Twilio vs United Airlines: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
Twilio reported $5.1B of revenue in FY2025 and $33.8M of net income. United Airlines reported $59.1B of revenue in FY2025 and $3.4B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Twilio
- Latest revenue
- $5.1B (FY2025)
- Net income
- $33.8M
- Net margin
- 0.7%
- Revenue growth
- +38.1% 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
Twilio
Twilio moved from heavy losses to profit in three years. Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $1.256 billion in 2022 and $1.015 billion in 2023, narrowed to $109.4 million in 2024, and turned into net income of $33.8 million in 2025 on revenue of $5.067 billion. In Q2 2026 Twilio reported revenue of $1.499 billion, GAAP income from operations of $84.5 million, non-GAAP income from operations of $284.6 million, and record free cash flow of $352.6 million. Q2 2026 GAAP net income of $1.067 billion was inflated by a one-time, non-cash release of a valuation allowance on U.S. deferred tax assets worth $5.91 per diluted share. Dollar-based net expansion improved to 116% from 108% a year earlier. A $2.0 billion buyback authorized in January 2025 continues the capital-return program that followed a $3.0 billion repurchase plan.
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
Twilio
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $5.1B | $33.8M | 0.7% | +13.7% | Source |
| FY2024 | $4.5B | -$109.4M | -2.5% | +7.3% | Source |
| FY2023 | $4.2B | -$1B | -24.4% | +8.6% | Source |
| FY2022 | $3.8B | -$1.3B | -32.8% | +34.6% | Source |
| FY2021 | $2.8B | -$949.9M | -33.4% | +61.3% | Source |
| FY2020 | $1.8B | -$491M | -27.9% | +55.3% | Source |
| FY2019 | $1.1B | -$307.1M | -27.1% | +74.5% | Source |
| FY2018 | $650.1M | -$121.9M | -18.8% | +62.9% | Source |
| FY2017 | $399M | -$63.7M | -16.0% | +43.9% | Source |
| FY2016 | $277.3M | -$41.3M | -14.9% | — | 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
Twilio
- Core Communications (Messaging, Voice, Video)
Majority of revenue
High-volume, usage-based revenue from programmable messaging, voice, email, verification, and contact-center APIs. Messaging generated $2.878 billion in FY2025, while voice, email, Verify, Flex, and related products diversify Twilio beyond raw SMS routing.
- Customer Data and Engagement (Segment, CustomerAI)
Not separately disclosed
Subscription and consumption-hybrid revenue from Segment, CustomerAI, data activation, and engagement workflows. Twilio does not break this stream out as a standalone FY2025 revenue total in the headline financial profile.
- Email and Other (SendGrid, Verify, Flex)
Not separately disclosed
Revenue from SendGrid email, Verify, Flex, and adjacent engagement products that complement the core communications API platform.
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
Twilio
How it makes money
Twilio makes most of its money from usage-based fees: customers pay per message, per voice minute, per email, or per verification sent through its APIs, so revenue rises with their traffic. Messaging alone generated $2.878 billion of FY2025 revenue.
Growth strategy
Twilio is positioning itself as communications and identity infrastructure for AI agents. Its plan combines usage growth in messaging and voice, cross-selling Segment customer data, Flex, and Verify to existing accounts, adding agent identity through the November 2025 Stytch acquisition, and keeping operating costs in check while returning cash through buybacks.
Competitive advantage
Twilio's advantage comes from developer mindshare, API breadth, carrier relationships, global routing, customer integrations, data products, and mission-critical communications workflows.
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 Twilio vs United Airlines
Which company has higher revenue — Twilio Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Twilio Inc. reported $5.1B (FY2025), while United Airlines Holdings, Inc. reported $59.1B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is the larger business, with Twilio Inc. reporting a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of Twilio Inc. vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Twilio Inc.'s market capitalisation stands at $37.8B, while United Airlines Holdings, Inc.'s is $36.1B. Twilio 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 — Twilio Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Twilio Inc. generates $923k / employee in revenue per employee, while United Airlines Holdings, Inc. generates $522k / employee. Twilio 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 Twilio Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. make money?
Twilio Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Twilio Inc.: Twilio makes most of its money from usage-based fees: customers pay per message, per voice minute, per email, or per verification sent through its APIs, so revenue rises with their traffic. United Airlines Holdings, Inc.: United makes money by filling a hub-and-spoke network.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Twilio Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Twilio Inc. trades at 7.5x P/S and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. at 0.6x P/S. Twilio 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 Twilio Inc. bigger than United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
By last reported revenue, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. ($59.1B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to Twilio Inc. ($5.1B (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 Twilio vs United Airlines overview