Which is the better buy, Union Pacific or American Airlines?

Union Pacific (UNP) is a Hold at 52/100, read on Jun 19, 2026; American Airlines (AAL) is a Sell at 25/100, read on Oct 16, 2026. By Tickerday's read, Union Pacific is the stronger call. Exceptional profitability, with a net margin over 29%, shows the company is highly efficient at turning revenue into profit.

Which has more upside, UNP or AAL?

Over a year, Union Pacific's target is $285 (+10.9%) and American Airlines's is $10 (−19.4%), each from the price on the day it was read. Union Pacific has more room to its target.

Is Union Pacific or American Airlines stock cheaper?

Tickerday scores Union Pacific's valuation 45/100 and American Airlines's 35/100, where higher means better value for the price. Their P/E ratios are 21.2 and —. By that measure, Union Pacific is the better value.

Which is the safer stock, UNP or AAL?

Tickerday scores Union Pacific's financial health 55/100 and American Airlines's 10/100. By that measure, Union Pacific stands on the firmer balance sheet. Their betas are 0.98 and 1.45: the higher the beta, the more a stock tends to swing with the market.

Should I own both Union Pacific and American Airlines?

That depends on what you own already and why. Tickerday gives each its own call and its reasons, so you can weigh them side by side: Union Pacific is a Hold, American Airlines a Sell. Save both to your Almanac and you'll hear when either call changes.

Is this financial advice?

No. Tickerday's reads are educational analysis, the same for everyone. They show what the numbers and the news point to, in plain English, so you can decide for yourself.

Sunny, Tickerday's mascot, in a clear blue sky

UNP vs AAL

Union Pacific vs American Airlines stock: which is the better buy?

Tickerday reads Union Pacific as a Hold at 52 and American Airlines as a Sell at 25. Today, Union Pacific is the stronger call.

Try it on the stock you're thinking about. First one free, no account needed.

UNP

Union Pacific

Hold52/100

Partly cloudy, with 60% confidence

A year from now: $285 (+10.9%)

Read on Jun 19, 2026Full forecast

Stronger call

AAL

American Airlines

Sell25/100

Rainy, with 80% confidence

A year from now: $10 (−19.4%)

Read on Oct 16, 2026Full forecast

Under the hood

Factor by factor

The six things Tickerday weighs, each scored 0 to 100. The higher of each pair is in its call's color.

Union Pacific

American Airlines

Overall score

UNP

AAL

Valuation

UNP

AAL

Growth

UNP

AAL

Profitability

UNP

AAL

Momentum

UNP

AAL

Financial Health

UNP

AAL

Sentiment

UNP

AAL

Where they're headed

Price targets

Each target is measured from the price on the day its stock was read.

Union Pacific

American Airlines

Price when read

UNP$256.92 · Jun 19, 2026

AAL$12.40 · Oct 16, 2026

Next week

UNP$256 (−0.4%)

AAL$12.20 (−1.6%)

Next month

UNP$260 (+1.2%)

AAL$11.80 (−4.8%)

Next year

UNP$285 (+10.9%)

AAL$10 (−19.4%)

The numbers

Key numbers

Union Pacific

American Airlines

Market Cap

UNP$158.8B

AAL$8.1B

P / E Ratio

UNP21.2

AAL—

Rev. Growth

UNP+1.9%

AAL+7.5%

Net Margin

UNP+29.2%

AAL-0.6%

Debt / Equity

UNP1.58

AAL157.71

Dividend Yield

UNP2.1%

AAL—

Beta

UNP0.98

AAL1.45

52-Wk Range

UNP$211 – $280

AAL$10 – $19

The argument

The case for and against

Every call has a case against it. Here are both sides, for each stock.

Union Pacific UNP

The case for

Exceptional profitability, with a net margin over 29%, shows the company is highly efficient at turning revenue into profit.
As a major railroad, it has a durable business model with high barriers to entry, making it a key player in the US economy.

The case against

Revenue growth is very slow at under 2%, suggesting the business is expanding at a sluggish pace.
The stock has recently lost momentum, falling from its 52-week high in the past month.

American Airlines AAL

The case for

Revenue is still growing, with sales up 7.5% over the last year.
The stock is trading near its 52-week low, which some investors might see as a potential entry point if the company's fortunes turn.

The case against

The company is currently unprofitable, with negative earnings per share over the past year.
Financial health is a major concern, with a very high debt-to-equity ratio of over 157.

Tickerday's reads are educational analysis, the same for everyone, not financial advice. Union Pacific was read on Jun 19, 2026 and American Airlines on Oct 16, 2026; each one's page has the full forecast.

Comparing stocks takes hours.
Tickerday takes seconds.

Now try yours

What about your stocks?

You just compared Union Pacific and American Airlines. Type a company you own and get its call, and the why, in seconds. First one free, no account needed.

The receipts

Called it. Then it happened.

Real calls from the Tickerday engine, each one graded against the real price a month later.

Every call is graded

One month after the call, at the closing price.

Palantir Technologies Inc

+52.3%

✓Called it

We said Buy at $122.33 on Jul 30. A month later the price was $186.29.

Graded Aug 28 at the closing price

Today's prices

One blind call costs more
than a year of Tickerday.

Pricing

Start free, right here

Your first analysis is free, no account needed. Tickerday+ takes it from there.

Tickerday+

Pro

Built for fast clarity.

Clear buy / hold / sell-style insights
Key risks and opportunities
Focused market analysis
40 priority credits every month

$9/mo

Billed monthly · ≈ $0.30/day

Tickerday+

Good questions

Coming soon to the App Store

The market never sleeps.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't get to.

The Tickerday app is almost here — watchlists, daily check-ins, weather-change alerts, and an Almanac that keeps score of every call. We'll watch the market while you sleep, so you never fly blind again.

App Store · coming soonSee how it works

Free to download the day it lands — the web desk is open now

Union Pacific vs American Airlines stock: which is the better buy?

Factor by factor

Price targets

Key numbers

The case for and against

What about your stocks?

Called it. Then it happened.

Palantir Technologies Inc

Start free, right here

Good questions

The market never sleeps.That doesn't mean you shouldn't get to.

The market never sleeps.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't get to.