NYSE:DAL

Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL)

84.94
+2.18 (2.63%)
as of Sep 25, 2026, 8:00:00 pm Market Open.
184 watching
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BUY
Today, the CEO boasted of very strong demand. Things are very good for the airlines, which signals a healthy consumer. He believes in the CEO. He just bought this, the only other airline he has bought beside Alaska Air in a very long time. Delta's customer service towers over its peers. international travel is still at 55% of 2019 levels. If testing requirements are removed, he expects this travel to shoot through the roof.
STRONG BUY
Great management and fine forward guidance. They just forecast double-digit profits going forwards, based on strong bookings and demand--and the business traveller hasn't come back yet. This is a long-term hold. People are tired of sitting at home.
BUY ON WEAKNESS
Airlines are getting hit now by higher fuel costs, but this is a reopening stock and it trades at only a single-digit multiple. Endure the next few weeks of bumpiness as the Fed raises rate and hold cheaper-value cyclicals because they will outperform. He would add to it. The CEO said recently he can't meet customer demand.
WATCH
It reports Thursday. Look for comments about future projections, past Omicron. Do they think business travellers will come back? Will fares rise? He's skeptical about how far Delta can go in this environment, full of Omicron worries.
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Curated by Michael O'Reilly since 2020.
1550+ opinions with 4.81 rating (one of the best performing expert).

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Jun 10/21, Down 24.8%)Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly Our PAST TOP PICK with DAL has triggered its stop at $35. To remain disciplined, we recommend covering the position at this time. We will look for better opportunities.
DON'T BUY
They report Wednesday. They'd do a lot better if there was a Covid passport in the U.S. as they do in Europe, where they're ahead in things like this. Travel realities will impact Delta's earnings.
BUY

Bank of America reports there's an 8% increase in travel vs. 2019 (not 2020 during Covid). This trend will benefit American Airlines and Delta (his favourite airline), especially when international travel returns. True, shares have run up, but he feels there's still plenty of runway left.

COMMENT
They report next week. How is the Delta variant impacting Delta? Will business travellers come back? That's hard to read.
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Curated by Michael O'Reilly since 2020.
1550+ opinions with 4.81 rating (one of the best performing expert).

TOP PICK

Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly At some point travelers will return to flying. Analysts at Jefferies upgraded the company, calling for $60. They see the exposure to renewed corporate and transatlantic travel as key. Morgan Stanley has them as the only air carrier they recommend to overweight. With EPS projected around $4 next year, it's priced at 12x earnings today. Now is the time step on board. We would buy this with a stop loss at $35, looking to achieve $55 -- upside over 17%. Yield 0% (Analysts’ price target is $54.76)

COMMENT
How to play the U.S. reopening in a short-term trade. Buy airlines. People will probably fly to get their favourite place. A lot of people, from what he sees on social media, are travelling finally after waiting the past year. Delta has been flat compared to peers, so it offers upside among airlines.
DON'T BUY
Based on analyst Larry Williams' true seasonal index Younger investors love the airlines, but Williams has a very negative outlook for them. Meanwhile, Williams forecasts--based on the last 11 years' patterns--a market rally starting right before Christmas and into early-January, except certain sectors including airlines.
DON'T BUY

UAL-Q or DAL-N. The airlines are the most prominent businesses that suffered directly from COVID and it is difficult to know when it will improve. Most of these companies have raised money recently. Both score poorly on most metrics he looks at. He would prefer AC-T over these two as it is liable to get government support. CHR-T also.

SELL
He had bought it in 2015/16 on the premise that the airlines were a lot more rational. This one was going to make a lot of money on their credit card. In early March he exited. He could have acted sooner. Companies with zero revenue will have impaired balance sheets if they have debt. Retail and restaurants will be hurt in the short term.
WAIT
He would not go near an airline stock right now. Wait until they are bailed out. This is a high volatility trade. You may be able to wait 1 to 2 years.
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