S&P 500, Nasdaq aim for records after strong retail sales as earnings roll in

United Airlines shares fell in premarket after the US carrier reset its full-year profit outlook, saying travel demand has picked up thanks to an easing in economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

The airline now expects to post adjusted profit of $9 to $11 a share for 2025, compared with Wall Street expectations for $10.04 a share.

“United saw a positive shift in demand beginning in early July, and, like 2024, anticipates another inflection in industry supply in mid-August,” United CEO Scott Kirby said in a company statement.

“The world is less uncertain today than it was during the first six months of 2025 and that gives us confidence about a strong finish to the year,” he added.

But United's revised guidance still undershot the range of $11.50 to $13.50 a share that it laid out at the start of the year. In April, the company issued two sets of profit outlooks based on whether the US fell into recession, with a range of $7 to $9 a share in the worse scenario. At the same time, it flagged it still might meet its higher target.

Profit in the second quarter beat estimates, but its revenue growth fell short.