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Southwest AirlinesLUVTOP PICKOct 16, 2014Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 18, 2026. Market Open.
Sure, there's a travel boom, but the airlines haven't fully benefit due to major unreliability problems. For example, LUV cancelled 16,000 flights over the holidays last year due to bad weather and technical issues. Just last week, technical problems led to nationwide delays. Pity, because LUV has long held a good reputation, and he likes Southwest.
It's the best-run American Airlines with the best routes. It's been beaten up, so pick up shares. FDA full approval of Pfizer's Covid vaccine will help.
Several airlines qualify for the reopening play, but LUV boasts a CEO is smart to nail down new routes now. American Airlines is great, too, but not its balance sheet. LUV also benefits from the oil patch getting better.
Fourth-largest US airline. Mainly short-haul type of flights. 100% of its revenues are from the US. They have the most conservative and probably the healthiest balance sheet in terms of debt to capital ratio. Feels recent fears about the spreading Ebola epidemic has moved the stock downwards. Good valuation.