Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV)Industrials | Airlines | Dallas, United States | NYSE
39.64 USD
-0.12
(-0.302%) ⇩
(Aug. 28, 2026, 4 p.m.
EDT)
After hours: 39.75 +0.11 (0.277%) ⇧ (Aug. 28, 2026, 7:59 p.m. EDT) |
Hot Take ↕ | Aug. 22, 2026, 3:30 a.m. EDT
The immediate outlook is clouded by a stark divergence between defensive positioning and a fragile recovery narrative. While the company posted a profit rebound and management is pivoting toward a retail-focused business model, the market remains deeply skeptical, evidenced by the heavy put buying at levels far below the current price. This suggests investors are pricing in significant operational headwinds or a potential failure to sustain the recent earnings bounce. The stock trades at a forward P/E of roughly 8x, which looks cheap on paper, but the balance sheet tells a different story: debt-to-equity is nearly 100%, free cash flow is negative, and the current ratio is dangerously low at 0.49. These structural weaknesses prevent a confident 'buy' rating despite the attractive valuation multiples. The recent price action shows a struggle to hold gains, trading well below its 50-day moving average, confirming the lack of strong momentum. Until the balance sheet stabilizes and the gap between the stock price and the 50-day average closes decisively, the risk-reward profile leans slightly negative. |
| Model | MAE |
|---|---|
| AutoETS ✓ | 0.122194 |
| MSTL | 0.136618 |
| AutoTheta | 0.187776 |
| AutoARIMA | 0.270096 |
Forecast horizon: 45 days | Selected: AutoETS
| Forecast Reliability | |
|---|---|
| Score | 40% |
| H-stat | 15.53 |
| Ljung-Box p | 0.000 |
| Jarque-Bera p | 0.234 |
| Excess Kurtosis | -0.78 |
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Sector | Industrials |
| Ex Dividend Date | 2026-09-02 |
| Last Dividend Date | 2026-06-10 |
| Debt to Equity Ratio | 97.275 |
| Revenue per Share | 59.374 |
| Market Cap | 19,392,212,992 |
| Trailing P/E | 24.93 |
| Forward P/E | 8.15 |
| Beta | 1.14 |
| Profit Margins | 2.78% |
| Website | https://www.southwest.com |
As of Aug. 22, 2026, 3:30 a.m. EDT: Speculators are positioning defensively with heavy put volume and open interest at strikes significantly below the current price (e.g., 22.5, 25.0, 27.5), indicating a fear of a deep correction. Conversely, call activity is concentrated near the money (40-48 range) with notable open interest walls at 45 and 50, suggesting a belief in a rebound to fair value rather than a breakout to new highs. The imbalance in implied volatility, with deep out-of-the-money puts showing massive IV spikes compared to calls, reinforces a 'crash protection' sentiment over a bullish thesis.
| Last Yield | 1yr Yield | 3yr Avg | 5yr Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.41% | 1.87% | 2.18% | 1.62% |
| Date | Dividend | Yield % |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-11 | 0.180000 | 0.406412 |
| 2026-03-12 | 0.180000 | 0.466200 |
| 2025-12-26 | 0.180000 | 0.436047 |
| 2025-09-03 | 0.180000 | 0.556758 |
| 2025-06-18 | 0.180000 | 0.577664 |
| 2025-03-12 | 0.180000 | 0.598007 |
| 2024-12-26 | 0.180000 | 0.526470 |
| 2024-09-04 | 0.180000 | 0.609963 |
| 2024-06-18 | 0.180000 | 0.633134 |
| 2024-03-05 | 0.180000 | 0.523104 |
| 2023-12-20 | 0.180000 | 0.619195 |
| 2023-09-05 | 0.180000 | 0.584985 |
| 2023-06-20 | 0.180000 | 0.522193 |
| 2023-03-07 | 0.180000 | 0.539407 |
| 2023-01-09 | 0.180000 | 0.505476 |
| 2020-03-03 | 0.180000 | 0.398142 |
| 2019-12-10 | 0.180000 | 0.327809 |
| 2019-08-20 | 0.180000 | 0.359856 |
| 2019-06-04 | 0.180000 | 0.367722 |
| 2019-03-05 | 0.160000 | 0.299682 |
| 2018-12-04 | 0.160000 | 0.303030 |
| 2018-08-21 | 0.160000 | 0.262295 |
| 2018-06-05 | 0.160000 | 0.314342 |
| 2018-03-06 | 0.125000 | 0.214592 |
| 2017-12-06 | 0.125000 | 0.204516 |
| 2017-08-22 | 0.125000 | 0.233951 |
| 2017-06-05 | 0.125000 | 0.204952 |
| 2017-03-07 | 0.100000 | 0.175963 |
| 2016-12-06 | 0.100000 | 0.209732 |
| 2016-08-16 | 0.100000 | 0.273823 |
| 2016-06-06 | 0.100000 | 0.239406 |
| 2016-03-01 | 0.075000 | 0.176471 |
| 2015-12-08 | 0.075000 | 0.166519 |
| 2015-08-18 | 0.075000 | 0.186614 |
| 2015-06-01 | 0.075000 | 0.198151 |
| 2015-03-03 | 0.060000 | 0.136488 |
| 2014-12-09 | 0.060000 | 0.147312 |
| 2014-08-19 | 0.060000 | 0.195122 |
| 2014-06-02 | 0.060000 | 0.224635 |
| 2014-03-04 | 0.040000 | 0.175208 |
| 2013-12-10 | 0.040000 | 0.215285 |
| 2013-08-06 | 0.040000 | 0.289017 |
| 2013-06-03 | 0.040000 | 0.285714 |
| 2013-03-05 | 0.010000 | 0.082576 |
| 2012-12-04 | 0.010000 | 0.103842 |
| 2012-08-14 | 0.010000 | 0.110988 |
| 2012-06-04 | 0.010000 | 0.116279 |
| 2012-02-28 | 0.005000 | 0.055866 |
| 2011-12-06 | 0.005000 | 0.058548 |
| 2011-08-23 | 0.005000 | 0.062422 |
| 2011-06-06 | 0.005000 | 0.044524 |
| 2011-03-01 | 0.005000 | 0.042699 |
| 2010-12-07 | 0.005000 | 0.038610 |
| 2010-08-24 | 0.005000 | 0.045413 |
| 2010-06-07 | 0.005000 | 0.042882 |
| 2010-03-02 | 0.005000 | 0.039588 |
| 2009-12-08 | 0.005000 | 0.049505 |
| 2009-09-01 | 0.005000 | 0.062344 |
| 2009-06-08 | 0.005000 | 0.073314 |
| 2009-02-24 | 0.005000 | 0.076103 |
| 2008-12-09 | 0.005000 | 0.060459 |
| 2008-08-26 | 0.005000 | 0.033852 |
| 2008-06-10 | 0.005000 | 0.035945 |
| 2008-02-26 | 0.005000 | 0.038610 |
| 2007-12-04 | 0.005000 | 0.036232 |
| 2007-08-28 | 0.005000 | 0.033333 |
| 2007-06-05 | 0.005000 | 0.035236 |
| 2007-02-27 | 0.005000 | 0.033113 |
| 2006-12-05 | 0.005000 | 0.031990 |
| 2006-08-29 | 0.005000 | 0.028736 |
| 2006-06-06 | 0.005000 | 0.031807 |
| 2006-02-28 | 0.005000 | 0.029815 |
| 2005-12-06 | 0.005000 | 0.030266 |
| 2005-08-30 | 0.005000 | 0.037651 |
| 2005-06-07 | 0.005000 | 0.034223 |
| 2005-03-01 | 0.005000 | 0.035211 |
| 2004-12-07 | 0.005000 | 0.031786 |
| 2004-08-31 | 0.005000 | 0.033738 |
| 2004-06-08 | 0.005000 | 0.031766 |
| 2004-03-02 | 0.005000 | 0.035920 |
| 2003-12-03 | 0.005000 | 0.028058 |
| 2003-08-29 | 0.005000 | 0.029257 |
| 2003-06-02 | 0.005000 | 0.030921 |
| 2003-03-04 | 0.005000 | 0.040552 |
| 2002-12-09 | 0.005000 | 0.031250 |
| 2002-08-30 | 0.005000 | 0.035186 |
| 2002-06-03 | 0.005000 | 0.030395 |
| 2002-02-27 | 0.005000 | 0.022738 |
| 2001-12-03 | 0.005000 | 0.027027 |
| 2001-08-31 | 0.005000 | 0.027949 |
| 2001-06-04 | 0.003000 | 0.015932 |
| 2001-02-28 | 0.005000 | 0.026882 |
| 2000-12-04 | 0.004000 | 0.019493 |
| 2000-09-01 | 0.004000 | 0.027119 |
| 2000-05-31 | 0.004000 | 0.031270 |
| 2000-03-01 | 0.004000 | 0.032877 |
| 1999-12-06 | 0.004000 | 0.035688 |
| 1999-08-30 | 0.003333 | 0.029409 |
| 1999-06-02 | 0.003556 | 0.025603 |
| 1999-03-03 | 0.003556 | 0.025810 |
| 1998-12-07 | 0.003556 | 0.035659 |
| 1998-08-31 | 0.003556 | 0.044918 |
| 1998-06-03 | 0.002963 | 0.036447 |
| 1998-03-04 | 0.002963 | 0.034262 |
| 1997-12-08 | 0.002963 | 0.040202 |
| 1997-08-29 | 0.002370 | 0.042850 |
| 1997-05-28 | 0.002370 | 0.044853 |
| 1997-02-26 | 0.002370 | 0.050254 |
| 1996-12-09 | 0.001975 | 0.041231 |
| 1996-08-30 | 0.001975 | 0.043949 |
| 1996-05-29 | 0.001975 | 0.035082 |
| 1996-02-28 | 0.001975 | 0.032782 |
| 1995-12-04 | 0.001975 | 0.039994 |
| 1995-09-01 | 0.001975 | 0.039018 |
| 1995-05-26 | 0.001975 | 0.046236 |
| 1995-02-27 | 0.001975 | 0.057545 |
| 1994-11-30 | 0.001975 | 0.047330 |
| 1994-08-30 | 0.001975 | 0.037031 |
| 1994-05-27 | 0.001975 | 0.036358 |
| 1994-02-28 | 0.001975 | 0.029299 |
| 1993-11-30 | 0.001975 | 0.028772 |
| 1993-08-30 | 0.001975 | 0.028981 |
| 1993-05-28 | 0.001975 | 0.036358 |
| 1993-02-26 | 0.001975 | 0.044111 |
| 1992-12-01 | 0.001975 | 0.054537 |
| 1992-08-31 | 0.001975 | 0.070577 |
| 1992-06-01 | 0.001778 | 0.061722 |
| 1992-02-28 | 0.001646 | 0.063489 |
| 1991-11-29 | 0.001646 | 0.086575 |
| 1991-08-29 | 0.001646 | 0.100497 |
| 1991-05-31 | 0.001646 | 0.097556 |
| 1991-03-01 | 0.001646 | 0.092587 |
| 1990-11-29 | 0.001646 | 0.147051 |
| 1990-09-06 | 0.001646 | 0.153838 |
| 1990-06-07 | 0.001536 | 0.133941 |
| 1990-03-05 | 0.001536 | 0.146563 |
| 1989-11-29 | 0.001536 | 0.155520 |
| 1989-09-01 | 0.001536 | 0.119631 |
| 1989-06-07 | 0.001536 | 0.139272 |
| 1989-03-06 | 0.001536 | 0.144297 |
| 1988-11-29 | 0.001536 | 0.185388 |
| 1988-09-02 | 0.001405 | 0.195467 |
| 1988-06-07 | 0.001405 | 0.184217 |
| 1988-03-04 | 0.001405 | 0.181604 |
| 1987-11-27 | 0.001405 | 0.232783 |
| 1987-09-02 | 0.001405 | 0.153330 |
| 1987-06-08 | 0.001405 | 0.160038 |
| 1987-03-04 | 0.001405 | 0.132674 |
| 1986-11-26 | 0.001405 | 0.139924 |
| 1986-09-03 | 0.001405 | 0.145489 |
| 1986-06-06 | 0.001405 | 0.149743 |
| 1986-03-05 | 0.001405 | 0.141470 |
| 1985-11-26 | 0.001405 | 0.117459 |
| 1985-09-04 | 0.001405 | 0.121934 |
| 1985-06-06 | 0.001405 | 0.118547 |
| 1985-03-06 | 0.001405 | 0.131990 |
| 1984-11-28 | 0.001405 | 0.153330 |
| 1984-09-05 | 0.001405 | 0.170708 |
| 1984-06-04 | 0.001405 | 0.139924 |
| 1984-03-07 | 0.001405 | 0.159044 |
| 1983-11-30 | 0.001405 | 0.127014 |
| 1983-09-02 | 0.001405 | 0.107049 |
| 1983-05-31 | 0.001405 | 0.110753 |
| 1983-03-09 | 0.001405 | 0.121241 |
| 1982-11-26 | 0.001405 | 0.148527 |
| 1982-09-03 | 0.001405 | 0.152417 |
| 1982-06-04 | 0.001405 | 0.223050 |
| 1982-03-09 | 0.001405 | 0.231940 |
| 1981-11-25 | 0.001405 | 0.256061 |
| 1981-09-02 | 0.001124 | 0.219231 |
| 1981-06-09 | 0.001124 | 0.144179 |
| 1981-03-10 | 0.001124 | 0.176351 |
| 1980-11-28 | 0.001124 | 0.238863 |
| 1980-09-30 | 0.001124 | 0.307766 |
| 1980-06-06 | 0.000749 | 0.290849 |
| 1980-03-03 | 0.000749 | 0.404981 |
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| 52 Week Change | 0.22914732 |
| Address1 | P.O. Box 36611 |
| All Time High | 66.99 |
| All Time Low | 0.163877 |
| Ask | 40.25 |
| Ask Size | 400 |
| Audit Risk | 7 |
| Average Analyst Rating | 2.5 - Hold |
| Average Daily Volume10 Day | 4,375,520 |
| Average Daily Volume3 Month | 5,642,338 |
| Average Volume | 5,642,338 |
| Average Volume10Days | 4,375,520 |
| Beta | 1.143 |
| Bid | 39.57 |
| Bid Size | 300 |
| Board Risk | 9 |
| Book Value | 14.476 |
| City | Dallas |
| Compensation As Of Epoch Date | 1,483,142,400 |
| Compensation Risk | 5 |
| Country | United States |
| Crypto Tradeable | 0 |
| Currency | USD |
| Current Price | 39.64 |
| Current Ratio | 0.489 |
| Custom Price Alert Confidence | HIGH |
| Date Short Interest | 1,786,665,600 |
| Day High | 40.56 |
| Day Low | 39.63 |
| Debt To Equity | 97.275 |
| Display Name | Southwest Airlines |
| Dividend Date | 1,790,208,000 |
| Dividend Rate | 0.72 |
| Dividend Yield | 1.82 |
| Earnings Call Timestamp End | 1,792,699,200 |
| Earnings Call Timestamp Start | 1,792,699,200 |
| Earnings Growth | 0.205 |
| Earnings Quarterly Growth | 0.094 |
| Earnings Timestamp | 1,792,612,800 |
| Earnings Timestamp End | 1,792,612,800 |
| Earnings Timestamp Start | 1,792,612,800 |
| Ebitda | 2,337,999,872 |
| Ebitda Margins | 0.07774 |
| Enterprise To Ebitda | 9.619 |
| Enterprise To Revenue | 0.748 |
| Enterprise Value | 22,490,212,352 |
| Eps Current Year | 3.38384 |
| Eps Forward | 4.86257 |
| Eps Trailing Twelve Months | 1.59 |
| Esg Populated | 0 |
| Ex Dividend Date | 1,788,393,600 |
| Exchange | NYQ |
| Exchange Data Delayed By | 0 |
| Exchange Timezone Name | America/New_York |
| Exchange Timezone Short Name | EDT |
| Fifty Day Average | 46.535 |
| Fifty Day Average Change | -6.8950005 |
| Fifty Day Average Change Percent | -0.14816806 |
| Fifty Two Week Change Percent | 22.914732 |
| Fifty Two Week High | 55.11 |
| Fifty Two Week High Change | -15.470001 |
| Fifty Two Week High Change Percent | -0.28071132 |
| Fifty Two Week Low | 29.26 |
| Fifty Two Week Low Change | 10.379999 |
| Fifty Two Week Low Change Percent | 0.35475048 |
| Fifty Two Week Range | 29.26 - 55.11 |
| Financial Currency | USD |
| First Trade Date Milliseconds | 315,671,400,000 |
| Five Year Avg Dividend Yield | 1.03 |
| Float Shares | 484,125,328 |
| Forward Eps | 4.86257 |
| Forward P E | 8.152068 |
| Free Cashflow | -834,750,016 |
| Full Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Full Time Employees | 73,456 |
| Fullday Change | -0.11999893 |
| Fullday Change Percent | -0.30180818 |
| Fullday Price | 39.75 |
| Gmt Off Set Milliseconds | -14,400,000 |
| Governance Epoch Date | 1,785,542,400 |
| Gross Margins | 0.22399001 |
| Gross Profits | 6,736,000,000 |
| Has Pre Post Market Data | 1 |
| Held Percent Insiders | 0.01018 |
| Held Percent Institutions | 0.93751 |
| Implied Shares Outstanding | 489,208,201 |
| Industry | Airlines |
| Industry Disp | Airlines |
| Industry Key | airlines |
| Ir Website | http://southwest.investorroom.com/ |
| Is Earnings Date Estimate | 0 |
| Language | en-US |
| Last Dividend Date | 1,781,136,000 |
| Last Dividend Value | 0.18 |
| Last Fiscal Year End | 1,767,139,200 |
| Last Split Date | 982,281,600 |
| Last Split Factor | 3:2 |
| Long Business Summary | Southwest Airlines Co. operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and internationally. It also provides Rapid Rewards loyalty program; SWABIZ, an online booking tool; and inflight entertainment platform that includes movies-on-demand live and on-demand television, flight tracker, and additional curated content, as well as a variety of premium snacks and coffee. In addition, the company offers ancillary services, such as in-flight purchases, baggage fees, EarlyBird Check-In, and upgraded boarding, as well as transportation of pets and unaccompanied minors. As of December 31, 2025, the company operated a total fleet of 803 Boeing 737 aircraft; and served 117 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos. Southwest Airlines Co. was incorporated in 1967 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. |
| Long Name | Southwest Airlines Co. |
| Market | us_market |
| Market Cap | 19,392,212,992 |
| Market State | CLOSED |
| Max Age | 86,400 |
| Message Board Id | finmb_31726 |
| Most Recent Quarter | 1,782,777,600 |
| Net Income To Common | 837,000,000 |
| Next Fiscal Year End | 1,798,675,200 |
| Non Diluted Market Cap | 19,450,918,071 |
| Number Of Analyst Opinions | 23 |
| Open | 40.56 |
| Operating Cashflow | 2,528,000,000 |
| Operating Margins | 0.033800002 |
| Overall Risk | 4 |
| Payout Ratio | 0.45 |
| Peg Ratio | 0.31 |
| Phone | 214 792 4000 |
| Post Market Change | 0.11000061 |
| Post Market Change Percent | 0.27749902 |
| Post Market Price | 39.75 |
| Post Market Time | 1,787,961,570 |
| Previous Close | 39.76 |
| Price Eps Current Year | 11.714501 |
| Price Hint | 2 |
| Price To Book | 2.7383256 |
| Price To Sales Trailing12 Months | 0.644838 |
| Profit Margins | 0.02783 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.378 |
| Quote Source Name | Delayed Quote |
| Quote Type | EQUITY |
| Recommendation Key | hold |
| Recommendation Mean | 2.52 |
| Region | US |
| Regular Market Change | -0.119999 |
| Regular Market Change Percent | -0.301808 |
| Regular Market Day High | 40.56 |
| Regular Market Day Low | 39.63 |
| Regular Market Day Range | 39.63 - 40.56 |
| Regular Market Open | 40.56 |
| Regular Market Previous Close | 39.76 |
| Regular Market Price | 39.64 |
| Regular Market Time | 1,787,947,202 |
| Regular Market Volume | 3,130,477 |
| Return On Assets | 0.02318 |
| Return On Equity | 0.11099 |
| Revenue Growth | 0.164 |
| Revenue Per Share | 59.374 |
| Sand P52 Week Change | 0.20204377 |
| Sector | Industrials |
| Sector Disp | Industrials |
| Sector Key | industrials |
| Share Holder Rights Risk | 1 |
| Shares Outstanding | 489,208,201 |
| Shares Percent Shares Out | 0.0512 |
| Shares Short | 25,062,844 |
| Shares Short Previous Month Date | 1,784,073,600 |
| Shares Short Prior Month | 31,577,502 |
| Short Name | Southwest Airlines Company |
| Short Percent Of Float | 0.0678 |
| Short Ratio | 4.76 |
| Source Interval | 15 |
| State | TX |
| Symbol | LUV |
| Target High Price | 67.0 |
| Target Low Price | 35.0 |
| Target Mean Price | 51.3087 |
| Target Median Price | 50.0 |
| Total Cash | 3,791,000,064 |
| Total Cash Per Share | 7.749 |
| Total Debt | 6,888,999,936 |
| Total Revenue | 30,072,999,936 |
| Tradeable | 0 |
| Trailing Annual Dividend Rate | 0.72 |
| Trailing Annual Dividend Yield | 0.018108653 |
| Trailing Eps | 1.59 |
| Trailing P E | 24.930817 |
| Trailing Peg Ratio | 0.3063 |
| Triggerable | 1 |
| Two Hundred Day Average | 42.91945 |
| Two Hundred Day Average Change | -3.2794495 |
| Two Hundred Day Average Change Percent | -0.0764094 |
| Type Disp | Equity |
| Volume | 3,130,477 |
| Website | https://www.southwest.com |
| Zip | 75,235-1611 |