10 Analysts Have This To Say About Southwest Airlines

10 analysts have shared their evaluations of Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) during the recent three months, expressing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives.

The following table encapsulates their recent ratings, offering a glimpse into the evolving sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.

	Bullish	Somewhat Bullish	Indifferent	Somewhat Bearish	Bearish
Total Ratings	0	2	4	0	4
Last 30D	0	0	0	0	1
1M Ago	0	1	1	0	1
2M Ago	0	1	2	0	1
3M Ago	0	0	1	0	1

Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $32.75, a high estimate of $42.00, and a low estimate of $26.00. Surpassing the previous average price target of $29.93, the current average has increased by 9.42%.

Deciphering Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Analysis

The perception of Southwest Airlines by financial experts is analyzed through recent analyst actions. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.

Analyst	Analyst Firm	Action Taken	Rating	Current Price Target	Prior Price Target
Stephen Trent	Citigroup	Lowers	Sell	$29.50	$31.50
Christopher Stathoulopoulos	Susquehanna	Raises	Neutral	$38.00	$33.00
Thomas Wadewitz	UBS	Raises	Sell	$29.00	$27.00
Savanthi Syth	Raymond James	Raises	Outperform	$40.00	$36.00
David Vernon	Bernstein	Raises	Market Perform	$33.00	$30.00
Ravi Shanker	Morgan Stanley	Announces	Overweight	$42.00	-
Brandon Oglenski	Barclays	Raises	Equal-Weight	$35.00	$32.00
Thomas Wadewitz	UBS	Announces	Sell	$27.00	-
Catherine O'Brien	Goldman Sachs	Announces	Sell	$28.00	-
Jamie Baker	JP Morgan	Raises	Neutral	$26.00	$20.00

Key Insights:

• Action Taken: Analysts respond to changes in market conditions and company performance, frequently updating their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Southwest Airlines. This information offers a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.
• Rating: Providing a comprehensive analysis, analysts offer qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Southwest Airlines compared to the broader market.
• Price Targets: Delving into movements, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Southwest Airlines's stock. This analysis reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time.

Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Southwest Airlines's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table.

Stay up to date on Southwest Airlines analyst ratings.

Unveiling the Story Behind Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic air carrier in the United States by passengers boarded. Southwest operates nearly 800 aircraft in an all-Boeing 737 fleet. Despite offering some longer routes and a few perks for business travelers, the airline predominantly specializes in short-haul, leisure flights operated in a single, open-seating cabin configuration in a point-to-point network. In 2025, Southwest will modify its cabins to offer some seats with extra legroom and will update its ticketing process to offer assigned seats.

Southwest Airlines: A Financial Overview

Market Capitalization Analysis: With an elevated market capitalization, the company stands out above industry averages, showcasing substantial size and market acknowledgment.

Revenue Growth: Southwest Airlines's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 5.29%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company surpassed expectations with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Industrials sector.

Net Margin: Southwest Airlines's net margin falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 0.98%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.

Return on Equity (ROE): Southwest Airlines's ROE falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 0.64%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns for shareholders.

Return on Assets (ROA): Southwest Airlines's ROA lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns from its assets. With an ROA of 0.19%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance.

Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 0.87.

Analyst Ratings: What Are They?

Analyst ratings serve as essential indicators of stock performance, provided by experts in banking and financial systems. These specialists diligently analyze company financial statements, participate in conference calls, and engage with insiders to generate quarterly ratings for individual stocks.

Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.

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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.