ASR vs UAL

For growth investors, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.

A. B. de C. V. (ASR) is the stronger pick with 18. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 5% for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL). United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) offers the better valuation at 9. 8x trailing P/E (10. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. (ASR) a "Buy" — based on 11 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, United Airlines Holdings, Inc.

(UAL) is the cheapest at 9. 8x versus Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. at 15. 4x. On forward P/E, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. is actually cheaper at 0. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.

A. B. de C. V. (ASR) delivered a total return of +114. 7%, compared to +82. 2% for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ASR returned +168. 0% versus UAL's +118. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.

A. B. de C. V. (ASR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 70β versus United Airlines Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 25β — meaning UAL is approximately 221% more volatile than ASR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. (ASR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 73% versus 2% for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.

A. B. de C. V. (ASR) is pulling ahead at 18. 8% versus 3. 5% for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: United Airlines Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 8. 1% year-over-year, compared to -22. 6% for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASR leads at 13. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.

A. B. de C. V. (ASR) is the more profitable company, earning 28. 2% net margin versus 5. 7% for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 28. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ASR leads at 45. 6% versus 8. 0% for UAL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UAL leads at 64. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.

A. B. de C. V. (ASR) trades at 0. 8x forward P/E versus 10. 7x for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. — 9. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UAL: 36. 5% to $136. 10.

In this comparison, ASR (14.

9% yield) pays a dividend. UAL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.

A. B. de C. V. (ASR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 70), 14. 9% yield, +168. 0% 10Y return). United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) carries a higher beta of 2. 25 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ASR: +168. 0%, UAL: +118. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: ASR is a small-cap high-growth stock; UAL is a mid-cap deep-value stock. ASR pays a dividend while UAL does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.