Jefferies Financial Group Issues Pessimistic Forecast for United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) Stock Price

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) had its target price cut by equities research analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from $154.00 to $80.00 in a report released on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a “buy” rating on the transportation company’s stock. Jefferies Financial Group’s price target would suggest a potential upside of 21.85% from the stock’s current price.

Several other equities analysts have also commented on UAL. Melius Research upgraded United Airlines to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, December 2nd. Barclays set a $140.00 price objective on United Airlines and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 12th. TD Cowen boosted their price target on United Airlines from $142.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James restated an “outperform” rating and set a $130.00 price objective (up previously from $120.00) on shares of United Airlines in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price target on United Airlines from $140.00 to $107.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $111.75.

United Airlines Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ UAL traded down $3.40 on Tuesday, hitting $65.66. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 1,850,742 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,736,412. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $92.76 and a 200-day moving average of $86.85. The company has a market capitalization of $21.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.41. United Airlines has a 12-month low of $37.02 and a 12-month high of $116.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.74.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 21st. The transportation company reported $3.26 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.96 by $0.30. The firm had revenue of $14.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $14.40 billion. United Airlines had a return on equity of 32.26% and a net margin of 5.52%. United Airlines’s quarterly revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.00 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that United Airlines will post 12.96 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UAL. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new stake in United Airlines in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Hemington Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of United Airlines by 70.8% during the fourth quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 316 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares in the last quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Airlines during the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Roxbury Financial LLC acquired a new stake in United Airlines during the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Airlines during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. 69.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.