Canon vs United Airlines: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
Canon reported ~$31B of revenue in FY2025 and ~$2.2B of net income. United Airlines reported $59.1B of revenue in FY2025 and $3.4B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Canon
- Latest revenue
- ~$31B (FY2025)
- Net income
- ~$2.2B
- Net margin
- 7.2%
- Revenue growth
- +3.5% a year, FY2016–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
Canon
Canon's sales fell from ~$27.3 billion (¥4,080.0 billion) in 2017, the first full year with Toshiba Medical, to ~$21.2 billion (¥3,160.2 billion) in 2020 as cameras and office printing shrank and the pandemic hit. They have grown every year since, reaching a record ~$31 billion (¥4,624.7 billion) in 2025 (+2.5%). Operating profit was ~$3.05 billion (¥455.4 billion) in 2025, a 9.8% margin, up from ~$1.87 billion (¥279.8 billion) in 2024, when a ~$1.11 billion (¥165.1 billion) goodwill impairment on the medical business cut net income to ~$1.07 billion (¥160.0 billion). Net income attributable to Canon Inc. more than doubled to ~$2.23 billion (¥332.1 billion) and EPS rose to ¥367.48. Canon paid a ¥160 dividend (42.9% payout), generated ~$1.6 billion (¥238.5 billion) of free cash flow and ended 2025 with ~$6.34 billion (¥946.2 billion) of interest-bearing debt, up from ~$4.45 billion (¥663.5 billion). By region, the Americas supplied 32% of 2025 sales, Europe 26%, Japan 21% and Asia and Oceania 21%. In July 2026, after record second-quarter sales, Canon guided to ~$32.2 billion (¥4,800.0 billion) of 2026 sales and ~$3.12 billion (¥465.0 billion) of operating profit.
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
Canon
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | ~$31B | ~$2.2B | 7.2% | +2.5% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$30.2B | ~$1.1B | 3.5% | +7.9% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$28B | ~$1.8B | 6.3% | +3.7% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$27B | ~$1.6B | 6.1% | +14.7% | Source |
| FY2021 | ~$23.5B | ~$1.4B | 6.1% | +11.2% | Source |
| FY2020 | ~$21.2B | ~$558.2M | 2.6% | -12.1% | Source |
| FY2019 | ~$24.1B | ~$837.3M | 3.5% | -9.1% | Source |
| FY2018 | ~$26.5B | ~$1.7B | 6.4% | -3.1% | Source |
| FY2017 | ~$27.3B | ~$1.6B | 5.9% | +19.9% | Source |
| FY2016 | ~$22.8B | ~$1B | 4.4% | — | 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
Canon
- Printing54%
Office multifunction devices, prosumer laser and inkjet printers and production presses, with recurring toner, ink and service revenue. ~$16.7 billion (¥2,494.4 billion) in 2025.
- Imaging23%
Cameras and lenses (~$4.19 billion (¥625.5 billion)) and network cameras and video software (~$2.88 billion (¥429.4 billion)). ~$7.07 billion (¥1,054.9 billion) in 2025.
- Medical13%
CT, MRI, ultrasound and X-ray equipment and service. ~$3.89 billion (¥580.6 billion) in 2025.
- Industrial8%
Semiconductor and flat-panel lithography, nanoimprint, OLED deposition and sputtering equipment. ~$2.42 billion (¥361.1 billion) in 2025.
- Others & Corporate5%
Other businesses and corporate items, ~$1.59 billion (¥237.1 billion) in 2025, before eliminations of intersegment sales.
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
Canon
How it makes money
Canon designs, builds and sells hardware, then earns recurring revenue from consumables, service contracts and software on the installed base.
Growth strategy
Phase VII sets 2030 sales targets for each unit: Printing ~$18.8 billion (¥2.8 trillion) (about 2% a year), Imaging ~$8.98 billion (¥1.34 trillion) (5%), Medical ~$5.03 billion (¥750 billion) (5%) and Industrial ~$4.02 billion (¥600 billion) (10%). Growth products named in the plan are nanoimprint lithography, photon-counting CT and industrial printing equipment.
Competitive advantage
Canon's edge is vertical integration in optics and imaging. It designs its own lenses, CMOS image sensors, print engines and image-processing chips, and builds much of its own production equipment. That depth shows in its patent output (seventh in U.S. patent grants in 2025 and in the top 10 for 42 straight years, according to IFI Claims) and in a camera business that has held the No.
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 Canon vs United Airlines
Which company has higher revenue — Canon Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Canon Inc. reported ~$31B (FY2025), while United Airlines Holdings, Inc. reported $59.1B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is the larger business, with Canon Inc. reporting a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of Canon Inc. vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Canon Inc.'s market capitalisation stands at $25.6B, while United Airlines Holdings, Inc.'s is $36.1B. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to Canon Inc..
Which is more financially efficient — Canon Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Canon Inc. generates $187k / employee in revenue per employee, while United Airlines Holdings, Inc. generates $522k / employee. United Airlines Holdings, 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 Canon Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. make money?
Canon Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Canon Inc.: Canon designs, builds and sells hardware, then earns recurring revenue from consumables, service contracts and software on the installed base. United Airlines Holdings, Inc.: United makes money by filling a hub-and-spoke network.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Canon Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Canon Inc. trades at 0.8x P/S and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. at 0.6x P/S. Canon 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 Canon Inc. bigger than United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
By last reported revenue, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. ($59.1B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to Canon Inc. (~$31B (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 Canon vs United Airlines overview