Southwest Airlines Co vs SkyWest Inc — how do they compare? Southwest Airlines Co trades at $48.56 (market cap $23.63B), while SkyWest Inc trades at $97.21 (market cap $3.94B). The key difference: Southwest Airlines Co is far larger — about 6× SkyWest Inc's market cap, and Southwest Airlines Co pays a 1.49% dividend while SkyWest Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LUV | SKYW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.63B | $3.94B |
Sector | Industrials | Technology |
52-Week High | $54.80 | $123.72 |
52-Week Low | $29.06 | $78.40 |
Enterprise Value | $26.70B | $5.79B |
Dividend Yield | 1.49% | — |
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.
SkyWest (SKYW) trades at $99.34, up 2.17% today, with a neutral technical signal but bullish moving averages. The stock shows strong profitability with a 10.42% net margin and attractive valuation at a P/E of 9.32. Recent earnings have been mixed, beating in Q1 2026 but missing in Q4 2025, with Q2 2026 results pending. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $109.33 price target, though news highlights concerns over rising fuel costs impacting airline profits.
The outlook for SKYW is cautiously optimistic, supported by solid fundamentals and analyst buy ratings, but faces headwinds from volatile fuel expenses and competitive pressures. Upside potential exists if the company maintains earnings momentum and manages cost inflation, while downside risks include economic sensitivity and operational challenges in the airline industry.
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 →SkyWest, Inc. is a major North American regional airline company, operating primarily through its subsidiary, SkyWest Airlines. The company provides regional airline service to various large airlines under contract, including United Airlines (as United Express), Delta Air Lines (as Delta Connection), American Airlines (as American Eagle), and Alaska Airlines (as Alaska SkyWest). SKYW's primary business is providing essential flight services, connecting smaller cities to major airline hubs across the United States.
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