Southwest Airlines Co vs Medtronic PLC — how do they compare? Southwest Airlines Co trades at $45.71 (market cap $21.97B), while Medtronic PLC trades at $90.58 (market cap $114.45B). The key difference: Medtronic PLC is far larger — about 5.2× Southwest Airlines Co's market cap, and Medtronic PLC pays the higher dividend (3.22%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LUV | MDT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $21.97B | $114.45B |
Sector | Industrials | Health |
52-Week High | $54.80 | $105.35 |
52-Week Low | $29.67 | $73.75 |
Enterprise Value | $25.06B | $133.19B |
Dividend Yield | 1.6% | 3.22% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
Medtronic (MDT) trades at $87.16, up 1.44% today, with a bullish technical signal and consistent earnings beats. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $1.55, exceeding expectations, and maintains solid fundamentals with a 13.2% net income margin and $33.54B in revenue for 2025. Recent news highlights growth in cardiac ablation and the Hugo robotic platform, with management guiding for 11.75% organic revenue growth in Q1 2027.
The outlook is positive, supported by analyst consensus of a $98.75 price target and 60% buy ratings. Key opportunities include dividend stability and innovation in medical technology, while risks involve rising debt levels and competitive pressures. The stock's current valuation at a P/E of 23.37 offers moderate upside if execution continues.
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 →