VLRS
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V.
Airlines, Airports & Air Services
Market Cap$898M
5Y Perf.+56.3%
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Stock Comparison
VLRS vs UAL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
UAL
United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
Airlines, Airports & Air Services
Market Cap$32.37B
5Y Perf.+255.6%
VLRS vs UAL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | VLRS | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Airlines, Airports & Air Services | Airlines, Airports & Air Services |
| Market Cap | $898M | $32.37B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.04B | $60.47B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-104M | $3.67B |
| Gross Margin | 11.8% | 64.2% |
| Operating Margin | 4.5% | 8.4% |
| Forward P/E | — | 10.7x |
| Total Debt | $3.86B | $31.04B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $754M | $5.94B |
VLRS vs UAL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
VLRS
UAL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controladora Vuela … (VLRS) | 100 | 156.3 | +56.3% |
| United Airlines Hol… (UAL) | 100 | 355.6 | +255.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: VLRS vs UAL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: VLRS and UAL are tied at the top with 3 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
VLRS
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V.
The Income Pick
VLRS has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.64
- Lower volatility, beta 1.64, current ratio 0.73x
- Beta 1.64, current ratio 0.73x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
UAL
United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
The Growth Play
UAL is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 3.5%, EPS growth 8.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 9.5%
- 118.1% 10Y total return vs VLRS's -61.6%
- 3.5% revenue growth vs VLRS's -3.3%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | UAL | 3.5% revenue growth vs VLRS's -3.3% |
| Value | VLRS | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | UAL | 6.1% margin vs VLRS's -3.4% |
| Stability / Safety | VLRS | Beta 1.64 vs UAL's 2.25 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | VLRS | +91.5% vs UAL's +32.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UAL | 4.7% ROA vs VLRS's -1.8%, ROIC 9.1% vs 3.0% |
VLRS vs UAL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
VLRS vs UAL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLUALLAGGINGVLRS
VLRSControladora Vuela Co…
1leads
UALUnited Airlines Holdi…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs VLRSMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
UAL5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
VLRS4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
UAL7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
UAL5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UAL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UAL is the larger business by revenue, generating $60.5B annually — 19.9x VLRS's $3.0B. UAL is the more profitable business, keeping 6.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VLRS's -3.4%. On growth, UAL holds the edge at +10.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | VLRSControladora Vuel… | UALUnited Airlines H… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.0B | $60.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $642M | $8.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$104M | $3.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $388M | $3.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +11.8% | +64.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.5% | +8.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -3.4% | +6.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.8% | +5.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.6% | +10.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -91.0% | +84.5% |
UAL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
VLRS leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, VLRS's 5.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than UAL's 7.5x.
| Metric | VLRSControladora Vuel… | UALUnited Airlines H… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $898M | $32.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.0B | $57.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -8.68x | 9.76x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 10.65x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.05x | 7.51x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.30x | 0.55x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.41x | 2.13x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 1.20x | 12.66x |
VLRS leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UAL leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UAL delivers a 24.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $25 in annual profit, vs $-38 for VLRS. UAL carries lower financial leverage with a 2.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to VLRS's 14.66x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), UAL scores 8/9 vs VLRS's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | VLRSControladora Vuel… | UALUnited Airlines H… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -38.0% | +24.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.8% | +4.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.0% | +9.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.5% | +9.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 14.66x | 2.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.1B | $25.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $754M | $5.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.9B | $31.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.50x | 4.61x |
UAL leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
UAL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in UAL five years ago would be worth $18,217 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,444 for VLRS. Over the past 12 months, VLRS leads with a +91.5% total return vs UAL's +32.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UAL at 29.5% vs VLRS's -13.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | VLRSControladora Vuel… | UALUnited Airlines H… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -14.5% | -11.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +91.5% | +32.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -34.7% | +117.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -55.6% | +82.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -61.6% | +118.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -13.3% | +29.5% |
UAL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — VLRS and UAL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VLRS is the less volatile stock with a 1.64 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UAL's 2.25 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. UAL currently trades 83.6% from its 52-week high vs VLRS's 72.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | VLRSControladora Vuel… | UALUnited Airlines H… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.64x | 2.25x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $10.80 | $119.21 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.90 | $71.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +72.3% | +83.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.8 | 58.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 758K | 8.3M |
Evenly matched — VLRS and UAL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates VLRS as "Buy" and UAL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 46.3% upside for VLRS (target: $11) vs 36.5% for UAL (target: $136).
| Metric | VLRSControladora Vuel… | UALUnited Airlines H… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $11.43 | $136.10 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 47 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
UAL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). VLRS leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallUnited Airlines Holdings, I… (UAL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
VLRS vs UAL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is VLRS or UAL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
(UAL) is the stronger pick with 3. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 3% for Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. (VLRS). 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 Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. (VLRS) 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 is the better long-term investment — VLRS or UAL?
Over the past 5 years, United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
(UAL) delivered a total return of +82. 2%, compared to -55. 6% for Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. (VLRS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UAL returned +118. 1% versus VLRS's -61. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — VLRS or UAL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.
A. B. de C. V. (VLRS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 64β versus United Airlines Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 25β — meaning UAL is approximately 38% more volatile than VLRS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 15% for Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — VLRS or UAL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
(UAL) is pulling ahead at 3. 5% versus -3. 3% for Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. (VLRS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: United Airlines Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 8. 1% year-over-year, compared to -181. 8% for Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V.. Over a 3-year CAGR, UAL leads at 9. 5% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — VLRS or UAL?
United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
(UAL) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 7% net margin versus -3. 4% for Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. — meaning it keeps 5. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UAL leads at 8. 0% versus 4. 4% for VLRS. 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.
06Is VLRS or UAL more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VLRS: 46.
3% to $11. 43.
07Which pays a better dividend — VLRS or UAL?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
08Is VLRS or UAL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.
A. B. de C. V. (VLRS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. 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 (VLRS: -61. 6%, 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.
09What are the main differences between VLRS 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.
In terms of investment character: VLRS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; UAL is a mid-cap deep-value stock. 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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