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As of October 11, 2026, Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) trades at $41.66. CleaRank Financial AI rates it Hold with a fair value of $41.66, in line with the current price. Wall Street's consensus target is $50.00 across 25 analysts. RSI at 49 is in neutral territory, and the price is below its 50-day average of $41.87.

Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV)

Southwest Airlines Co. NYSE

$41.66 0.3000 (0.73%)
At close: Oct 9, 4:00 PM EDT
AI Analyst Consensus
Hold
59 / 100
Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) is currently trading at $41.66, below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages ($41.87 and $43.53), indicating a bearish short-term trend. Despite this, the stock exhibits moderate insider buying, with insiders purchasing $713.4K versus selling $306.5K over the last 45 transactions, signaling a degree of confidence. The company's fundamentals show a profit margin of 2.78% and a return on equity of 11.10%, which are below the sector medians of 3.38% and 17.8% respectively. However, revenue growth is strong at 16.4%, outpacing the sector average of 11.7%. The price-to-sales ratio of 0.67 is below the sector average of 4.0, suggesting potential undervaluation on a sales basis. The debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.97, aligning with the sector median.

LUV Price Analysis

Market Metrics

Open
$41.02
Day Range
$40.62 to $41.74
Prev Close
$41.36
Volume
6.87M
52-Week Range
$29.26 to $55.11
Market Cap
$20.38B

Peer Benchmarking

Valuation vs Sector (Industrials)

Performance vs XLI

Sector Position Analysis
Trading at a notable discount to sector peers (-24%), which may indicate undervaluation or specific company headwinds.

LUV Financial Performance

Revenue vs. Earnings

Annual

Quarterly

Earnings Reality Check

Analysis: In the last 4 quarters, LUV beat estimates 2 times. However, the stock fell 2 times the next day. This suggests positive news is often "priced in" or investors are selling the news.

LUV Analysis

Company's Health 3/5
12-Month Analyst Target +20.02% Upside
Median of 25 analysts (12-month)
$50.00
AI Technical Analysis Hold
Southwest Airlines is currently trading below its 50-day SMA of $41.87 and its 200-day SMA of $43.53, indicating a bearish technical posture. The RSI is at 49.26, falling within the neutral momentum range, suggesting neither overbought nor oversold conditions. The current price action suggests downward pressure. Volume on the latest trading day was 6.87 million shares, slightly above the average of 6.3 million, indicating moderate investor interest. The MACD at 0.173 suggests a neutral to slightly bullish momentum, but the overall trend remains challenged by the moving average crossovers.
ProTips
  • Monitor Southwest Airlines' ability to sustain its strong revenue growth amidst competitive pressures and potential shifts in consumer travel demand.
  • The stock is currently trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages ($41.87 and $43.53), suggesting caution for short-term traders until a clear upward trend is established.
  • Given the moderate insider buying signal, consider the company's forward guidance and upcoming earnings reports as key indicators of management's confidence.
Key Catalysts
Bullish Strong Insider Buying Signal

Insiders have made net purchases totaling $713.4K versus $306.5K in sales, indicating a moderate level of confidence in the company's future prospects.

Source: Insider Trading Data
Bullish Strong Revenue Growth Projections

Next quarter's revenue is estimated to grow by 20.00% year-over-year, significantly outpacing the sector average and signaling strong demand for Southwest's services.

Source: Wall Street Estimates
Bearish Trading Below Key Moving Averages

The stock is currently positioned below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages ($41.87 and $43.53), indicating a bearish short-term technical trend and potential for further price declines.

Source: Technical Analysis
Neutral Mixed Analyst Sentiment

While the median analyst target price suggests a 20% upside, the consensus rating is 'Hold' with a significant number of 'Hold' ratings (11 out of 25 analysts), reflecting divided Wall Street opinion.

Source: Wall Street Consensus
Market Outlook
The base case outlook for Southwest Airlines suggests a potential recovery towards its median analyst target price of $50.00, representing a 20% upside from the current price of $41.66. This projection is supported by strong revenue growth estimates and a moderate insider buying signal. Upside potential could be realized if the company consistently beats earnings expectations and demonstrates improved operational efficiency, leading to a re-rating by analysts. Conversely, a failure to break above key technical resistance levels, escalating competition, or adverse macroeconomic conditions could pressure the stock lower, potentially testing downside targets around $34.00 as indicated by the low analyst price target.

Key Statistics

Market Cap 20.38B
P/E Ratio 25.74
EPS (TTM) 1.60
Dividend Yield 1.73%
52 Week High 55.11
52 Week Low 29.26
Southwest Airlines' valuation appears mixed, with a P/E ratio of 25.74, which is below the sector median of 34, suggesting it may be attractively priced relative to its earnings peers. Its price-to-sales ratio of 0.67 is also significantly lower than the sector median of 4.0. The company's profit margin of 2.78% and operating margin of 3.38% are below sector averages, but its return on equity of 11.10% is respectable. Revenue growth of 16.4% is a strong positive, exceeding the sector average of 11.7%. The debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97 is in line with the sector median, indicating a balanced capital structure.

Earnings & Growth Analysis

Southwest Airlines recently reported an EPS of $0.94 for the quarter ending June 2026, significantly beating the estimate of $0.52 by 80.77%, though the stock price declined 6.19% on the news. Prior quarters showed mixed performance, with a miss in March 2026 and a beat in the preceding quarter. The company has demonstrated strong revenue growth, with next quarter's revenue expected to increase by 20.00% year-over-year.

Key Risks

Southwest Airlines faces risks including its current trading position below key moving averages, suggesting potential for further downside. Competition within the airline industry remains intense, potentially pressuring margins and pricing power. Additionally, the company's reliance on fuel prices and operational efficiency can be impacted by external factors such as economic downturns or geopolitical events.

Technical Indicators i

RSI (14) 49.26
MACD 0.17
SMA 50 41.87
SMA 200 43.53
Technical Rating Bearish
RSI
Neutral
SMA Cross
Bearish
Price vs SMA
Bearish
MACD
Bullish
Moving averages show a lagging Death Cross (50-day: $41.87, 200-day: $43.53), price is trading below the 50-day SMA.

Market Correlations

How this stock moves relative to other assets

Based on 1 year of daily price data. Correlations may vary over different time periods.

S&P 500 (SPY) +0.53
Moderate correlation
Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) +0.45
Moderate correlation
Bitcoin (BTC) +0.05
Weak correlation
Gold (XAU) +0.09
Weak correlation
Check Custom Correlation

How does any other asset move with LUV? One year of daily closes, Pearson correlation.

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LUV Trade Plans

Specific entry, exit, and risk management levels

Select Your Trade Bias
Risk Tolerance
Conservative 2% Aggressive
Portfolio Value
$
Position Size: Enter portfolio size →

Entry Strategies pick an entry style

Conservative
$41.24
Slight discount to current
Wait for small dip
Aggressive
$41.66
At current price
Enter now if confident

Risk Management

STOP LOSS
$39.54
MAX LOSS
-4.1%
Volatility-Adjusted Stop Loss
Calculated based on RSI (49.3) and current market volatility

Profit Targets (Based on Conservative Entry)

TARGET 1
$42.48
+3% (Conservative)
+2.0% (Aggressive)
TARGET 2
$43.31
+5% (Conservative)
+4.0% (Aggressive)
TARGET 3
$44.54
+8% (Conservative)
+6.9% (Aggressive)
Consider scaling out: Take 50% profit at Target 1, 30% at Target 2, let 20% run to Target 3
Disclaimer
This AI-generated trade plan for LUV is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The analysis is based on historical data patterns and technical indicators which may not predict future results. Stock trading involves risk of loss. Verify all data independently and consult a qualified financial advisor. Generated on October 11, 2026.

Growth of $10,000

A $10,000 investment in LUV in October 2016 would be worth about $10,470 today, compared with about $36,479 for the same investment in the S&P 500 benchmark.

Compare with Another Ticker

Monte Carlo Projection (10yr)

CleaRank's 10-year Monte Carlo simulation projects that a $10,000 investment in LUV today could grow to about $14,028 by 2036 in the base case, with a bull case near $64,642 and a bear case around $3,044. Projections are statistical simulations, not guarantees.

LUV Stock Price Prediction: 2030

CleaRank's simulation projects a price near $47.70 for LUV by 2030 in the base case, from $41.66 today (1.1x over 4 years). The downside path ends near $18.15. These are outcomes of a Monte Carlo simulation run on LUV's historical return distribution, not price targets, and they assume no dividends are reinvested.

LUV simulated price paths by year
Year Downside (10th pct) Base case Upside (90th pct)
2027 $26.58 $43.09 $69.86
2028 $22.51 $44.58 $88.28
2029 $19.97 $46.11 $106
2030 $18.15 $47.70 $125
2031 $16.75 $49.34 $145
2032 $15.63 $51.04 $167
2033 $14.70 $52.80 $190
2034 $13.93 $54.61 $214
2035 $13.26 $56.49 $241
2036 $12.68 $58.44 $269

Method: 10,000 simulated price paths using LUV's historical volatility and drift, re-run daily. The base case is the median path; the two outer columns are the 10th and 90th percentile outcomes, which widen with time because uncertainty compounds. Simulations are not guarantees, and past volatility does not predict future returns. This is analysis, not investment advice.

People Also Watch

LUV Insider Trading Analysis

Source: SEC Form 4
▲ Bought
$713.4K
5 Transactions
▼ Sold
$306.5K
2 Transactions
● Insiders
21
Active Traders
$ Avg Transaction
$145.7K
Moderate size
Recent insider transactions in LUV
Date Insider Type Shares Value
Apr 2, 2020
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
Sell 2.3M $74.3M
Oct 28, 2024
ELLIOTT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, L.P
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
Sell 1.2M $35.9M
May 17, 2017
KELLY GARY C
Chief Executive Officer
Sell 51.0K $2.9M
Feb 22, 2018
KELLY GARY C
Chief Executive Officer
Sell 38.8K $2.2M
Dec 14, 2017
JORDAN ROBERT E
Officer
Sell 32.9K $2.1M
Feb 23, 2021
VAN DE VEN MICHAEL G
Chief Operating Officer
Sell 32.5K $1.8M
Mar 2, 2018
VAN DE VEN MICHAEL G
Chief Operating Officer
Sell 31.1K $1.8M
Mar 8, 2021
JORDAN ROBERT E
Officer
Sell 28.8K $1.7M
Feb 22, 2018
KELLY GARY C
Chief Executive Officer
Sell 27.3K $1.6M
Feb 25, 2021
ROMO TAMMY
Chief Financial Officer
Sell 26.7K $1.6M

Frequently Asked Questions

What is LUV stock's price forecast for 2030?
The long-range projection for LUV stock in 2030 indicates a base case price of $47.70, with a downside scenario at $18.15 and an upside scenario at $125.36, based on Monte Carlo simulations.
Is Southwest Airlines a buy right now?
Southwest Airlines is currently rated a 'Hold' with a consensus score of 59. While it shows moderate insider buying and strong revenue growth, it is trading below key technical levels, suggesting a cautious approach.
What are the key earnings trends for Southwest Airlines?
Southwest Airlines recently delivered a strong EPS beat for the quarter ending June 2026, reporting $0.94 against an estimate of $0.52. However, the stock experienced a price decline following this announcement, indicating market concerns beyond the earnings figures.
How does Southwest Airlines' valuation compare to its sector?
Southwest Airlines' P/E ratio of 25.74 and price-to-sales ratio of 0.67 are both below their respective sector medians, suggesting potential undervaluation relative to industry peers.
What is the outlook for Southwest Airlines' revenue growth?
Revenue growth is a strong point for Southwest Airlines, with a reported 16.4% and projected 20.00% year-over-year growth for the next quarter, significantly outpacing the sector average.
Are insiders buying or selling Southwest Airlines stock?
insiders are net sellers of Southwest Airlines stock, with total purchases of $713.4K compared to $306.5K in sales in recent filings, indicating a moderate buy signal.
What are the main risks facing Southwest Airlines?
Key risks include intense industry competition, sensitivity to fuel price fluctuations, and the current bearish technical trend indicated by the stock trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages ($41.87 and $43.53).

Disclaimer: CleaRank.com is a financial data and analytics provider, not a registered investment advisor, broker-dealer, or financial regulatory body. The stock analysis, trade plans, and AI-generated signals presented for LUV are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations, or an offer to buy or sell any securities. All trade setups and performance metrics shown are hypothetical, hindsight-based, and simulated. They do not represent actual trades made by CleaRank or its affiliates. Stock prices can be volatile and are subject to market, economic, and company-specific risks. Market data is provided "as-is" and may be delayed by 15 minutes or more. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any data. You should never invest money you cannot afford to lose. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Analysis generated on October 11, 2026.

Disclaimer:

Engaging in financial markets carries significant risk of total capital loss. Markets are volatile, unpredictable, and past success does not guarantee future results. Never invest funds you cannot afford to lose. CleaRank does not offer financial, investment, or advisory services. We provide no recommendations, endorsements, or guarantees regarding market outcomes. You alone are responsible for your decisions.

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