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SKYW vs UAL
Which Stock Would AI Choose? SkyWest (SKYW) vs. United Airlines Holdings (UAL) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- SkyWest (SKYW), a regional airline operator, reported Q2 2026 revenue growth of 7% year-over-year alongside share buybacks, supporting recent stock momentum with a 16.4% gain over the past month.
- United Airlines Holdings (UAL), a major network carrier, delivered Q2 2026 results that exceeded expectations, including adjusted diluted EPS of $1.99, and raised full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance despite higher fuel costs.
- Over recent weeks, SKYW shares have shown stronger short-term price appreciation compared with UAL, though UAL maintains a more substantial year-to-date advance and longer-term outperformance versus the broader market.
- Business models differ markedly: SKYW focuses on regional capacity agreements with larger carriers, while UAL operates a global network with premium cabin and international revenue exposure.
- Both stocks operate in the cyclical airline sector, facing shared pressures from fuel prices, labor costs, and demand variability, yet each has distinct catalysts tied to their scale and contract structures.
- Market sentiment reflects resilience in both names following earnings, with analyst coverage highlighting buy ratings for SKYW and guidance upgrades for UAL.
Introduction
This comparison examines SkyWest (SKYW) and United Airlines Holdings (UAL), two publicly traded companies in the airline industry. SkyWest provides regional flight services under capacity purchase agreements, while United Airlines Holdings operates a full-service global network. The analysis focuses on recent performance, business fundamentals, and market positioning to assist traders and investors evaluating relative opportunities within the sector. It is relevant for those monitoring airline equities for short- to medium-term trends, portfolio diversification, or sector rotation strategies amid evolving fuel costs, capacity trends, and economic conditions.
SkyWest Overview and Recent Performance
SkyWest, Inc. operates as a regional airline, providing scheduled passenger and cargo services primarily through long-term capacity purchase agreements with major U.S. carriers. In recent market activity, the company reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of approximately $1.10 billion, representing a 7% increase from the prior-year period, supported by higher block hours and operational efficiency. The stock has exhibited notable strength in recent weeks, advancing 16.4% over the past month amid announcements of share buybacks and insider transactions. Broader sentiment has been influenced by consistent contract execution and cost management, though the shares remain sensitive to industry-wide factors such as fuel expenses and partner airline schedules.
United Airlines Holdings Overview and Recent Performance
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is a major U.S. airline offering domestic and international passenger and cargo services through its global network. The company posted second-quarter 2026 results that surpassed Wall Street expectations, with diluted EPS of $2.46 and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.99, alongside a 16% year-over-year rise in total operating revenue. Despite elevated anticipated fuel costs, management raised full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance. Recent market activity shows the shares trading in a range near recent highs, with year-to-date gains exceeding 14% and one-year returns near 43%, reflecting sustained demand recovery and network optimization efforts including hub modernization initiatives.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
SkyWest (SKYW) and United Airlines Holdings (UAL) differ in scale and operational focus. SkyWest functions primarily as a regional feeder through fixed-fee agreements, offering lower capital intensity and more predictable revenue streams but limited pricing power. United Airlines Holdings operates an extensive mainline network with greater exposure to premium cabins, international routes, and ancillary revenue, enabling stronger unit revenue growth during demand recoveries yet increasing sensitivity to fuel price volatility and geopolitical events. Recent momentum favors SKYW on a one-month basis, while UAL shows superior longer-term returns and guidance momentum. Risk factors include labor negotiations and capacity constraints for both, though United’s larger balance sheet and diversification provide different liquidity dynamics compared with SkyWest’s contract-dependent model. Sector sentiment remains constructive following earnings, with each name reflecting distinct trade-offs between stability and growth potential.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including earnings consistency, guidance trajectory, and relative positioning within the airline sector, Tickeron’s AI would currently assign a probabilistic preference toward United Airlines Holdings (UAL). The company’s recent beat-and-raise pattern, combined with sustained year-to-date outperformance and network expansion catalysts, suggests more durable trend support compared with SkyWest’s shorter-term price action. This assessment remains conditional on continued execution and broader market conditions rather than a definitive ranking.
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.
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 SKYW is a Hold and UAL is a Hold.
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).
SKYW’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileUAL’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- SKYW’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- UAL’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 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.
SKYW’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while UAL’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- SKYW’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
- UAL’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
Price Growth
SKYW (@Airlines) experienced а -6.03% price change this week, while UAL (@Airlines) price change was -9.71% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Airlines industry was -7.08%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -4.28%, and the average quarterly price growth was -19.53%.
Reported Earning Dates
SKYW is expected to report earnings on Oct 22, 2026.
UAL is expected to report earnings on Oct 20, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Airlines (-7.08% 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.
| SKYW | UAL | SKYW / UAL | |
| Capitalization | 3.93B | 36.7B | 11% |
| EBITDA | 629M | 5.58B | 11% |
| Gain YTD | 0.677 | 1.207 | 56% |
| P/E Ratio | 10.04 | 10.60 | 95% |
| Revenue | 4.19B | 62.9B | 7% |
| Total Cash | 601M | 16.6B | 4% |
| Total Debt | 2.38B | 33.7B | 7% |
SKYW | UAL | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 55 Fair valued | 79 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 38 | 43 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 55 | 41 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 50 | 51 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 63 | 36 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 65 | 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.
SKYW's Valuation (55) in the Airlines industry is in the same range as UAL (79). This means that SKYW’s stock grew similarly to UAL’s over the last 12 months.
SKYW's Profit vs Risk Rating (38) in the Airlines industry is in the same range as UAL (43). This means that SKYW’s stock grew similarly to UAL’s over the last 12 months.
UAL's SMR Rating (41) in the Airlines industry is in the same range as SKYW (55). This means that UAL’s stock grew similarly to SKYW’s over the last 12 months.
SKYW's Price Growth Rating (50) in the Airlines industry is in the same range as UAL (51). This means that SKYW’s stock grew similarly to UAL’s over the last 12 months.
UAL's P/E Growth Rating (36) in the Airlines industry is in the same range as SKYW (63). This means that UAL’s stock grew similarly to SKYW’s over the last 12 months.
| SKYW | UAL | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 72% | 3 days ago 73% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 82% | 3 days ago 87% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 75% | 3 days ago 76% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 69% | 3 days ago 72% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 71% | 3 days ago 74% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 83% | 3 days ago 72% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 19 days ago 84% | 19 days ago 76% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 69% | 4 days ago 76% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 68% | 3 days ago 71% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 82% | 3 days ago 63% |
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SKYW and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, SKYW has been closely correlated with UAL. These tickers have moved in lockstep 71% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if SKYW jumps, then UAL could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To SKYW | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SKYW | 100% | +0.30% | ||
| UAL - SKYW | 71% Closely correlated | +1.31% | ||
| ALGT - SKYW | 68% Closely correlated | +7.12% | ||
| AAL - SKYW | 68% Closely correlated | +2.22% | ||
| JBLU - SKYW | 62% Loosely correlated | +3.16% | ||
| LTM - SKYW | 55% Loosely correlated | +2.10% | ||
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