LUVIndustrials · AirlinesThe 26 Wall Street analysts covering Southwest Airlines Co. hold a median 12-month price target of $50 — +7.7% from the last close. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 83 of 100 as at 4 Nov 2026 — inside the top quartile. Here, the model and the Street point the same way.
Consensus tells you what everyone already believes. The model scores Southwest Airlines Co. on its factor families — the same systematic rank behind the Ticker Nerd portfolio.
Percentile across ~4,600 US stocks on Ticker Nerd’s systematic factor model. Higher is better. How the model is built and tested
Growth (89): Sales and profits are climbing, and climbing faster than before.
Revisions (48): Analysts have, on balance, been cutting their forecasts.
Size (9): Larger than most of the companies we track — more scrutinised, less often mispriced.
Built and run by Aslam Ghouse, an ex-Goldman Sachs systematic trader with 15+ years in markets.
The bullish and bearish analyst opinions on LUV, reported as data — targets and ratings, the market's view beside the model's.
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The green dot is the last close — the median target sits +7.7% from it.
Of the 20 most recent actions, 4 moved their price target up and 7 moved it down.
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct 2026 | Tigress Financial | Reinstates | Buy | $62 |
| 29 Oct 2026 | TD Cowen | Maintains | Buy | $47 → $48 |
| 23 Oct 2026 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Overweight | $59 → $58 |
| 23 Oct 2026 | UBS | Maintains | Buy | $52 → $54 |
| 16 Oct 2026 | UBS | Maintains | Buy | $53 → $52 |
| 16 Oct 2026 | UBS | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 7 Oct 2026 | Susquehanna | Maintains | Neutral | $50 → $45 |
| 7 Oct 2026 | Susquehanna | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 2 Oct 2026 | TD Cowen | Maintains | Buy | $48 → $47 |
| 2 Oct 2026 | TD Cowen | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 28 Sept 2026 | BMO Capital | Maintains | Outperform | — |
| 28 Sept 2026 | BMO Capital | Maintains | Outperform | $60 → $50 |
| 24 Sept 2026 | UBS | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 24 Sept 2026 | UBS | Maintains | Buy | $49 → $53 |
| 18 Sept 2026 | Rothschild & Co | Upgrade | Neutral | $35 → $40 |
| 18 Sept 2026 | Rothschild & Co | Upgrade | Neutral | — |
| 11 Sept 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Overweight | $65 → $58 |
| 11 Sept 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Overweight | — |
| 10 Sept 2026 | UBS | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 10 Sept 2026 | UBS | Maintains | Buy | $56 → $49 |
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
LUV appears in the Radar on the weeks it earns a place.
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Both lines are total return — dividends reinvested — so the comparison is honest on both sides.
Over the twelve months to 4 Nov 2026, Southwest Airlines Co. returned +59.3% against +14.8% for the S&P 500, dividends included.
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Data provided by Twelve Data
Not the forecast itself — the direction analysts are revising it. Revision direction is one of the model's factor families.
A margin means little on its own. Each bar marks where the figure sits across the whole US universe we score.
Cheaper than 35% of US stocks
Cheaper than 76% of US stocks
Cheaper than 31% of US stocks
Cheaper than 40% of US stocks
Higher than 70% of US stocks
Higher than 94% of US stocks
Higher than 16% of US stocks
Higher than 53% of US stocks
Higher than 56% of US stocks
Higher than 72% of US stocks
Higher than 65% of US stocks
Higher than 76% of US dividend payers
Bars mark the percentile across the ~4,600 US stocks Ticker Nerd covers, among those reporting the figure.
The headline figures, each with its date. Every row carries its own link — cite it straight from here.
Southwest Airlines Co. has a market value of $21.5B and an enterprise value of $24.8B.
Revenue in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $30.1B. The latest quarter grew 21.2% year on year.
Net income over the same four quarters: $837.0M, a 2.8% net margin.
Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months: $1.63.
Free cash flow in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: −$455.0M, after $451.0M of capital spending.
Southwest Airlines Co. spent $1.6B on share buybacks and $370.0M on dividends in the twelve months to 30 June 2026.
Trailing P/E: 21.2×; forward P/E: 10.4× — the forward figure prices analyst consensus estimates, not reported earnings.
Forward dividend yield: 1.66%, paying out 35% of earnings.
Southwest Airlines Co. employs 73,092 people — $411K of revenue per employee.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The nearest names by industry and size, scored by the same model — like for like.
Look up any of the roughly 4,600 stocks we score.
The rank is the raw material. Whether the rules would actually own Southwest Airlines Co. — and when they’d sell — is the membership. See the Ticker Nerd 20 →
Mike Shorr noted market volatility ahead of the midterm election and said Southwest Airlines (LUV) might have upside potential. He said he is waiting to see an uptrend before trading Synopsys (SNPS).
Why it matters — LUV watchers may note Shorr’s cautiously stated view that the stock could have upside potential amid market volatility.
Southwest Airlines priced a $1.25 billion underwritten public offering of senior notes: $600 million of 5.750% notes due 2029 and $650 million of 6.000% notes due 2031. The company expects to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, potentially including repayment of its $300 million of 3.000% notes due November 15, 2026, or other obligations.
Why it matters — The offering adds debt with specified maturities and interest rates, and proceeds may be used to repay upcoming or other obligations.
Southwest is described as advancing a business-model transformation, with revenue growth and year-to-date profit gains, while adding premium revenue channels such as extra-legroom seating, lounges and cobranded credit cards. The excerpt also highlights its balance sheet, cash position and continued dividend payments.
Why it matters — The changes and financial strengths may matter to LUV watchers assessing Southwest’s evolving revenue mix and strategic flexibility.
Reuters reports that U.S. airlines are prioritizing higher fares over fuller planes as fuel costs squeeze profits.
Why it matters — The report describes fare and capacity choices across the U.S. airline industry that may be relevant to readers following Southwest.
Southwest Airlines reported record third-quarter operating revenue of $8.4 billion. On its earnings call, the company said transformation initiatives contributed across the business and helped offset an $820 million year-over-year fuel-cost headwind.
Why it matters — LUV watchers may note the record revenue and the stated contribution of transformation initiatives amid higher fuel costs.
The 26 Wall Street analysts covering Southwest Airlines Co. have a median 12-month price target of $50, with estimates ranging from $34 to $65. These are third-party analyst estimates, not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Of the 26 analysts covering Southwest Airlines Co., 12 rate it a Buy, 11 a Hold and 3 a Sell. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model ranks Southwest Airlines Co. 83 out of 100 across roughly 4,600 US stocks as at 4 Nov 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.
As at 4 Nov 2026, Southwest Airlines Co. ranks 83 out of 100 on Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model — a percentile across roughly 4,600 US stocks, built from its factor families. Its strongest factor family is Growth (89 of 100).
No one can know that. What the data says: the median 12-month target from 26 analysts implies +7.7% from the last close, and Ticker Nerd's factor model ranks Southwest Airlines Co. 83 out of 100 as at 4 Nov 2026. Analyst targets are third-party estimates and frequently wrong; none of this is personal advice.
No analyst covering Southwest Airlines Co. publishes a 2030 price target — Wall Street targets run 12 to 18 months out. Sites quoting a 2030 price for LUV are extrapolating price history, which says nothing about the business. The furthest attributed numbers are the current analyst targets: $34 to $65 over the next 12 months.
Southwest Airlines Co. returned +59.3% over the 12 months to 4 Nov 2026, with dividends reinvested. Past performance does not indicate future returns.
Southwest Airlines Co. is a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation across the United States and select near-international markets.
The most recent item we track (Schwab Network, 3 Nov 2026): "The Big 3: LUV, SNPS, BBY". Mike Shorr noted market volatility ahead of the midterm election and said Southwest Airlines (LUV) might have upside potential. He said he is waiting to see an uptrend before trading Synopsys (SNPS).
Southwest Airlines Co. is a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation across the United States and select near-international markets. Southwest Airlines Co. operates a point-to-point network focused on short- and medium-haul travel, connecting major cities, leisure destinations, and regional markets with frequent nonstop service. The company’s operations are built around an all-Boeing 737 fleet and a streamlined low-cost model that supports efficient network management and a consistent onboard experience. In addition to air travel, Southwest Airlines Co. offers related customer services such as online booking, loyalty program access, and ancillary travel options. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Southwest Airlines Co. is a major carrier in the North American aviation market and serves both leisure and business travelers through a broad domestic route structure and a limited set of international destinations.
CEO Mr. Robert E. Jordan · 73,092 employees · United States · https://www.southwest.com
