S&P 500   4,594.63
DOW   36,245.50
QQQ   389.94
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Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
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Dell, Marvell Technology fall; Ulta Beauty, UiPath rise, Friday, 12/1/2023
Mega merger in the works? Humana, Cigna explore big deal
New CBOE “special perk” helps traders target income every weekend (Ad)
MarketBeat Week in Review – 11/27 - 12/1
Chicago and other northern US cities scramble to house migrants with coldest weather just ahead
S&P 500   4,594.63
DOW   36,245.50
QQQ   389.94
15 best consumer discretionary stocks for the rest of 2023
New CBOE “special perk” helps traders target income every weekend (Ad)
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Chick-fil-A Is Hiring an 'Entertainment Producer'
New CBOE “special perk” helps traders target income every weekend (Ad)
Dell, Marvell Technology fall; Ulta Beauty, UiPath rise, Friday, 12/1/2023
Mega merger in the works? Humana, Cigna explore big deal
New CBOE “special perk” helps traders target income every weekend (Ad)
MarketBeat Week in Review – 11/27 - 12/1
Chicago and other northern US cities scramble to house migrants with coldest weather just ahead
S&P 500   4,594.63
DOW   36,245.50
QQQ   389.94
15 best consumer discretionary stocks for the rest of 2023
New CBOE “special perk” helps traders target income every weekend (Ad)
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Chick-fil-A Is Hiring an 'Entertainment Producer'
New CBOE “special perk” helps traders target income every weekend (Ad)
Dell, Marvell Technology fall; Ulta Beauty, UiPath rise, Friday, 12/1/2023
Mega merger in the works? Humana, Cigna explore big deal
New CBOE “special perk” helps traders target income every weekend (Ad)
MarketBeat Week in Review – 11/27 - 12/1
Chicago and other northern US cities scramble to house migrants with coldest weather just ahead
S&P 500   4,594.63
DOW   36,245.50
QQQ   389.94
15 best consumer discretionary stocks for the rest of 2023
New CBOE “special perk” helps traders target income every weekend (Ad)
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Chick-fil-A Is Hiring an 'Entertainment Producer'
New CBOE “special perk” helps traders target income every weekend (Ad)
Dell, Marvell Technology fall; Ulta Beauty, UiPath rise, Friday, 12/1/2023
Mega merger in the works? Humana, Cigna explore big deal
New CBOE “special perk” helps traders target income every weekend (Ad)
MarketBeat Week in Review – 11/27 - 12/1
Chicago and other northern US cities scramble to house migrants with coldest weather just ahead

Southwest Airlines Stock Price, News & Analysis (NYSE:LUV)

$26.69
+1.12 (+4.38%)
(As of 12/1/2023 ET)
Compare
Today's Range
$25.54
$26.69
50-Day Range
$22.23
$27.50
52-Week Range
$21.91
$40.38
Volume
7.86 million shs
Average Volume
6.46 million shs
Market Capitalization
$15.91 billion
P/E Ratio
35.59
Dividend Yield
2.70%
Price Target
$31.94

Southwest Airlines MarketRank™ Stock Analysis

Analyst Rating
Hold
2.00 Rating Score
Upside/​Downside
19.7% Upside
$31.94 Price Target
Short Interest
Healthy
4.05% of Shares Sold Short
Dividend Strength
Weak
Based on Four Factors
Sustainability
-7.11
Upright™ Environmental Score
News Sentiment
0.42mentions of Southwest Airlines in the last 14 days
Based on 20 Articles This Week
Insider Trading
N/A
Proj. Earnings Growth
25.18%
From $1.39 to $1.74 Per Share

Overall MarketRank

MarketRank is calculated as an average of available category scores, with extra weight given to analysis and valuation.

2.36 out of 5 stars

Transportation Sector

41st out of 117 stocks

Air Transportation, Scheduled Industry

6th out of 18 stocks


LUV stock logo

About Southwest Airlines Stock (NYSE:LUV)

Founded in 1971, Southwest Airlines Co. is one of the world's most respected and awarded airlines. The company is known for offering customers great value and excellent service. Currently, Southwest Airlines Co. services 121 airports in 11 countries. The year 2021 marked the company's 51st anniversary, and it continues to work toward democratizing the sky by providing a reliable, low-cost air travel experience. More air travelers flying nonstop in the U.S. fly Southwest Airlines Co. than any other major airline. 

Southwest Airlines operates a large fleet of 771 Boeing 737 aircraft, making it the largest owner and operator of 737s in the world. It has traditionally only flown Boeing 737s, though it has leased other Boeing models for profitability and route testing. Southwest Airlines Co.'s fleet serves 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as in 10 other countries, including Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.

Southwest Airlines Co. is based in Dallas and is famous for its employee-first corporate culture. The company has maintained an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its 51-year history, providing employees stability and pride in their employer. Southwest Airlines Co. has led the industry with 47 consecutive years of profitability and growth.

Southwest Airlines Co. uses humor in its marketing, with slogans like "Love Is Still Our Field," "The Somebody Else Up There Who Loves You," "Just Plane Smart" and "You're Now Free to Move About the Country." To increase customer loyalty, the company launched a rewards program in 2011 that awards points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals and purchases at partner retailers, which consumers can redeem for free flights.

Southwest Airlines Co. has significantly influenced other low-cost carriers and the aviation industry as a whole. Its competitive strategy is to increase aircraft and employee productivity to reduce turnaround time at the gate. Ryanair and EasyJet have mirrored this rolling hub or point-to-point network strategy. 

Southwest has also had a lot of industry influence through its lobbying efforts, primarily to lobby against the development of high-speed rail systems in favor of providing more point-to-point flights between major cities. However, in recent years, Southwest Airlines Co. has been affected by customer lawsuits, flight delays and cancelations and system disruptions due to not investing in newer technologies.

Southwest Airlines Co. has provided value to its shareholders for many years, having returned more than $12.9 billion through stock repurchases and dividends as of March 2020. However, in the first quarter of 2020, the company had to suspend its dividend payments due to the uncertain market and COVID-19. On December 6, 2022, the board of directors decided to reinstate its quarterly cash dividend at 18 cents per share. This reinstated dividend equaled the expected dividend when it disappeared in 2020.

Southwest Airlines Co. is a leader in the aviation industry, providing great customer service, hospitality, employee stability and value to its shareholders.

LUV Stock Price History

LUV Stock News Headlines

Airline and hotel stocks soar as Thanksgiving travel sets records (LUV)
Thanksgiving travel is poised to break records, boosting airline and hotel stocks. Investors remain optimistic about strong 2023 holiday travel demand.
At these prices, the only way these stocks can move is up (LUV)
These stocks have no reason to be this cheap, but you shouldn't waste your time finding out why this is so, when you can follow this logic instead
New CBOE “special perk” helps traders target income every weekend
You might not immediately realize what you’re reading. Let me help you out a little… What you're looking at is a “special perk” set up by the Chicago Board of Options Exchange.
The only 2 airline stocks worth buying: One is a Goldman pick (LUV)
The airlines industry is severely mispriced today, and Goldman analysts have made their top choice clear, there is no denying that this stock is a clear winner
Top US accident investigator says close calls between planes show that aviation is under stress
The nation’s top accident investigator says a surge in close calls between planes at U.S. airports this year is a clear warning sign that aviation is under stress
Judging from the level of complaints, air travel is getting worse
Complaints about air travel are soaring
Southwest Soars on Announcing New Programs
New CBOE “special perk” helps traders target income every weekend
You might not immediately realize what you’re reading. Let me help you out a little… What you're looking at is a “special perk” set up by the Chicago Board of Options Exchange.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CHANGES
10 Analysts Have This to Say About Southwest Airlines
See More Headlines
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Company Calendar

Ex-Dividend for 9/27 Dividend
9/05/2023
Dividend Payable
9/27/2023
Last Earnings
10/26/2023
Today
12/02/2023
Ex-Dividend for 1/11 Dividend
12/20/2023
Fiscal Year End
12/31/2023
Dividend Payable
1/11/2024
Next Earnings (Estimated)
1/25/2024

Industry, Sector and Symbol

Industry
Air transportation, scheduled
Sub-Industry
Airlines
CUSIP
84474110
Employees
66,656
Year Founded
1967

Price Target and Rating

Average Stock Price Target
$31.94
High Stock Price Target
$50.00
Low Stock Price Target
$20.00
Potential Upside/Downside
+19.7%
Consensus Rating
Hold
Rating Score (0-4)
2.00
Research Coverage
17 Analysts

Profitability

Net Income
$539 million
Pretax Margin
2.49%

Debt

Sales & Book Value

Annual Sales
$23.81 billion
Cash Flow
$3.68 per share
Book Value
$18.54 per share

Miscellaneous

Free Float
594,207,000
Market Cap
$15.91 billion
Optionable
Optionable
Beta
1.16

Social Links

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Key Executives

  • Mr. Gary C. Kelly (Age 68)
    Executive Chairman
    Comp: $1.3M
  • Mr. Robert E. Jordan (Age 62)
    CEO, President & Director
    Comp: $1.71M
  • Ms. Tammy RomoMs. Tammy Romo (Age 61)
    Executive VP & CFO
    Comp: $1.09M
  • Mr. Andrew M. WattersonMr. Andrew M. Watterson (Age 56)
    Chief Operating Officer
    Comp: $1.14M
  • Mr. Mark R. Shaw (Age 60)
    Executive VP, Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer and Corporate Secretary
    Comp: $953.96k
  • Mr. Ray Schuster
    Managing Director of Accounting & Financial Reporting
  • Mr. Thomas Merritt
    VP of Technology – Infrastructure & Services and CTO
  • Ms. Lauren Woods
    Senior VP of Technology & Chief Information Officer
  • Ms. Linda Burke Rutherford (Age 56)
    Chief Administration & Communications Officer
  • Mr. Dave Harvey
    VP & Chief Sales Officer














LUV Stock Analysis - Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy or sell Southwest Airlines stock right now?

17 Wall Street research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Southwest Airlines in the last twelve months. There are currently 4 sell ratings, 9 hold ratings and 4 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street research analysts is that investors should "hold" LUV shares. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in LUV, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares.
View LUV analyst ratings
or view top-rated stocks.

What is Southwest Airlines' stock price target for 2024?

17 brokerages have issued 12 month price targets for Southwest Airlines' shares. Their LUV share price targets range from $20.00 to $50.00. On average, they predict the company's share price to reach $31.94 in the next twelve months. This suggests a possible upside of 19.7% from the stock's current price.
View analysts price targets for LUV
or view top-rated stocks among Wall Street analysts.

How have LUV shares performed in 2023?

Southwest Airlines' stock was trading at $33.67 at the beginning of 2023. Since then, LUV stock has decreased by 20.7% and is now trading at $26.69.
View the best growth stocks for 2023 here
.

Are investors shorting Southwest Airlines?

Southwest Airlines saw a increase in short interest in October. As of October 31st, there was short interest totaling 24,850,000 shares, an increase of 6.8% from the October 15th total of 23,270,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 7,010,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.5 days.
View Southwest Airlines' Short Interest
.

When is Southwest Airlines' next earnings date?

The company is scheduled to release its next quarterly earnings announcement on Thursday, January 25th 2024.
View our LUV earnings forecast
.

How were Southwest Airlines' earnings last quarter?

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October, 26th. The airline reported $0.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.38. The airline earned $6.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.56 billion. Southwest Airlines had a net margin of 1.95% and a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 5.08%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.50 earnings per share.
Read the conference call transcript
.

How often does Southwest Airlines pay dividends? What is the dividend yield for Southwest Airlines?

Southwest Airlines announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, November 16th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.18 per share on Thursday, January 11th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 20th.
Read our dividend analysis for LUV
.

Is Southwest Airlines a good dividend stock?

Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) pays an annual dividend of $0.72 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 2.82%. The dividend payout ratio is 96.00%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, LUV will have a dividend payout ratio of 41.38% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend.
Read our dividend analysis for LUV.

What is Gary C. Kelly's approval rating as Southwest Airlines' CEO?

1,507 employees have rated Southwest Airlines Chief Executive Officer Gary C. Kelly on Glassdoor.com. Gary C. Kelly has an approval rating of 94% among the company's employees. This puts Gary C. Kelly in the top 30% of approval ratings compared to other CEOs of publicly-traded companies.

What other stocks do shareholders of Southwest Airlines own?

Based on aggregate information from My MarketBeat watchlists, some companies that other Southwest Airlines investors own include Delta Air Lines (DAL), NVIDIA (NVDA), Walt Disney (DIS), Boeing (BA), Bank of America (BAC), AT&T (T), Tesla (TSLA), Alibaba Group (BABA), Micron Technology (MU) and Netflix (NFLX).

Who are Southwest Airlines' major shareholders?

Southwest Airlines' stock is owned by many different retail and institutional investors. Top institutional investors include Primecap Management Co. CA (8.35%), Artisan Partners Limited Partnership (1.80%), Provident Trust Co. (1.20%), U S Global Investors Inc. (0.83%), Northern Trust Corp (0.82%) and Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. (0.52%). Insiders that own company stock include Andrew M Watterson, De Ven Michael G Van, John T Montford, Ryan C Green, Tammy Romo, Thomas M Nealon and Thomas W Gilligan.
View institutional ownership trends
.

How do I buy shares of Southwest Airlines?

Shares of LUV stock can be purchased through any online brokerage account. Popular online brokerages with access to the U.S. stock market include WeBull, Vanguard Brokerage Services, TD Ameritrade, E*TRADE, Robinhood, Fidelity, and Charles Schwab.
Compare Top Brokerages Here.

Does Southwest Airlines have any subsidiaries?
The following companies are subsidiares of Southwest Airlines: AirTran Airways, AirTran Airways 717 Leasing Corporation, AirTran Airways Inc., AirTran Holdings LLC, Morris Air, Southwest Jet Fuel Co., TranStar Airlines, and Triple Crown Assurance Co..
Read More
This page (NYSE:LUV) was last updated on 12/2/2023 by MarketBeat.com Staff

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