Southwest Airlines Co vs Medtronic PLC — how do they compare? Southwest Airlines Co trades at $48.82 (market cap $23.63B), while Medtronic PLC trades at $82.58 (market cap $106.61B). The key difference: Medtronic PLC is far larger — about 4.5× Southwest Airlines Co's market cap, and Medtronic PLC pays the higher dividend (3.46%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LUV | MDT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.63B | $106.61B |
Sector | Industrials | Health |
52-Week High | $54.80 | $105.35 |
52-Week Low | $29.06 | $73.75 |
Enterprise Value | $26.70B | $125.36B |
Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 3.46% |
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.
Medtronic (MDT) trades at $83.54, up 0.41% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported strong revenue growth to $33.54B in 2025 and has beaten EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent acquisitions, including SPR and Scientia Vascular, expand its pain therapy and neurovascular portfolios. Valuation ratios show a P/E of 22.31 and P/S of 2.95, with a consensus price target of $97.50 implying significant upside.
The outlook is positive, supported by robust fundamentals, analyst optimism, and strategic expansions. Key risks include rising debt levels and competitive pressures in medical technology. With no sell ratings from analysts and a dividend yield near a decade high, MDT presents a compelling long-term opportunity for growth and income investors, though macroeconomic and execution risks warrant monitoring.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →One of the largest medical device companies, Medtronic develops and manufactures therapeutic medical devices for chronic diseases. Its portfolio includes pacemakers, defibrillators, heart valves, stents, insulin pumps, spinal fixation devices, neurovascular products, advanced energy, and surgical tools. The company markets its products to healthcare institutions and physicians in the United States and overseas. Foreign sales account for almost 50% of the company's total sales.
Read more on MDT →