RYAAY
Ryanair Holdings plc
Airlines, Airports & Air Services
Market Cap$31.49B
5Y Perf.+127.3%
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Side-by-side financial analysisRYAAY
UAL
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Stock Comparison
RYAAY vs UAL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
UAL
United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
Airlines, Airports & Air Services
Market Cap$37.50B
5Y Perf.+233.8%
RYAAY vs UAL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  RYAAY |  UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Airlines, Airports & Air Services | Airlines, Airports & Air Services |
| Market Cap | $31.49B | $37.50B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $15.59B | $60.47B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.17B | $3.67B |
| Gross Margin | 25.2% | 64.2% |
| Operating Margin | 15.2% | 8.4% |
| Forward P/E | 15.8x | 12.5x |
| Total Debt | $1.49B | $31.04B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.77B | $5.94B |
RYAAY vs UAL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
RYAAY
UAL
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY) | 100 | 227.3 | +127.3% |
| United Airlines Hol… (UAL) | 100 | 333.8 | +233.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RYAAY vs UAL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: RYAAY leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇RYAAY emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
RYAAY
Ryanair Holdings plc
The Income Pick
RYAAY carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.26, yield 1.6%
- Rev growth 12.2%, EPS growth 40.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 13.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.26, Low D/E 14.8%, current ratio 0.90x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
UAL
United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
UAL is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 162.2% 10Y total return vs RYAAY's 92.3%
- Lower P/E (12.5x vs 15.8x)
- +49.2% vs RYAAY's +8.8%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  RYAAY | 12.2% revenue growth vs UAL's 3.5% |
| Value |  UAL | Lower P/E (12.5x vs 15.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | RYAAY | 13.9% margin vs UAL's 6.1% |
| Stability / Safety | RYAAY | Beta 1.26 vs UAL's 2.37, lower leverage |
| Dividends | RYAAY | 1.6% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | UAL | +49.2% vs RYAAY's +8.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | RYAAY | 12.3% ROA vs UAL's 4.7%, ROIC 25.3% vs 9.1% |
RYAAY vs UAL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
RYAAY vs UAL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLRYAAYLAGGINGUAL
UALUnited Airlines Holdi…
2leads
RYAAYRyanair Holdings plc
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs UALMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
RYAAY4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
UAL5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
RYAAY6/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
UAL6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
RYAAY1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RYAAY leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UAL is the larger business by revenue, generating $60.5B annually — 3.9x RYAAY's $15.6B. RYAAY is the more profitable business, keeping 13.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to UAL's 6.1%.
| Metric | RYAAYRyanair Holdings … | UALUnited Airlines H… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15.6B | $60.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.7B | $8.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.2B | $3.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.8B | $3.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +25.2% | +64.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.2% | +8.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.9% | +6.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.7% | +5.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.2% | +10.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -30.0% | +84.5% |
RYAAY leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
UAL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 11.3x trailing earnings, UAL trades at a 11% valuation discount to RYAAY's 12.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, RYAAY's 6.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than UAL's 8.2x.
| Metric | RYAAYRyanair Holdings … | UALUnited Airlines H… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $31.5B | $37.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $30.0B | $62.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 12.72x | 11.30x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.78x | 12.48x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.73x | 8.18x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.74x | 0.63x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.75x | 2.47x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.01x | 14.67x |
UAL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RYAAY leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UAL delivers a 24.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $25 in annual profit, vs $25 for RYAAY. RYAAY carries lower financial leverage with a 0.15x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to UAL's 2.03x.
| Metric | RYAAYRyanair Holdings … | UALUnited Airlines H… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +24.6% | +24.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +12.3% | +4.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +25.3% | +9.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +24.1% | +9.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.15x | 2.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1.3B | $25.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.8B | $5.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.5B | $31.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 4.61x |
RYAAY leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
UAL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in UAL five years ago would be worth $20,725 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,925 for RYAAY. Over the past 12 months, UAL leads with a +49.2% total return vs RYAAY's +8.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UAL at 31.1% vs RYAAY's 13.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | RYAAYRyanair Holdings … | UALUnited Airlines H… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -16.2% | +2.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +8.8% | +49.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.7% | +125.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +39.2% | +107.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +92.3% | +162.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +13.4% | +31.1% |
UAL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — RYAAY and UAL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
RYAAY is the less volatile stock with a 1.26 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UAL's 2.37 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. UAL currently trades 96.9% from its 52-week high vs RYAAY's 81.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | RYAAYRyanair Holdings … | UALUnited Airlines H… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.26x | 2.37x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $74.24 | $119.21 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $53.14 | $71.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +81.3% | +96.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.4 | 60.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.4M | 6.5M |
Evenly matched — RYAAY and UAL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
RYAAY leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RYAAY as "Buy" and UAL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.1% upside for RYAAY (target: $79) vs 21.4% for UAL (target: $140). RYAAY is the only dividend payer here at 1.61% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | RYAAYRyanair Holdings … | UALUnited Airlines H… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $78.50 | $140.20 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 47 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.6% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.84 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | +1.7% |
RYAAY leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
RYAAY leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). UAL leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallRyanair Holdings plc (RYAAY)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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RYAAY vs UAL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RYAAY or UAL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY) is the stronger pick with 12.
2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 5% for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL). United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) offers the better valuation at 11. 3x trailing P/E (12. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY) a "Buy" — based on 17 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.
02Which has the better valuation — RYAAY or UAL?
On trailing P/E, United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
(UAL) is the cheapest at 11. 3x versus Ryanair Holdings plc at 12. 7x. On forward P/E, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — RYAAY or UAL?
Over the past 5 years, United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
(UAL) delivered a total return of +107. 2%, compared to +39. 2% for Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UAL returned +162. 2% versus RYAAY's +92. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — RYAAY or UAL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
26β versus United Airlines Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 37β — meaning UAL is approximately 88% more volatile than RYAAY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 2% for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — RYAAY or UAL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY) is pulling ahead at 12.
2% versus 3. 5% for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ryanair Holdings plc grew EPS 40. 4% year-over-year, compared to 8. 1% for United Airlines Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RYAAY leads at 13. 2% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — RYAAY or UAL?
Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY) is the more profitable company, earning 14.
0% net margin versus 5. 7% for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RYAAY leads at 15. 8% 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.
07Is RYAAY or UAL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
(UAL) trades at 12. 5x forward P/E versus 15. 8x for Ryanair Holdings plc — 3. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RYAAY: 30. 1% to $78. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — RYAAY or UAL?
In this comparison, RYAAY (1.
6% yield) pays a dividend. UAL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is RYAAY or UAL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
26), 1. 6% yield). United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) carries a higher beta of 2. 37 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (RYAAY: +92. 3%, UAL: +162. 2%), 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.
10What are the main differences between RYAAY and UAL?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
RYAAY 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.
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