United Continental Holdings Inc (UAL): Today's Featured Services Winner

Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link.

United Continental Holdings ( UAL) pushed the Services sector higher today making it today's featured services winner. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.4%. By the end of trading, United Continental Holdings rose $1.28 (2.9%) to $45.08 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 12,172,088 shares of United Continental Holdings exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 5,075,800 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $44.00-$45.75 after having opened the day at $44.07 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $43.80. Other companies within the Services sector that increased today were: China Yida ( CNYD), up 118.7%, Armco Metals Holdings ( AMCO), up 32.5%, Pharmerica Corporation ( PMC), up 27.1% and VisionChina Media ( VISN), up 26.3%.

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United Continental Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides passenger and cargo air transportation services. The company operates in six continents from its hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. United Continental Holdings has a market cap of $14.8 billion and is part of the transportation industry. Shares are up 15.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 4 analysts that rate United Continental Holdings a buy, 3 analysts rate it a sell, and 4 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates United Continental Holdings as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, compelling growth in net income and revenue growth. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including generally higher debt management risk and poor profit margins.

You can view the full United Continental Holdings Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Pacific Sunwear ( PSUN), down 16.0%, Sears Holdings Corporation ( SHLD), down 13.8%, YRC Worldwide ( YRCW), down 13.3% and Synnex Corporation ( SNX), down 11.3% , were all laggards within the services sector with Tiffany ( TIF) being today's services sector laggard.

Use our services section to find sector-relevant news.
Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the services sector could consider iShares Dow Jones US Cons Services ( IYC) while those bearish on the services sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Consumer Sers ( SCC).