Southwest Airlines Co vs Select Medical Holdings Corporation — how do they compare? Southwest Airlines Co trades at $48.65 (market cap $23.63B), while Select Medical Holdings Corporation trades at $16.51 (market cap $2.05B). The key difference: Southwest Airlines Co is far larger — about 11.5× Select Medical Holdings Corporation's market cap, and Select Medical Holdings Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.51%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LUV | SEM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.63B | $2.05B |
Sector | Industrials | Health |
52-Week High | $54.80 | $16.66 |
52-Week Low | $29.06 | $11.77 |
Enterprise Value | $26.70B | $5.01B |
Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 1.51% |
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.
Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) trades at $16.51, unchanged on the day, following its recent acquisition completion by a consortium led by Robert A. Ortenzio and Martin F. at $16.50 per share. The stock exhibits a mixed technical picture with a bullish overall signal but bearish moving averages. Fundamentally, the company reported 2025 revenue of $5.45 billion with a net income margin of 2.42%, while valuation ratios like a P/E of 15.43 and P/S of 0.36 appear reasonable. Recent earnings show two misses in the last three quarters against expectations.
The investment outlook is dominated by the completed acquisition, effectively capping upside near the $16.50 deal price. Risks include ongoing shareholder litigation alleging fiduciary breaches by the board regarding the buyout fairness. Analyst sentiment is neutral with a Hold-heavy consensus, while the stock's future price action will largely hinge on legal outcomes surrounding the acquisition terms rather than operational performance.
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 →Select Medical Holdings Corporation is one of the largest operators of critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and occupational health centers in the United States. The company's services focus on treating patients with serious illnesses, injuries, and post-acute care needs. SEM provides specialized care across various settings, aiming to help patients recover and return home.
Read more on SEM →