Humana Inc vs Southwest Airlines Co — how do they compare? Humana Inc trades at $376.15 (market cap $46.31B), while Southwest Airlines Co trades at $45.74 (market cap $21.97B). The key difference: Humana Inc is far larger — about 2.1× Southwest Airlines Co's market cap, and Southwest Airlines Co pays the higher dividend (1.6%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HUM | LUV | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $46.31B | $21.97B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $409.42 | $54.80 |
52-Week Low | $163.67 | $29.06 |
Enterprise Value | $53.67B | $25.06B |
Dividend Yield | 0.92% | 1.6% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Humana (HUM) trades at $385.00, up 4.82% today, with a bullish technical outlook and analyst consensus price target of $399.53. Recent earnings beats in Q1 and Q2 2026, alongside revenue growth to $129.66 billion in 2025, support fundamentals, though net margins have compressed. The company is expanding its Medicaid business and targeting margin improvements by 2027.
The stock offers upside to consensus targets but faces risks from Medicare Advantage margin pressures and regulatory changes. Profitability trends are weak despite revenue growth, requiring successful cost management to meet 2028 targets. Institutional sentiment is mixed with a majority hold rating.
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $47.05, up 0.23% today, with a bullish technical signal and consensus price target of $53.86. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $0.94 versus $0.51 expected, driven by record revenue. The company maintains a solid liquidity position of $8.73B cash and has declared quarterly dividends of $0.18 per share, with new board appointments signaling strategic focus.
Outlook is positive with projected 2026 net income margin of 2.78% and revenue growth to $30.1B, but risks include fuel cost volatility and competitive pressures. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 42% buy ratings, offering potential upside of 14.5% to the consensus target, though institutional selling by firms like Elliott Management warrants monitoring.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Humana is one of the largest private health insurers in the U.S. with a focus on administering Medicare Advantage plans. The firm has built a niche specializing in government-sponsored programs, with nearly all its medical membership stemming from individual and group Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and the military's Tricare program. The firm is also a leader in stand-alone prescription drug plans for seniors enrolled in traditional fee-for-service Medicare. Humana offers employer-based plans primarily for small businesses along with specialty insurance offerings such as dental, vision, and life. Beyond medical insurance, the company provides other healthcare services, including primary-care services, at-home services, and pharmacy benefit management.
Read more on HUM →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 →