Fact based stock research
United Continental (NasdaqGS:UAL)
US9100471096
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For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
United Continental stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 75 (better than 75% compared with investment alternatives), United Continental (Airlines, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of United Continental are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 54 (better than 54% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 98) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 18), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 75, is a strong buy recommendation based on United Continental's financial characteristics. As the company United Continental's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 54) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 98), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 18) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: United Continental
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 24 |
|
31 |
|
78 |
|
54 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 27 |
|
96 |
|
87 |
|
98 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 2 |
|
48 |
|
8 |
|
18 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
39 |
|
72 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
68 |
|
83 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 75 (better than 75% compared with investment alternatives), United Continental (Airlines, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of United Continental are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 54 (better than 54% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 98) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 18), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 75, is a strong buy recommendation based on United Continental's financial characteristics. As the company United Continental's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 54) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 98), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 18) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 24 |
|
31 |
|
78 |
|
54 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 27 |
|
96 |
|
87 |
|
98 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 2 |
|
48 |
|
8 |
|
18 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 10 |
|
70 |
|
64 |
|
75 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 54 (better than 54% compared with alternatives), United Continental shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where half the indicators are below and half are above average for United Continental. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 74, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 74% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning United Continental's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits (or Price / Earnings, P/E), more favorable than for 93% of alternatives. It is also positive for expected dividend yields with a Dividend Yield rank of 1 (dividends are expected to be higher than for 1% of other stocks). But, compared with other companies in the same industry, the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) is higher than average, making the stock more expensive. Only 59% of all competitors have an even higher price compared with book capital which puts the Price-to-Capital Rank for United Continental to 41. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 54, is a buy recommendation based on United Continental's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. A low level of book capital means that the company has a business that is leaner on assets than its competitors. For instance, the company could be leasing its production facilities, or be more focussed on intellectual property, such as its brand and software, which is less visible in its book capital. If that is the case, the low Dividend Yield is also explained as such companies tend to invest their income into market development. The other good value ranks for Sales and Profits are encouraging indicators for the stock price value. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 95 |
|
85 |
|
87 |
|
74 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 5 |
|
5 |
|
100 |
|
93 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 33 |
|
41 |
|
61 |
|
41 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 24 |
|
31 |
|
78 |
|
54 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 98 (better than 98% compared with alternatives) for 2024, United Continental shows one of the highest growth dynamics in its industry. Investors also speak of high momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators above average for United Continental. Sales Growth has a value of 67, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 67% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth with a value of 70 and for Capital Growth with 69. In addition, Stock Returns had an above-average rank value of 100, which means they have been higher than 100% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 98, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Since all Growth Ranks are positive, United Continental exhibits above-average growth momentum. This could be due to a uniquely strong market position, proprietary technology, or an extensive corporate acquisition strategy. Growth investors will find this an attractive investment opportunity, unless they expect that the current phase is transitory and will deteriorate in the future. The current performance could also be a temporary recovery from a very low point, such as a turn-around situation. In the case of a turn-around, the current performance may or may not be followed by a continuing positive development. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 15 |
|
96 |
|
45 |
|
67 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 7 |
|
40 |
|
98 |
|
70 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
90 |
|
79 |
|
69 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 73 |
|
51 |
|
55 |
|
100 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 27 |
|
96 |
|
87 |
|
98 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 18 (better than 18% compared with alternatives), the company United Continental has much riskier financing practices than comparable other companies, which means that their overall debt burden is significantly above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of United Continental is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with all three metrics below average for United Continental. Liquidity is at 44, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 56% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. Even worse, Leverage is at a rank of 9, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 91% of its competitors. Finally, Refinancing is at a rank of 24 which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 76% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 18 (worse than 82% compared with alternatives), United Continental has a financing structure that is significantly riskier than that of its competitors. This combination is rather dangerous in most situations. Only very promising companies with bright future outlooks and stellar reputations can operate with such risky financing. Investors should look at Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks to confirm a very positive outlook or be careful with investing in stocks of United Continental because it may suffer significantly in case of future difficulties. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 10 |
|
10 |
|
8 |
|
9 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 1 |
|
100 |
|
17 |
|
24 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 5 |
|
21 |
|
28 |
|
44 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 2 |
|
48 |
|
8 |
|
18 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
31 |
|
67 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
47 |
|
53 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
58 |
|
82 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
40 |
|
36 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
39 |
|
72 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for United Continental from December 19, 2024.
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