United Airlines: Buy Rating Reiterated on Strong EPS Outlook and Unchanged $171 Price Target

Analyst John Godyn of Citi reiterated a Buy rating on United Airlines Holdings, retaining the price target of $171.00.

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John Godyn has given his Buy rating due to a combination of factors, starting with United Airlines’ solid earnings outperformance in 2Q26, where adjusted EPS exceeded consensus expectations. He views the weaker 3Q26 guidance as largely driven by conservative, fuel-related assumptions rather than a deterioration in the underlying business, and therefore treats it as short-term noise rather than a structural concern.

Looking beyond the near term, Godyn focuses on the growing likelihood that United can achieve double-digit pre-tax income margins by 2027, a milestone he believes is not fully reflected in current Street forecasts. His newly raised 2027 EPS estimate of $16.38 implies pre-tax margins slightly above 10% and supports a substantial expected share price return, with an unchanged price target of $171. He argues that large carriers like United are poised to compound shareholder value more quickly as industry-wide structural shifts play out, reinforcing his Buy, High Risk recommendation.

In another report released yesterday, Barclays also assigned a Buy rating to the stock with a $175.00 price target.