50% off Premium Yearly
Delta Air Lines IncDALTOP PICKNov 06, 2023Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Oct 16, 2026. Market Open.
He has avoided the boom-and-bust airline stocks for years. But the top airlines, recently, have become more durable. Loyal customers pay for the best seats at the front of the plane. DAL today reported small earnings and revenue misses and slashed their full-year earnings forecast by 24%. But shares turned positive anyway, because Wall Street saw this coming. But DAL guided for a higher than expected revenue growth. They're punished on their profits from high fuel costs, but demand for flights remains strong. DAL has generated enough revenue from first class and business class sales to offset those fuel costs. Also, they outsource their maintenance business which DAL thinks they can more than double in coming years. DAL leads peers in on-time arrivals and departures which is why premium customers will pay up.
There is lots of pessimism in airlines now and airlines are trading at 2020 prices even though the situation is much better. It is the best managed airline in North America and rated the number one airline for the past several years by the wall Street Journal. It is trading at 5 1/2X this year's and next year's earnings.
(Analysts’ price target is $51.59)He also talked about Air Canada which is also at an attractive price. The demand is roaring back but the capacity is well down from 2019. Advance ticket sales are way up. In general the airlines are keeping the supply tight.
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