Stocks Comparison
Southwest Airlines vs United Airlines: revenue, profit, margins and growth compared
Southwest Airlines brought in $28.1B of revenue in fiscal 2025, United Airlines $59.1B in fiscal 2025. Revenue changed by +2.1% at Southwest Airlines and +3.5% at United Airlines on the year before, so United Airlines grew faster. Southwest Airlines kept 1.6% of its revenue as net profit, United Airlines 5.7%. Free cash flow was -$831M at Southwest Airlines and $2.6B at United Airlines.
Side by side, latest fiscal year
| LUV | UAL | |
|---|---|---|
| Fiscal year ended | FY2025 (December 31, 2025) | FY2025 (December 31, 2025) |
| Revenue | $28.1B | $59.1B |
| Revenue growth | +2.1% | +3.5% |
| Net income | $441M | $3.4B |
| Net margin | 1.6% | 5.7% |
| Free cash flow | -$831M | $2.6B |
| Free cash flow margin | -3.0% | 4.3% |
| Earnings per share (diluted) | $0.79 | $10.20 |
| Cash | $3.2B | $5.9B |
| Debt | $4.9B | $21.3B |
| Price to earnings | 54.0 | 11.2 |
| Market value | $20.9B | $37B |
| Dividend yield | 1.69% | n/a |
| Rank by revenue in sector | #36 of 778 · Consumer discretionary | #16 of 778 · Consumer discretionary |
Over the years
Questions about Southwest Airlines and United Airlines
Which is bigger by revenue, Southwest Airlines or United Airlines?
United Airlines is bigger by revenue: $59.1B in fiscal 2025, against $28.1B for Southwest Airlines in fiscal 2025.
Which keeps more of its revenue as profit, Southwest Airlines or United Airlines?
Southwest Airlines had a net margin of 1.6% in fiscal 2025; United Airlines had 5.7% in fiscal 2025.
Which grew revenue faster, Southwest Airlines or United Airlines?
In their latest fiscal years revenue changed by +2.1% at Southwest Airlines and +3.5% at United Airlines.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the annual reports each company files with the SEC (10-K, or 20-F and 40-F for foreign companies), read from their XBRL data. Margins and growth are simple arithmetic on those figures. Nothing here is a recommendation.