Tata Motors vs United Airlines: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
Tata Motors reported ~$9.7B of revenue in FY2026 and ~$351.5M of net income. United Airlines reported $59.1B of revenue in FY2025 and $3.4B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Tata Motors
- Latest revenue
- ~$9.7B (FY2026)
- Net income
- ~$351.5M
- Net margin
- 3.6%
- Revenue growth
- +3.2% a year, FY2024–FY2026
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
Tata Motors
The post-demerger Tata Motors Limited reported FY2026 (year to March 31, 2026) revenue from operations of ~$9.73B (INR83,855 Cr), up 44% from ~$6.75B (INR58,217 Cr), as wholesales rose 14% to about 428,000 units. The jump partly reflects the changed perimeter after the demerger, so it is not a clean like-for-like growth rate. Profit for the year fell 5.2% to ~$351M (INR3,030 Cr), weighed by one-time demerger costs (about $111M (INR960 Cr) in Q3) and new labour-code charges. Momentum carried into Q1 FY2027: revenue rose about 20% to ~$2.39B (INR20,576 Cr) and attributable profit rose 83% to ~$297M (INR2,560 Cr), helped by a one-time gain linked to Tata Capital, while commodity costs squeezed margins.
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
Tata Motors
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | ~$9.7B | ~$351.5M | 3.6% | +44.0% | Source |
| FY2025 | ~$6.8B | ~$370.6M | 5.5% | -26.1% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$9.1B | — | 0.0% | — | 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
Tata Motors
- Trucks and small commercial vehicles
Primary revenue source
Revenue from trucks, pickups, small commercial vehicles and heavy vehicles.
- Buses and vans
Major segment
Bus and van sales to public transport, schools, fleets and private operators.
- Spares and services
Recurring support stream
Parts, maintenance, service contracts, uptime products and dealer service revenue.
- Connected and non-vehicular businesses
Strategic growth stream
Fleet Edge, Tata OK, aggregates and other mobility services.
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
Tata Motors
How it makes money
Tata Motors -- following an October 2025 demerger that split the historic company in two -- now refers specifically to the commercial-vehicle business: trucks, buses, and other heavy vehicles sold mostly to the Indian domestic market, plus a proposed international expansion through the pending Iveco Group acquisition.
Growth strategy
Tata Motors is growing through next-generation trucks, buses, electric and alternative-fuel commercial vehicles, Fleet Edge, service parts, exports, operational discipline and the planned Iveco expansion.
Competitive advantage
Tata Motors' advantage is its scale in Indian commercial vehicles, deep dealer and service reach, Tata brand trust, engineering base and ability to bundle vehicles, spares, fleet tools and service.
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 Tata Motors vs United Airlines
Which company has higher revenue — Tata Motors Limited or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Tata Motors Limited reported ~$9.7B (FY2026), while United Airlines Holdings, Inc. reported $59.1B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is the larger business, with Tata Motors Limited reporting a smaller revenue base. Note: these are from different fiscal years and are not a direct like-for-like comparison.
What is the market cap of Tata Motors Limited vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Tata Motors Limited's market capitalisation stands at $17.5B, 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 Tata Motors Limited.
Which is more financially efficient — Tata Motors Limited or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Tata Motors Limited generates $240k / 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 Tata Motors Limited and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. make money?
Tata Motors Limited and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Tata Motors Limited: Tata Motors -- following an October 2025 demerger that split the historic company in two -- now refers specifically to the commercial-vehicle business: trucks, buses, and other heavy vehicles sold mostly to the Indian domestic market, plus a proposed international expansion through the pending Iveco Group acquisition. United Airlines Holdings, Inc.: United makes money by filling a hub-and-spoke network.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Tata Motors Limited or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Tata Motors Limited trades at 1.8x P/S and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. at 0.6x P/S. Tata Motors Limited 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 Tata Motors Limited bigger than United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
By last reported revenue, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. ($59.1B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to Tata Motors Limited (~$9.7B (FY2026)). 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 Tata Motors vs United Airlines overview