United Airlines slides as oil spikes again, stoking fresh jet-fuel margin worries

United Airlines Holdings (UAL) is down 3.4% today. Here is some analysis on what might have caused this price movement.

Analysis: UAL appears to be moving lower mainly on macro and sector pressure tied to a renewed spike in oil prices, which tends to hit airline shares because fuel is a major and volatile cost line. The selloff also fits with broader risk-off trading as headlines around the Iran conflict increased uncertainty.

Details:

Oil prices were volatile and elevated after new developments in the Iran conflict, which can quickly change expectations for airline operating costs and traveler demand.

Crude prices surged intraday (at one point above $110 per barrel), a move that typically pressures airline stocks as investors reprice near-term margin risk.

Recent government data showed jet fuel spot prices had risen sharply through March, underscoring that higher energy costs were already flowing into the aviation fuel complex.

Equity markets were choppy at the same time, which can amplify declines in economically sensitive industries like airlines.

Sources:

Associated Press, U.S. Energy Information Administration, StreetInsider

Disclaimer: This price movement analysis was generated with the help of AI. Please double-check the information provided for mistakes.

$UAL Insider Trading Activity

$UAL insiders have traded $UAL stock on the open market 2 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 0 have been purchases and 2 have been sales.

Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $UAL stock by insiders over the last 6 months:

J SCOTT KIRBY (Chief Executive Officer) sold 120,000 shares for an estimated $12,943,800
BRETT J HART (President) sold 19,000 shares for an estimated $2,022,568

To track insider transactions, check out Quiver Quantitative's insider trading dashboard.

$UAL Hedge Fund Activity

We have seen 523 institutional investors add shares of $UAL stock to their portfolio, and 376 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.

Here are some of the largest recent moves:

CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS removed 3,815,497 shares (-17.3%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $426,648,874
BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT L.P. removed 2,641,208 shares (-99.8%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $295,339,878
UBS AM, A DISTINCT BUSINESS UNIT OF UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC removed 2,048,224 shares (-72.5%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $229,032,407
PRIMECAP MANAGEMENT CO/CA/ removed 2,024,470 shares (-11.2%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $226,376,235
FMR LLC added 1,857,987 shares (+12.8%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $207,760,106
HOLOCENE ADVISORS, LP removed 1,491,352 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $166,762,980
TWO SIGMA INVESTMENTS, LP added 1,305,748 shares (+3647.3%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $146,008,741

To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.

$UAL Government Contracts

We have seen $6,907,363 of award payments to $UAL over the last year.

Here are some of the awards which we have have seen pay out the most over the last year:

CIVIL RESERVE AIR FLEET - AIR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES: $4,030,679
CIVIL RESERVE AIR FLEET - AIR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES: $717,831
CIVIL RESERVE AIR FLEET - AIR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES: $278,000
TO PROVIDE HEAVYWEIGHT DELIVERY SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS: $151,077
TO PROVIDE HEAVYWEIGHT DELIVERY SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS: $130,222

To track government contracts to publicy traded companies, check out Quiver Quantitative's government contracts dashboard.

$UAL Congressional Stock Trading

Members of Congress have traded $UAL stock 2 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 1 have been purchases and 1 have been sales.

Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $UAL stock by members of Congress over the last 6 months:

REPRESENTATIVE GILBERT RAY CISNEROS, JR. has traded it 2 times. They made 1 purchase worth up to $15,000 on 12/19 and 1 sale worth up to $15,000 on 02/10.

To track congressional stock trading, check out Quiver Quantitative's congressional trading dashboard.

$UAL Analyst Ratings

Wall Street analysts have issued reports on $UAL in the last several months. We have seen 5 firms issue buy ratings on the stock, and 0 firms issue sell ratings.

Here are some recent analyst ratings:

TD Cowen issued a "Buy" rating on 01/22/2026
Barclays issued a "Overweight" rating on 01/12/2026
UBS issued a "Buy" rating on 01/06/2026
Wells Fargo issued a "Overweight" rating on 12/18/2025
BMO Capital issued a "Outperform" rating on 12/09/2025

To track analyst ratings and price targets for $UAL, check out Quiver Quantitative's $UAL forecast page.

$UAL Price Targets

Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $UAL recently. We have seen 15 analysts offer price targets for $UAL in the last 6 months, with a median target of $130.0.

Here are some recent targets:

Atul Maheswari from UBS set a target price of $135.0 on 03/23/2026
John Godyn from Citigroup set a target price of $132.0 on 03/20/2026
Christian Wetherbee from Wells Fargo set a target price of $130.0 on 03/16/2026
Duane Pfennigwerth from Evercore ISI Group set a target price of $125.0 on 03/12/2026
Sheila Kahyaoglu from Jefferies set a target price of $125.0 on 03/12/2026
Tom Fitzgerald from TD Cowen set a target price of $128.0 on 03/09/2026
James Goodall from Rothschild & Co set a target price of $110.0 on 03/05/2026

This article is not financial advice. See Quiver Quantitative's disclaimers for more information. Note that there may be inaccuracies due to mistakes in ticker-mapping, and other anomalies.