United Airlines Shares Rally 1.81% on Earnings Outperformance Despite 157th-Ranked $640M Trading Volume and Mixed Q2 Results

On August 15, 2025, United Airlines (UAL) rose 1.81% to $100.93, with a trading volume of $640 million, ranking 157th in market activity. The stock has gained 8.7% since its last earnings report, outperforming broader market indices.

United’s Q2 2025 earnings report highlighted mixed results. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.87 exceeded estimates but fell 6.5% year-over-year. Passenger revenue grew 1.1% to $13.8 billion, while cargo and loyalty program revenues increased by 3.8% and 8.7%, respectively. However, operating revenues of $15.2 billion missed expectations, and unit revenue metrics declined. Fuel costs fell 15.3% year-over-year, but overall operating expenses rose 6.5% to $13.9 billion.

The airline revised its 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to $9.00–$11.00, down from prior ranges, citing improved demand trends and reduced geopolitical uncertainty. Share repurchases totaled $200 million in Q2, and free cash flow reached $1.13 billion. The updated outlook contrasts with earlier scenarios for a potential recession, reflecting cautious optimism about the second-half recovery.

A backtesting analysis of a strategy buying the top 500 high-volume stocks and holding them for one day from 2022 to 2025 showed a total profit of $10,720, with cumulative returns of 1.08 times the initial investment. The approach leveraged high trading volume as a proxy for investor interest, generating steady gains despite market fluctuations.