United Airlines lowers full year profit forecast amid rising jet fuel prices

United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:UAL, XETRA:UAL1) has reported higher-than-expected archetypal 4th earnings but chopped its full-year nett outlook, citing rising substance costs linked to geopolitical tensions successful the Middle East.

Shares fell much than 6% pursuing the announcement.

The bearer present expects adjusted net of $7 to $11 per stock for 2026, down from its January forecast of $12 to $14 per share. The revised guidance reflects what the hose described arsenic accrued outgo pressures, peculiarly successful pitchy fuel, amid continued volatility successful planetary vigor markets.

For the archetypal quarter, United Airlines delivered adjusted net of $1.19 per share, up of expert expectations of $1.07 per share.

Revenue was $14.61 billion, besides somewhat supra statement estimates of $14.37 billion.

Net income roseate sharply twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth to $699 million, oregon $2.14 per diluted share, compared with $387 million, oregon $1.16 per share, successful the aforesaid play past year.

On an adjusted basis, nett income was $0.4 billion, with adjusted pre-tax net of $0.5 billion. The institution reported a pre-tax borderline of 6.0%, up 2.3 percent points from a twelvemonth earlier, portion adjusted pre-tax borderline roseate to 3.4%.

Revenue per disposable spot mile roseate 6.9% year-over-year. Capacity accrued 3.4% compared with the archetypal 4th of 2025.

Operating expenses roseate arsenic well, with outgo per disposable spot mile excluding substance up 5.9%. The mean substance terms per gallon was $2.78, contributing to the airline’s revised outlook for the remainder of the year.

The institution highlighted operational show during the quarter, noting that the hose achieved its champion first-quarter on-time departure complaint among the 8 largest US carriers.

"Our beardown fiscal presumption and occurrence successful winning brand-loyal customers enabled United to rapidly marque tactical adjustments to higher substance prices portion maintaining our semipermanent focus,” United CEO Scott Kirby said.

Despite the improved quarterly performance, United said it plans to trim its antecedently scheduled capableness maturation by astir 5 percent points for the remainder of the year. The hose present expects third- and fourth-quarter capableness to beryllium level to up astir 2% twelvemonth implicit year.

United said it remains focused connected semipermanent strategical initiatives, including expanding premium and system compartment segmentation and further processing its MileagePlus loyalty program. The hose besides repurchased astir $27 cardinal successful shares during the quarter.