Southwest Airlines Co vs SkyWest Inc — how do they compare? Southwest Airlines Co trades at $41.4 (market cap $20.41B), while SkyWest Inc trades at $96.42 (market cap $3.76B). The key difference: Southwest Airlines Co is far larger — about 5.4× SkyWest Inc's market cap, and Southwest Airlines Co pays a 1.73% dividend while SkyWest Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Southwest Airlines Co for 65 Days and SkyWest Inc for 8 Days on average.
| LUV | SKYW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $20.41B | $3.76B |
Volume | 4,706,365 | 296,298 |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $54.80 | $115.94 |
52-Week Low | $29.67 | $78.40 |
Typical Hold Time | 65 Days | 8 Days |
Enterprise Value | $23.51B | $5.54B |
Dividend Yield | 1.73% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $41.36, down 2.57% with a bearish technical signal. The company shows mixed fundamentals with a P/E of 26.08 and net margin of 2.78%, while recent earnings beat expectations in Q2 2026. Cash flow trends improved significantly in 2026 projections. Analyst consensus is divided with 42% buy ratings and a $49.61 price target representing 20% upside potential.
LUV's transformation initiatives show promise with projected $2 billion EBIT from new fare structures, though high fuel costs and competitive pressures remain risks. The stock offers value with P/S of 0.73 and strong revenue growth outlook, but requires monitoring of Q3 2026 earnings due October 22 for confirmation of the turnaround trajectory.
SkyWest (SKYW) trades at $96.64, down 1.1% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported mixed earnings, beating in Q1 2026 but missing in Q4 2025 and Q2 2026, with revenue growth from $4.1B in 2025 to $4.2B in 2026. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $112 price target, supported by fleet upgrades and flying agreements, though net income margin dipped to 9.78% in 2026.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic given strong analyst buy ratings and undervalued metrics like a P/E of 9.6, but risks include cost pressures, insider selling, and technical bearishness. Upside hinges on execution of growth initiatives amid competitive and operational headwinds.
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 →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.
Read more on SKYW →