 revenue. Sentiment has been buoyed by rejected merger talks with American Airlines and strong Q1 expectations ($14.45B revenue, $1.09 adjusted EPS) ahead of April 22 earnings. Fuel disruptions pose risks, but lower debt-to-equity (203%) and bullish analyst targets (~$130) signal stability.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron's Trending AI Robots page curates 25 top performers from over 351 AI trading bots scanning thousands of tickers across diverse strategies and timeframes. These bots employ swing trading, trend following, and multi-agent approaches in sectors like semiconductors, energy, and aerospace, with impressive stats: annualized returns up to +168%, win rates of 54–88%, profit factors to 11.7, and profit-to-drawdown ratios exceeding 22. Average trade durations span 1–55 days on 5–60 minute charts, using AI/ML for signals like take-profit/stop-loss corridors. None currently focus on airlines, but their adaptability suits volatile markets. Explore these curated tools to align with current conditions.
Head-to-Head Comparison
JBLU and UAL differ sharply in business models: JetBlue's point-to-point leisure emphasis versus United's premium hub network yields contrasts in growth drivers—JBLU via route additions, UAL through international scale. Recent momentum favors JBLU's YTD surge amid low valuations, but UAL leads in 12-month returns (+26% vs. -24%) and stability. Risk profiles highlight JBLU's higher beta and debt burden versus UAL's profitability buffers. Both share sector exposure to fuel volatility, yet market sentiment tilts to UAL's catalysts like earnings beats.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI currently favors UAL for its trend consistency, positive earnings trajectory, lower relative risk, and upcoming catalysts like Q1 results. While JBLU offers rebound potential in a recovery phase, UAL's superior positioning in profitability and analyst support suggests higher probability of outperformance in the near term.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is JBLU is a StrongBuy and UAL is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
JBLU’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileUAL’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- JBLU’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- UAL’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
JBLU’s TA Score shows that 7 TA indicator(s) are bullish while UAL’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- JBLU’s TA Score: 7 bullish, 3 bearish.
- UAL’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
JBLU (@Airlines) experienced а +5.94% price change this week, while UAL (@Airlines) price change was +2.57% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Airlines industry was +2.39%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +10.46%, and the average quarterly price growth was +1.62%.
Reported Earning Dates
JBLU is expected to report earnings on Aug 04, 2026.
UAL is expected to report earnings on Jul 22, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Airlines (+2.39% weekly)Airlines industry comprises passenger air transportation, including scheduled and non-scheduled routes. This can include charter airlines, as well as regular commuter ones. Discount pricing and the rise of low-cost carriers over recent decades have expanded the industry by making its services accessible to a much larger global population, compared to the older days when airline travel was a relative luxury for many people in the world. Delta Air Lines Inc., Southwest Airlines Co and United Continental Holdings, Inc. are some of the airlines with the largest stock market capitalizations in the U.S.
| JBLU | UAL | JBLU / UAL | |
| Capitalization | 2.06B | 39.5B | 5% |
| EBITDA | 437M | 5.83B | 7% |
| Gain YTD | 21.538 | 8.701 | 248% |
| P/E Ratio | N/A | 10.62 | - |
| Revenue | 9.16B | 60.5B | 15% |
| Total Cash | 2.17B | 14.2B | 15% |
| Total Debt | 9.33B | 31B | 30% |
JBLU | UAL | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 34 | 34 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 58 Fair valued | 85 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 42 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 98 | 37 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 42 | 14 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 87 | 19 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
JBLU's Valuation (58) in the Airlines industry is in the same range as UAL (85). This means that JBLU’s stock grew similarly to UAL’s over the last 12 months.
UAL's Profit vs Risk Rating (42) in the Airlines industry is somewhat better than the same rating for JBLU (100). This means that UAL’s stock grew somewhat faster than JBLU’s over the last 12 months.
UAL's SMR Rating (37) in the Airlines industry is somewhat better than the same rating for JBLU (98). This means that UAL’s stock grew somewhat faster than JBLU’s over the last 12 months.
UAL's Price Growth Rating (14) in the Airlines industry is in the same range as JBLU (42). This means that UAL’s stock grew similarly to JBLU’s over the last 12 months.
UAL's P/E Growth Rating (19) in the Airlines industry is significantly better than the same rating for JBLU (87). This means that UAL’s stock grew significantly faster than JBLU’s over the last 12 months.
| JBLU | UAL | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 1 day ago 80% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 77% | 1 day ago 74% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 78% | 1 day ago 73% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 78% | 1 day ago 76% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 74% | 1 day ago 80% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 76% | 1 day ago 81% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 10 days ago 76% | 1 day ago 75% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 8 days ago 81% | 8 days ago 77% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 74% | 1 day ago 65% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 71% | 1 day ago 78% |
Advertisement
JBLU and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, JBLU has been closely correlated with ULCC. These tickers have moved in lockstep 69% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if JBLU jumps, then ULCC could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To JBLU | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JBLU | 100% | +0.73% | ||
| ULCC - JBLU | 69% Closely correlated | +1.26% | ||
| AAL - JBLU | 69% Closely correlated | +0.37% | ||
| DAL - JBLU | 67% Closely correlated | +0.93% | ||
| UAL - JBLU | 66% Closely correlated | +2.42% | ||
| ALGT - JBLU | 65% Loosely correlated | +1.27% | ||
More | ||||