BlackRock vs United Airlines: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
BlackRock reported $24.2B of revenue in FY2025 and $5.6B of net income. United Airlines reported $59.1B of revenue in FY2025 and $3.4B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
BlackRock
- Latest revenue
- $24.2B (FY2025)
- Net income
- $5.6B
- Net margin
- 22.9%
- Revenue growth
- +5.7% a year, FY2021–FY2025
United Airlines
- Latest revenue
- $59.1B (FY2025)
- Net income
- $3.4B
- Net margin
- 5.7%
- Revenue growth
- +5.5% a year, FY2016–FY2025
Financial summary
BlackRock
BlackRock's revenue grew from $19.37 billion in 2021 to $24.22 billion in 2025, with a dip in 2022 and 2023 when stock and bond prices fell. Revenue jumped 19% in 2025 on higher markets, 9% organic base fee growth and fees from GIP and HPS. GAAP operating income fell 7% to $7.05 billion because of non-cash acquisition expenses and a charitable gift of Circle shares, but adjusted operating income rose 18% to $9.6 billion, a 44.1% margin. The firm returned $5 billion to shareholders in 2025 and raised its quarterly dividend 10% to $5.73 for 2026. In Q2 2026 revenue rose 31% to $7.08 billion, GAAP diluted EPS was $12.19 ($13.91 as adjusted), and planned buybacks were lifted to $550 million a quarter.
United Airlines
United's revenue grew from $43.3 billion in 2019 to a record $59.1 billion in 2025, and net income reached $3.4 billion in 2025 against $3.1 billion in 2024. Operating cash flow was $8.4 billion in 2025. In 2026 the story is fuel: after oil prices spiked in March, United cut full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $7-$11, then raised it to $9-$11 in July after Q2 revenue rose 16% to $17.7 billion and yields climbed 12%. Q2 fuel expense was up $2.3 billion (84%), and the company said it expected to recover all of the increase through fares by Q4. Management is targeting an investment-grade credit rating in 2026.
Revenue and profit by year
BlackRock
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $24.2B | $5.6B | 22.9% | +18.7% | Source |
| FY2024 | $20.4B | $6.4B | 31.2% | +14.3% | Source |
| FY2023 | $17.9B | $5.5B | 30.8% | -0.1% | Source |
| FY2022 | $17.9B | $5.2B | 29.0% | -7.7% | Source |
| FY2021 | $19.4B | $5.9B | 30.5% | — | Source |
United Airlines
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $59.1B | $3.4B | 5.7% | +3.5% | Source |
| FY2024 | $57.1B | $3.1B | 5.5% | +6.2% | Source |
| FY2023 | $53.7B | $2.6B | 4.9% | +19.5% | Source |
| FY2022 | $45B | $737M | 1.6% | +82.5% | Source |
| FY2021 | $24.6B | -$2B | -8.0% | +60.4% | Source |
| FY2020 | $15.4B | -$7.1B | -46.0% | -64.5% | Source |
| FY2019 | $43.3B | $3B | 7.0% | +4.7% | Source |
| FY2018 | $41.3B | $2.1B | 5.1% | +9.5% | Source |
| FY2017 | $37.7B | $2.1B | 5.7% | +3.2% | Source |
| FY2016 | $36.6B | $2.2B | 6.1% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
BlackRock
- Investment advisory and administration fees
largest stream
Base fees charged on AUM across iShares ETFs, index, active, cash and private markets products.
- Technology services and subscriptions
~8% of 2025 revenue
Aladdin, eFront and Preqin software and data, about $2.0 billion in 2025 and $566 million in Q2 2026.
- Performance fees, distribution and securities lending
variable stream
Performance fees ($305 million in Q2 2026), distribution fees and lending revenue that move with markets, flows and fund results.
United Airlines
- Passenger tickets
- Premium cabins
- Basic Economy
- MileagePlus and co-brand revenue
- Cargo
- United Club memberships
- Baggage and seat fees
Business model and strategy
BlackRock
How it makes money
BlackRock makes money in three main ways. The largest is base management and administration fees, charged as a percentage of the assets it runs across iShares ETFs, index and active funds, cash funds and institutional mandates. The second is technology services and subscription revenue from Aladdin, eFront and Preqin, which reached about $2.0 billion in 2025, up 24%.
Growth strategy
Growth now comes from four places. Private markets: GIP (closed October 2024, about $12.5 billion), HPS Investment Partners (closed July 2025, about $12 billion in stock) and ElmTree (2025) made BlackRock a major infrastructure and private credit manager, and GIP helped lead the $40 billion Aligned Data Centers purchase that closed in July 2026.
Competitive advantage
BlackRock's edge is scale combined with breadth. Running $15.3 trillion lets it price core iShares funds at 0.03% and still post a 44.1% adjusted operating margin in 2025, which smaller rivals cannot match. iShares also offers deep trading liquidity in many ETF categories, which matters to institutions moving large blocks.
United Airlines
How it makes money
United makes money by filling a hub-and-spoke network. Domestic and regional flights feed passengers into seven U.S. hubs, where they connect to long-haul routes across the Atlantic, Pacific and Latin America. Ticket sales are the core: passenger revenue was $53.4 billion of the $59.1 billion total in 2025.
Growth strategy
United is investing in premium seating, larger aircraft, international routes, operational reliability, MileagePlus, airport clubs, digital service, Starlink connectivity, and network depth at core hubs.
Competitive advantage
United's advantage is its hub network, international route breadth, Star Alliance connectivity, premium-cabin expansion, MileagePlus loyalty base, corporate account strength, and major positions at airports such as Chicago O'Hare, Newark, Denver, Houston, San Francisco, Washington Dulles, and Los Angeles.
Questions about BlackRock vs United Airlines
Which company has higher revenue — BlackRock, Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
BlackRock, Inc. reported $24.2B (FY2025), while United Airlines Holdings, Inc. reported $59.1B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is the larger business, with BlackRock, Inc. reporting a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of BlackRock, Inc. vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
BlackRock, Inc.'s market capitalisation stands at $166.2B, while United Airlines Holdings, Inc.'s is $36.1B. BlackRock, Inc. carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to United Airlines Holdings, Inc..
Which is more financially efficient — BlackRock, Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
BlackRock, Inc. generates $973k / employee in revenue per employee, while United Airlines Holdings, Inc. generates $522k / employee. BlackRock, Inc. shows higher revenue efficiency per headcount, though this reflects business model differences — capital-light software companies routinely outperform labour-intensive manufacturers on this metric.
How do BlackRock, Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. make money?
BlackRock, Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. BlackRock, Inc.: BlackRock makes money in three main ways. United Airlines Holdings, Inc.: United makes money by filling a hub-and-spoke network.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — BlackRock, Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, BlackRock, Inc. trades at 6.9x P/S and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. at 0.6x P/S. BlackRock, Inc. commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to United Airlines Holdings, Inc.. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is BlackRock, Inc. bigger than United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
By last reported revenue, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. ($59.1B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to BlackRock, Inc. ($24.2B (FY2025)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the BlackRock vs United Airlines overview