DAL vs UAL
Delta Air Lines (DAL) and United Airlines (UAL) compared side by side. Delta Air Lines (DAL) is larger, with a market cap of $50.5B versus $31.8B for United Airlines, about 1.6 times the size. On trailing earnings, UAL is cheaper at 9.0x versus 15.3x for DAL.
Head to head
| Metric | DAL | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $50.5B | $31.8B |
| P/E (TTM) | 15.3x | 9.0x |
| Forward P/E | 10.5x | 8.2x |
| Revenue (TTM) | — | $65.6B |
| Revenue growth | — | 17.4% |
| Gross margin | — | 30.9% |
| Operating margin | — | 7.0% |
| Free cash flow | $3.0B | $2.5B |
| Dividend yield | 1.12% | None |
| 1-year return | +32.0% | +2.4% |
| 5-year return (annual) | +15.0% | +15.9% |
| Max drawdown | -82% | -93% |
| FI Handbook grade | B- | C- |
Highlighted: the stronger figure on metrics where higher or lower is clearly better.
Growth of $10,000 (5 years, price only)
DAL vs UAL FAQ
Which is bigger, DAL or UAL?
Delta Air Lines (DAL) is larger, with a market cap of $50.5B versus $31.8B for United Airlines, about 1.6 times the size.
Is DAL or UAL cheaper?
On trailing earnings, UAL is cheaper at 9.0x versus 15.3x for DAL. A lower P/E can reflect slower expected growth, so compare growth and margins too.
Which stock performed better over the past year, DAL or UAL?
DAL returned +32.0% over the past year including dividends, versus +2.4% for UAL, through October 23, 2026.
Which pays a higher dividend, DAL or UAL?
DAL yields 1.12%; UAL does not pay a dividend.
Full pages: Delta Air Lines · United Airlines