Southwest Airlines Co vs Marriott International Inc — how do they compare? Southwest Airlines Co trades at $48.35 (market cap $23.63B), while Marriott International Inc trades at $367.52 (market cap $96.76B). The key difference: Marriott International Inc is far larger — about 4.1× Southwest Airlines Co's market cap, and Southwest Airlines Co pays the higher dividend (1.49%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LUV | MAR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.63B | $96.76B |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $54.80 | $402.54 |
52-Week Low | $29.06 | $255.35 |
Enterprise Value | $26.70B | $113.71B |
Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 0.8% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $48.28, up 0.42% today, with a neutral technical signal and mixed earnings history. Recent Q1 2026 EPS missed expectations, but Q4 2025 and Q3 2025 beat. Financials show modest revenue growth to $28.06B in 2025, but net income margin is thin at 2.83%. Analyst consensus is mixed with 42% buy, 47% hold, and 11% sell ratings, and a $52.47 price target implies potential upside. Key news highlights Q2 2026 earnings due July 23, 2026, amid fuel cost volatility and travel demand resilience.
LUV presents a cautious opportunity with upside to the consensus target, supported by operational improvements and sector tailwinds, but risks from fuel price swings, execution challenges, and thin margins warrant careful monitoring. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 32.05 appears elevated relative to earnings growth, requiring strong future performance to justify current levels.
Marriott International (MAR) trades at $366.83, up 0.16% on the day, with technical indicators showing a bearish trend near key support at $364. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $2.72, beating expectations, and maintains a net income margin of 9.72% amid steady revenue growth. Recent developments include a strategic partnership with Coca-Cola and the launch of an AI-powered travel search tool, Ask Bonvoy, enhancing its digital offerings.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus targets $387.92 with 44% buy ratings, but rising debt-to-asset ratios and hotel owner disputes over the Bonvoy program pose risks. Earnings on August 3, 2026, will be critical for confirming growth trajectory amid competitive travel sector pressures.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Marriott International Inc. of Maryland is a worldwide operator and franchisor of hotels. The Company franchises lodging facilities and vacation timesharing resorts under various brand names. Marriott also provides services to home and condominium owner associations for projects associated with several of its brands.
Read more on MAR →