A O Smith Corp vs Southwest Airlines Co — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $62.4 (market cap $8.65B), while Southwest Airlines Co trades at $44.88 (market cap $22.27B). The key difference: Southwest Airlines Co is far larger — about 2.6× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and A O Smith Corp pays the higher dividend (2.26%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | LUV | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.65B | $22.27B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $54.80 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $29.67 |
Enterprise Value | $9.15B | $25.37B |
Dividend Yield | 2.26% | 1.58% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AOS trades at $62.41, down 2.45% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and key support at $60. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.03, beating estimates, driven by North America strength. Revenue remains stable at $3.83B for 2025, with strong profitability margins including a 38.59% gross margin and 14.26% net income margin. Recent leadership transition saw Kevin Wheeler retire as Executive Chairman, with Stephen Shafer taking over.
The stock offers a 7.8% upside to the $67.25 consensus price target, supported by solid cash flow and a dividend yield. Risks include exposure to input cost pressures and weaker China demand, as noted in Q2 results. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 33% buy ratings, but institutional selling by Amundi in Q1 2026 warrants monitoring for momentum shifts.
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $44.9, down 4.57% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported mixed quarterly earnings, beating in Q2 2026 but missing in Q1 2026, while revenue growth is projected to rise to $30.1B in 2026. Recent news highlights board appointments and initiatives to attract business travelers, amid a volatile fuel cost environment.
LUV presents a cautious opportunity with a consensus price target of $53.86 implying upside, supported by improving cash flow and dividend payments. Risks include fuel price volatility, execution on new business offerings, and competitive pressures, requiring careful monitoring of earnings consistency and cost management.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic carrier in the United States, as measured by the number of originating passengers boarded. Southwest operates over 700 aircraft in an all-Boeing 737 fleet. Despite expanding into longer routes and business travel, the airline still specializes in short-haul leisure flights, using a point-to-point network. Southwest operates a low-cost carrier business model.
Read more on LUV →