Vlad Bastion
Founder of Investment Bastion, Systematic Stock Ratings & Algorithmic Portfolios
United Airlines is a stock to avoid in October. Oil is at an all-time high, flights are getting canceled and refunds are stacking up. x.comÂ
Airlines including United, American, Southwest and Delta face at least a year of margin pressure from oil even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens almost immediately. At current jet fuel prices their earnings would be destroyed, and fare increases to offset it would hurt volumes significantly. None of this is priced in, and American Airlines could go to zero. Per Rory Johnston, lost Gulf output will top one billion barrels over the shock, with April losses nearly offsetting the IEA reserve release. … Show more
United Airlines' weak Q4 earnings outlook is driven by its higher fuel-price assumption, supporting the case for buying through temporary fuel pressure. United guided to $0.50-$1.50 in EPS using $4.80 per gallon; its disclosure says consensus assumes $4.35, a difference worth about $1.00 in quarterly EPS. x.comÂ
United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are probably near a peak, as hedge-fund pay and expectations sit at a cyclical high. The average hedge-fund vacation ranged from the South of France to the Amalfi Coast, a sign worth shorting. American Airlines is left out as a budget carrier. x.com x.comÂ
Delta's Q3 results support a bullish view despite fuel pressure: the airline absorbed $500M in higher fuel expenses while revenue rose 32.9% year over year to $20.2B and beat estimates by $1.28B, although adjusted EPS of $1.72 missed by $0.04. x.comÂ
United Airlines is showing that even a supposedly uninvestable airline can produce powerful earnings growth. Despite razor-thin margins, fuel, labor, debt and cyclical demand, Q1 FY26 revenue rose 11% to $14.6 billion, operating income 64% to $997 million, net income 81% to $699 million and diluted EPS 84% to $2.14. The quarter earns an A grade. x.comÂ
Airlines' fuel-driven fare hikes are finally cracking consumer demand. TSA checkpoint traffic is firmly negative year over year, while the airline ETF is breaking down. x.comÂ
Delta Air Lines and American Airlines look vulnerable because jet fuel supply is extremely tight. x.comÂ
United Airlines has a particularly strong bullish setup because its largest daily buy volume since the summer all-time-high rally follows accumulation and inefficient selling throughout a 30% decline. It does not get much better than this: the stock is retesting eight-year resistance as support after breaking out. x.comÂ
Far less inflated valuations and significant AI earnings make US equities unlike the dot-com market top. AI/SI spending may still be overexuberant. Rates and yields have returned to historical averages; more oil through the Strait of Hormuz and from OPEC and Russia should lower oil and inflation. The market may not have bottomed yet, but falling yields, steady rates and the midterms passing should let it climb the wall of worry. x.com x.com x.comÂ