TCS vs United Airlines: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
TCS reported ~$31B of revenue in FY2026 and ~$5.7B of net income. United Airlines reported $59.1B of revenue in FY2025 and $3.4B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
TCS
- Latest revenue
- ~$31B (FY2026)
- Net income
- ~$5.7B
- Net margin
- 18.4%
- Revenue growth
- +8.6% a year, FY2022–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
TCS
TCS reported FY2026 revenue of ₹2,67,021 crore ($30.017 billion), up 4.6% in rupees but down about 0.5% in dollars, with net income of about $5.71 billion (₹49,210 crore) and a 19.8% net margin. Q1 FY2027 revenue was ₹72,275 crore ($7.624 billion), up 13.9% in rupees and 2.7% in dollars year over year, with an operating margin of about 24% and net profit of ~$1.55 billion (₹13,349 crore). The growth story now rests on AI: TCS put its annualized AI services revenue at $1.8 billion in Q3 FY2026 and $2.6 billion in Q1 FY2027, while total contract value held at $9.5 billion for the 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
TCS
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | ~$31B | ~$5.7B | 18.4% | +4.6% | Source |
| FY2025 | ~$29.6B | ~$5.6B | 19.0% | +6.0% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$27.9B | ~$5.3B | 19.1% | +6.8% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$26.2B | ~$4.9B | 18.7% | +17.6% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$22.2B | ~$4.4B | 20.0% | — | 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
TCS
- IT services
Primary revenue source
Application development, maintenance, modernization and managed technology services.
- Consulting and transformation
Strategic growth stream
Business and technology transformation programs for large enterprises.
- Cloud, AI and cybersecurity
Fast-changing growth area
Cloud migration, AI, data, automation, cybersecurity and platform simplification.
- Business process services
Recurring enterprise stream
Technology-enabled operations and business process services.
- Platforms
Differentiated platform stream
Industry platforms such as TCS BaNCS and related software-led offerings.
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
TCS
How it makes money
TCS earns revenue through global IT services and consulting, built around eight industry verticals and geographic diversification.
Growth strategy
TCS is growing through AI, cloud modernization, cybersecurity, data, engineering services, platforms, large transformation deals, partnerships and deeper penetration of existing enterprise accounts.
Competitive advantage
TCS' advantage is delivery scale, Tata trust, large-account depth, industry domain expertise, training infrastructure, strong margins and a reputation for mission-critical execution.
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 TCS vs United Airlines
Which company has higher revenue — Tata Consultancy Services Limited or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited reported ~$31B (FY2026), while United Airlines Holdings, Inc. reported $59.1B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is the larger business, with Tata Consultancy Services 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 Consultancy Services Limited vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited's market capitalisation stands at $84.0B, while United Airlines Holdings, Inc.'s is $36.1B. Tata Consultancy Services Limited carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to United Airlines Holdings, Inc..
Which is more financially efficient — Tata Consultancy Services Limited or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited generates $52k / 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 Consultancy Services Limited and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. make money?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Tata Consultancy Services Limited: TCS earns revenue through global IT services and consulting, built around eight industry verticals and geographic diversification. United Airlines Holdings, Inc.: United makes money by filling a hub-and-spoke network.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Tata Consultancy Services Limited or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Tata Consultancy Services Limited trades at 2.7x P/S and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. at 0.6x P/S. Tata Consultancy Services 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 Consultancy Services 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 Consultancy Services Limited (~$31B (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 TCS vs United Airlines overview