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Southwest Airlines Co (LUV)

Undervalued
IndustrialsAirlinesUnited States

Fundamental

51

Price

$41.64

Market Cap

$20.68B

Part 1 · What the company is worth

Overview

Southwest Airlines Co. operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and internationally. It also provides Rapid Rewards loyalty program; SWABIZ, an online booking tool; and inflight entertainment platform that includes movies-on-demand live and on-demand television, flight tracker, and additional curated content, as well as a variety of premium snacks and coffee. In addition, the company offers ancillary services, such as in-flight purchases, baggage fees, EarlyBird Check-In, and upgraded boarding, as well as transportation of pets and unaccompanied minors. As of December 31, 2025, the company operated a total fleet of 803 Boeing 737 aircraft; and served 117 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos. Southwest Airlines Co. was incorporated in 1967 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

No editorial profile for this company yet

Direct competitors

Who this company fights with for the same customers

Compare

Generated on September 19, 2026 with claude-haiku-4-5 — shared with all users

P/E: 13.9Score: 78Market cap: $55.26B

Delta is one of the three large U.S. network carriers Southwest names in its own filings, and the two fight for the same domestic leisure and business passengers on overlapping routes out of shared cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles and Denver.

P/E: 78.6Score: 66Market cap: $8.85B

American is the other giant of the U.S. domestic market and competes head-on with Southwest in Texas, where both carriers are based and where Dallas and Houston traffic is split between them.

P/E: 10.4Score: 80Market cap: $36.09B

United is the third large network carrier that sells seats to the same U.S. domestic travellers as Southwest, competing directly on transcontinental and mid-haul routes from cities such as Chicago and Denver.

JetBlue Airways CorporationJBLU

JetBlue chases the same price-sensitive domestic passenger with a low-fare, single-class product, overlapping with Southwest on Florida, Northeast and Caribbean leisure routes.

Frontier Group Holdings, Inc.ULCC

Frontier is an ultra-low-cost carrier that undercuts Southwest on fares for the same budget leisure traveller, competing especially hard out of Denver and on Southwest's point-to-point domestic routes.

Alaska Air Group, Inc.ALK

Alaska, enlarged by its Hawaiian Airlines acquisition, competes with Southwest for West Coast and Hawaii traffic, two markets where Southwest has spent years building share.

Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Revenue

$30.07B

Trailing 12 months (through 6/30/2026)

Net Income

$837M

Trailing 12 months (through 6/30/2026)

Free Cash Flow

$-831M

Total Equity

$7.98B

Total Liabilities

$21.08B

Current Ratio

0.49

Interest Coverage

5.21

Debt/EBITDA

3.47

Earnings Per Share

Revenue & Net Income

Free Cash Flow

Income Breakdown

Historical statement

Margins over time

Debt over time

How heavy the debt is

Growth grid

Growth — Revenue

Fair Value Estimation

CyclicalUndervalued

Fair Value

$58.15

Current Price

$41.64

Margin of Safety

+28.4%

Fair Value Range

$37.80 - $78.50

Spread across the valuation methods used, not a statistically calibrated confidence interval.

Estimation Methods

Analyst price target:$50.22
Discounted cash flow (DCF):Not applicable to this type of company
Earnings multiple (P/E):$15.84
Graham growth formula:Not applicable to this type of company
Earnings power value (EPV):$14.69
Justified P/B:Not applicable to this type of company
Dividend discount (Gordon):Not applicable to this type of company
P/FFO, funds from operations:Not applicable to this type of company
Mid-cycle earnings:$96.41
Revenue multiple:Not applicable to this type of company
Analyst Consensus:Hold (14B / 12H / 4S)
Last Earnings Surprise:+82.45%

Valuation Metrics

P/E Ratio

26.35

ROE

5.5%

P/B Ratio

2.88

P/FCF

-

Gross Margin

-

ROIC

4.9%

Profitability Radar

Value Creation (Economic Moat)

ROIC

4.9%

WACC

9.0%

ROIC − WACC

-4.1 pp

ROIC is below the cost of capital — the company is destroying value for every dollar invested.

Fundamental Analysis Criteria

Passed (12)

  • P/B Ratio 2.88
  • Debt/Equity ratio
  • Interest Coverage
  • Debt/EBITDA
  • Return on Tangible Assets
  • Low reliance on intangibles
  • ROE 11.3%
  • Revenue Growth 5Y 25.4%
  • Earnings Surprise avg 127.1%
  • Earnings Quality (OCF/NI) 3.02
  • Share Dilution -8.8%
  • Piotroski F-Score 6/9

Failed (10)

  • EPS shows upward trend
  • EPS CAGR -0.34%
  • Price CAGR -2.36%
  • ROIC 4.9%
  • Operating Margin 3.5%
  • Positive Free Cash Flow
  • Current Ratio
  • Price below Graham Number
  • DCF valuation (Fairly valued)
  • Analyst Consensus 47% Buy

Unavailable (6)

  • Gross Margin NaN%
  • P/FCF NaN
  • Dividend Payout NaN%
  • CapEx intensity
  • PEG Ratio (need PE > 0 and growth > 0)
  • Net Margin Trend (invalid data)

Piotroski F-Score

6/9

Mixed signals: some areas need attention

score
criteria

Earnings Quality

3.02

High quality: earnings backed by cash

Share Dilution

-8.8%

Buying back shares. Shareholder friendly

Institutional Holdings

Governance

Executive Team

NameTitleAge
Mr. Robert E. JordanPresident, CEO & Vice Chairman of the Board64
Mr. Tom DoxeyExecutive VP & CFO45
Mr. Andrew M. WattersonChief Operating Officer58
Mr. Justin JonesExecutive VP & Chief Commercial Officer46
Mr. Anthony RoachExecutive VP and Chief Customer & Brand Officer45
Mr. J. Ryan MartinezPrincipal Accounting Officer, Senior VP of Finance & Controller45
Mr. Thomas MerrittVP of Technology – Infrastructure & Services and CTO-
Ms. Lauren WoodsExecutive Vice President & Chief Information Officer48
Ms. Danielle CollinsManaging Director of Investor Relations-
Mr. Jeff NovotaSenior VP, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary-

Audit Risk

7

Board Risk

9

Compensation Risk

5

Shareholder Rights Risk

1

Part 2 · The price and when to enter

This part won't tell you whether the company is worth owning: it helps you choose when to buy it, once the fundamentals have convinced you. Inside: technical analysis, potential, historical drawdowns, gamma exposure.

Documents

  • Annual Report (10-K)

    A yearly overview of the business, its financial results, and the risks it faces.

    Filed on 2026-02-05

    View document
  • Quarterly Report (10-Q)

    A snapshot of financial performance for the most recent three-month period.

    Filed on 2026-07-23

    View document
  • Current Report (8-K)

    An announcement of a major event, such as a leadership change or big news.

    Filed on 2026-08-12

    View document

via SEC EDGAR

Income History

via SEC EDGAR

Latest News

Recent headlines for LUV, sourced from Markets Gazette.

  • 8/1/2026POSITIVE
    Loyalists may miss the old Southwest. Wall Street loves the new one.

    Southwest Airlines is undergoing a transformation that is resonating positively with Wall Street analysts and fund managers. The airline's strategic shifts, aimed at modernizing operations and enhancing profitability, are being viewed as a significant step forward. One fund manager noted that Southwest is 'getting on with the times,' suggesting a successful adaptation to current market demands and competitive pressures. This positive sentiment from financial professionals indicates a potential for improved financial performance and shareholder value, making the stock an attractive prospect for investors looking for turnaround stories in the airline sector.

  • 7/22/2026POSITIVE
    Southwest Beats Estimates on Strong Demand, Premium Spending

    Southwest Airlines Co. has issued a full-year outlook that surpasses Wall Street's expectations, driven by sustained robust travel demand and increased customer spending on premium offerings. This positive guidance suggests strong operational performance and effective revenue management strategies. For investors, this indicates the airline's resilience and ability to capitalize on market trends, potentially leading to improved profitability and stock valuation.

  • 7/22/2026NEGATIVE
    Southwest Hedges Full-Year Guidance as Fuel Expenses Tick Up

    Southwest Airlines Co. has widened its full-year 2026 guidance range, citing increased uncertainty stemming from the US-Iran conflict. This geopolitical tension has led to higher fuel expenses, impacting the company's operational costs in the second quarter. The airline's decision to broaden its forecast suggests a more cautious outlook, as investors will need to factor in potential volatility in fuel prices and their direct effect on profitability. This hedging strategy indicates management's anticipation of a less predictable operating environment.

  • 6/8/2026POSITIVE
    Southwest COO on Strong Business Travel, Price Increases

    Southwest Airlines' Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Watterson, reported that business travel demand remains robust, defying expectations of a slowdown due to increased costs associated with the War in Iran. This resilience in corporate bookings, even amidst higher prices, suggests strong pricing power and a sustained recovery in a key segment for the airline. Investors should note this positive commentary as an indicator of potential revenue strength and operational stability for Southwest, potentially outperforming peers facing weaker business demand.

  • 4/24/2026POSITIVE
    This Southwest Airlines Analyst Is No Longer Bearish; Here Are Top 4 Upgrades For Friday

    A notable shift in analyst sentiment has occurred for Southwest Airlines (LUV), with a previously bearish analyst now adopting a neutral or positive stance. This upgrade, detailed on the analyst ratings page, suggests a reassessment of the company's future prospects by market experts. While specific reasons for the upgraded outlook are not detailed in this brief, such changes often stem from improved financial forecasts, operational efficiencies, or positive industry trends. Investors should monitor further analysis for details on the drivers behind this analyst's change of heart, which could signal a turning point for LUV stock.

  • 4/23/2026NEGATIVE
    Southwest Stock Falls After Double Miss, Weak Guidance Weighs

    Southwest Airlines' Q1 financial results fell short of expectations, with the company reporting a loss per share that widened from the previous year and revenue that declined. Furthermore, the airline provided Q2 earnings per share guidance with a midpoint below analyst consensus. This double miss on earnings and weaker-than-anticipated forward guidance is weighing heavily on investor sentiment, suggesting potential headwinds for the company's operational performance and profitability in the near term.

  • 4/22/2026NEGATIVE
    Southwest Air drops as US airlines contend with soaring fuel

    Southwest Airlines Co. saw its shares fall in aftermarket trading as the US airline industry grapples with escalating fuel costs. The company opted not to revise its full-year profit guidance, which remains at a minimum of $4 per share. This lack of updated outlook, coupled with broader industry pressures from rising fuel prices, suggests potential headwinds for the airline's profitability. Investors are likely reassessing the company's ability to absorb these increased operational expenses and maintain its earnings targets in the current environment.

  • 4/8/2026NEGATIVE
    Less than a year after ditching its famous ‘bags fly free’ policy, Southwest is hiking prices again

    Southwest Airlines is increasing fares by $10, a move attributed to rising jet fuel costs exacerbated by the ongoing Iran conflict. This price hike follows the airline's earlier decision to abandon its 'bags fly free' policy. For investors, this indicates that the airline industry is facing significant cost pressures, potentially impacting profitability and passenger demand. The increased operational expenses may lead to reduced margins unless offset by higher revenues or cost-saving measures.

  • 3/12/2026NEGATIVE
    Why Is Southwest Airlines Stock Sliding Thursday?

    Southwest Airlines (LUV) experienced a premarket decline of over 2% on Thursday. The downturn is attributed to escalating oil prices, a direct consequence of the U.S.-Iran conflict and subsequent supply chain disruptions. As a significant consumer of jet fuel, rising crude oil costs directly impact the airline's operational expenses, potentially squeezing profit margins. Investors are reacting to the increased cost pressures, leading to a sell-off in the stock.

  • 3/6/2026NEGATIVE
    Why Southwest Stock Dropped Today

    Southwest Airlines stock experienced a decline today, influenced by the escalating conflict in the Middle East. This geopolitical event poses a significant risk to the airline industry in America, potentially leading to increased fuel costs and reduced travel demand. Investors are closely monitoring the situation for further impact on operational expenses and consumer confidence, which could translate into sustained pressure on airline valuations.

via Markets Gazette