UBS Group Has Lowered Expectations for Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) Stock Price

Key Points

• UBS cut its price objective on Alaska Air Group from $77.00 to $60.00 but kept a "buy" rating; the stock's consensus from analysts remains a "Moderate Buy" with an average target near $68.80.
• The shares were trading around $38.52, giving Alaska Air a market cap of about $4.42 billion, a PE ratio of 44.27, and a 12‑month range of $37.40–$65.88.
• Alaska Air recently topped quarterly EPS expectations but issued a Q1 2026 guidance of -1.50 to -0.50 EPS (FY 2026 guidance 3.50–6.50 EPS), and insiders have sold roughly 56,945 shares (~$3.2M) in the past 90 days.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK - Get Free Report) had its price objective cut by equities research analysts at UBS Group from $77.00 to $60.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "buy" rating on the transportation company's stock. UBS Group's price target would suggest a potential upside of 55.78% from the company's previous close.

Several other research firms also recently issued reports on ALK. Cantor Fitzgerald set a $63.00 price objective on Alaska Air Group in a report on Friday, January 30th. Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $69.00 target price (up from $61.00) on shares of Alaska Air Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating and set a $70.00 target price (up from $60.00) on shares of Alaska Air Group in a research report on Monday, January 12th. TD Cowen decreased their price target on Alaska Air Group from $63.00 to $54.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 9th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded Alaska Air Group from a "sell (d+)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $68.80.

Alaska Air Group Price Performance

NYSE:ALK traded up $0.52 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $38.52. 4,458,021 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,946,867. The company has a quick ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The stock has a market cap of $4.42 billion, a PE ratio of 44.27, a PEG ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 1.16. Alaska Air Group has a 12 month low of $37.40 and a 12 month high of $65.88. The company has a fifty day moving average of $50.83 and a 200 day moving average of $50.03.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.11 by $0.32. Alaska Air Group had a net margin of 0.70% and a return on equity of 7.22%. The company had revenue of $3.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.64 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.97 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. Alaska Air Group has set its Q1 2026 guidance at -1.500--0.500 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 3.500-6.500 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Alaska Air Group will post 6.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Andrew R. Harrison sold 14,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.81, for a total value of $794,745.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 20,195 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,106,887.95. This represents a 41.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Kyle B. Levine sold 2,945 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.02, for a total value of $176,758.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 20,977 shares in the company, valued at $1,259,039.54. The trade was a 12.31% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 56,945 shares of company stock valued at $3,204,569 in the last 90 days. 0.92% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alaska Air Group

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 40.1% in the 3rd quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 173,610 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $8,642,000 after buying an additional 49,663 shares during the period. CM Management LLC acquired a new stake in Alaska Air Group during the 3rd quarter worth $1,244,000. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. bought a new position in Alaska Air Group during the second quarter worth about $594,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in Alaska Air Group by 29.1% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 206,172 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $10,263,000 after acquiring an additional 46,445 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arista Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Alaska Air Group in the third quarter valued at about $417,000. 81.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Alaska Air Group

Alaska Air Group is a publicly traded holding company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, that operates two main airlines—Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Through these carriers, the company offers scheduled passenger and cargo services across a network spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its core business activities include domestic and international air transportation, loyalty program management under the Mileage Plan brand, and ancillary revenue streams such as baggage fees, in-flight sales and code-share partnerships with other global airlines.

The roots of Alaska Air Group trace back to the foundation of its flagship carrier, Alaska Airlines, in 1932.

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