9. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 86
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) ranks 9th on our list of the best holding company stocks to buy right now. The publicly traded airline holding company specializes in the transportation of people and cargo across borders in North America. The company provides a myriad of air travel services such as passenger flights and cargo transport. Every year, the company manages to fly 140 million people to over 300 destinations across six continents. Beyond its expansive network and company infrastructure, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) is also committed to the environment and takes pride in giving back to the community.
On the financial front, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) displayed top-tier performance in the fourth quarter of 2024. The company ended the year with $4.2 billion in pre-tax earnings for fiscal 2024 and $3.1 billion in net income. Similarly, in the final quarter of 2024, the company generated $1.3 billion in pre-tax earnings and $1 billion in net income. Throughout the year, UAL also posed a solid liquidity situation, generating $9.4 billion in operating cash flow and $3.4 billion in free cash flow.
In an impressive feat, in 2024, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) set a company record for the highest number of customers carried in a year, at 174 million with an average of 4,340 daily flights. In addition to that, the company also signed an agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s Wi-Fi service to more than 1,000 of its airline mainline and regional aircraft. This service will provide fast internet to passengers and significantly improve the customer experience. This explains why hedge funds are bullish on the stock.
