Barclays Increases United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) Price Target to $75.00

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) had its price target boosted by equities research analysts at Barclays from $66.00 to $75.00 in a research note issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an “overweight” rating on the transportation company’s stock. Barclays‘s target price would indicate a potential upside of 2.28% from the company’s previous close.

UAL has been the subject of a number of other reports. Susquehanna upped their target price on shares of United Airlines from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of United Airlines from $65.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of United Airlines from $69.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $78.88.

United Airlines Stock Up 1.8 %

Shares of UAL opened at $73.33 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $24.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.32, a P/E/G ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.07, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.71. United Airlines has a 1 year low of $33.68 and a 1 year high of $74.56. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $50.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $49.50.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The transportation company reported $3.33 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.10 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $14.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $14.76 billion. United Airlines had a net margin of 5.28% and a return on equity of 33.90%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.65 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that United Airlines will post 9.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Airlines declared that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, October 15th that allows the company to buyback $1.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the transportation company to repurchase up to 7.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BNP Paribas purchased a new position in shares of United Airlines in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in United Airlines in the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in United Airlines in the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new stake in United Airlines during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Crewe Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Airlines in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 69.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.