United Airlines stock is a ‘buy’ ahead of Q2 earnings: Boris Schlossberg

United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: UAL) is set to report its financial results for the second quarter after the bell. Ahead of earnings, the Managing Director of FX Strategy at BK Asset Management says the stock down roughly 8.0% year-to-date is a “buy”.

United Airlines stock has upside to $60

Boris Schlossberg agrees the air carrier is struggling with “operational challenges” much like the rest of the industry, but sees upside in the stock to $60 a share. Explaining why on CNBC’s “The Exchange”, he said:

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The rationalisation of cost and ability to operate at max capacity with a much leaner staff, in the long run, is going to pay off quite well. As long as demand remains relatively buoyant, they’ll be able to work out their problems.

So far, demand seems to be resilient despite the higher prices. What could disrupt the bull case, Schlossberg acknowledged, was a “deep recession” that not many are expecting, at least for now.  

United Airlines Q2 earnings preview

If his stock price forecast turns out to be true, we’d see United Airlines up as much as 45% from here and back to its high in March 2021.

Experts forecast the Chicago-headquartered airline to report $1.93 of per-share earnings on more than a 100% annualised growth in revenue this quarter. Load factor is also anticipated to return to the pre-COVID level.

Summer tends to be a strong season for the air carriers. So, investors would also be interested in seeing what the demand looks like for September and beyond. In other words, how well is it expected to hold up moving forward.