United Airlines Reports Stellar Numbers: Shares Surge

United Continental Holdings (NYSE:UAL) shares rose 4.5% during mid-day trading on Friday after Credit Suisse raised their price target on the stock from $85.00 to $88.00, AnalystRatings.Net reports.

10022.181. This represents a -1.079% difference between analyst expectations and the United Continental Holdings Incorporated achieved in its quarterly earnings. The company’s products include HUMIRA, a biologic therapy administered as a subcutaneous injection to treat autoimmune diseases; VIEKIRA PAK, an all-oral, short-course, interferon-free therapy, with or without ribavirin, for adult patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis, including those with compensated cirrhosis; Kaletra, an anti-HIV-1 medicine used with other anti-HIV-1 medications as a treatment that maintains viral suppression in people with HIV-1; Norvir, a protease inhibitor indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents to treat HIV-1 infection; and Synagis to prevent respiratory syncytial virus infection in high risk infants.

United did not confirm the length of Munoz's medical leave, saying it was "too soon to know the course of treatment and timing of recovery", but confirmed he had suffered a heart attack on Thursday. United has given no timetable for the return of Munoz. The company's earnings will be released before the market opens on October. 29. Earnings were up 41.5% on a year-over-year basis.

"That was something we heard loud and clear (from customers)", he said. That apparently changed in the weeks that followed.

This week in Chicago, United began testing new boarding processes that it hopes will keep flights on time.

"That's one of the things, quite frankly, that we hear a lot about", Compton said. The carrier said it is still too early to know the Munoz's course of treatment and how long will he take to recover.

United Continental Holdings Inc. reported higher profits for the September quarter, boosted in part by lower fuel costs and a tax-related gain, as the airliner deals with the shuffling of three chief executives since September.

Revenue fell 2.4 percent to $10.31 billion, although that still topped the $10.27 billion forecast by four analysts surveyed by Zacks and $10.30 billion expected by 10 FactSet analysts.

However lower oil prices have pushed down fuel costs, a major expense for airlines. Fixing the operational problems will improve customer satisfaction, Hart said.

While Munoz has been not linked to alleged corruption being investigated by the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, he was directly involved in negotiations over the lowered fees. United reinstated a money-losing route from Newark to an airport near Samson's South Carolina vacation home. Also stepping down in connection with that investigation were the airline's executive vice president of communications and government affairs, Nene Foxhall, and its senior vice president of corporate and government affairs, Mark Anderson.

Shares of United closed Thursday at $56.04, up 2.7 percent on the New York Stock Exchange.