United Airlines announced a $1.5 billion stock buyback plan, underscoring a seeming return to an investor focus that had diminished in the pandemic.

On the back of a strong quarterly earnings report and a subsequent clutch of analyst price target raises, the company's shares experienced quite a lift. According to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence, they were up by almost 19% in value week to date as of Friday prior to market open.

That money United just promised Wall Street belongs to flight attendants who worked throughout the pandemic,” union spokespeople said.