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Delta Air Lines (DAL)
NYSE:DAL

Delta Air Lines (DAL) AI Stock Analysis

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Delta Air Lines

(NYSE:DAL)

Rating:78Outperform
Price Target:
$56.00
▲(10.45%Upside)
Delta Air Lines shows strong financial performance, supported by robust cash flow and strategic initiatives. Technical indicators are mixed, but valuation metrics suggest potential for appreciation. Recent corporate actions further bolster financial stability and strategic positioning, while earnings call insights reflect resilience despite macroeconomic challenges.
Positive Factors
Brand Strength
Delta is the most trusted US airline brand with a global network and strong foothold in the premium segment.
Financial Stability
Delta's strong balance sheet, with gross leverage at 2.6x and over $30bn in unencumbered assets, provides financial stability.
Future Outlook
Delta's cabin segmentation catering to both premium and price sensitive customers, improved product, profitable loyalty program, free cash flow generation, and low net leverage should allow DAL to emerge stronger than other industry participants.
Negative Factors
Macroeconomic Uncertainty
Uncertainty in corporate and consumer sentiment, along with potential for further earnings downgrades, underpin a neutral stance.
Pricing Pressure
Pricing is expected to remain pressured with yields down over 5% for the remainder of the year, impacting Delta's financial performance.
Revenue Challenges
Revenue deceleration is expected through 1Q26, indicating a challenging environment for Delta Air Lines.

Delta Air Lines (DAL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Delta Air Lines Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionDelta Air Lines, Inc. provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Seoul-Incheon. The company sells its tickets through various distribution channels, including delta.com and the Fly Delta app, reservations, online travel agencies, traditional brick and mortar, and other agencies. It also provides aircraft maintenance and engineering support, repair, and overhaul services; and vacation packages to third-party consumers, as well as aircraft charters, and management and programs. The company operates through a fleet of approximately 1,200 aircrafts. Delta Air Lines, Inc. was founded in 1924 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
How the Company Makes MoneyDelta Air Lines generates revenue through multiple streams, primarily from passenger ticket sales, which account for the majority of its income. The company offers a variety of cabin classes, each with different pricing structures, allowing them to cater to different segments of travelers. In addition, Delta earns money from cargo services, transporting freight and mail across its global network. Ancillary services such as baggage fees, seat upgrades, and in-flight purchases contribute to their revenue. Furthermore, Delta has significant partnerships and alliances with other airlines through the SkyTeam alliance, which allows for code-sharing and extended route offerings, enhancing its market reach and revenue potential. The company's loyalty program, SkyMiles, also serves as a revenue source through partnerships with credit card companies and other commercial agreements.

Delta Air Lines Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Passenger Miles
Passenger Miles
Measures the total distance flown by paying passengers, indicating demand for flights and overall airline capacity utilization.
Chart InsightsDelta Air Lines has shown a strong recovery in passenger miles, nearing pre-pandemic levels by mid-2024. This aligns with the company's focus on international and premium segments, which have demonstrated resilience amid domestic demand challenges. Despite macroeconomic uncertainties and flat capacity growth planned for the second half of 2025, Delta's strategic emphasis on premium and international markets could sustain its momentum. The recent earnings call highlights record revenue and strong cash flow, suggesting a robust operational footing despite domestic market softness.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Delta Air Lines Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 10, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: 41.74%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 09, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Delta Air Lines delivered strong financial and operational results with record revenue and solid cash flow management. However, challenges in the main cabin and weather-related disruptions posed notable issues. Despite these challenges, Delta's premium and loyalty segments showed strong growth, supporting a positive outlook.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Quarterly Revenue
Delta Air Lines reported record quarterly revenue of $15.5 billion for the June quarter, marking an approximate 1% increase year over year.
Strong Free Cash Flow and Debt Management
Delta generated $700 million of free cash flow for the quarter, bringing year-to-date free cash flow to $2 billion. The company also announced a 25% increase to its quarterly dividend and plans to repay $3 billion of debt this year.
Growth in Premium and Loyalty Revenue
Premium revenue grew by 5% and loyalty revenue grew by 8%, with significant contributions from the Delta American Express co-brand card.
Operational Excellence and Customer Experience
Delta continued to lead in key reliability and customer experience metrics, including on-time performance, completion factor, and net promoter score.
MRO Revenue Growth
Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) revenue grew 29% year over year due to increased volumes and work scopes.
Negative Updates
Main Cabin Weakness
The main cabin experienced softness, with particular weakness during off-peak periods. Main cabin margins remain soft across both domestic and international markets.
Weather-Related Operational Challenges
Severe weather impacted operations throughout the quarter, with the number of irregular operation days more than 50% higher than last year.
Transatlantic Revenue Pressure
The Transatlantic segment experienced unit revenue pressure during peak summer months, primarily due to softness in European outbound travel.
Company Guidance
During Delta Air Lines, Inc.'s financial results conference call for Q2 2025, CEO Ed Bastian reported a pretax income of $1.8 billion, with earnings of $2.10 per share, aligning with their April guidance. The company's operating margin was 13.2%, and they generated $700 million in free cash flow, totaling $2 billion year-to-date. Delta Air Lines, Inc. also increased their quarterly dividend by 25% and announced plans to repay $3 billion of debt by year-end. The call highlighted a stable demand environment, with diversified revenue streams, including 66% of revenue from high-margin sources, showing resilience. Premium products and co-brand card spending showed double-digit growth, with loyalty revenue up 8%. Looking ahead, Delta Air Lines, Inc. projects full-year earnings per share between $5.25 and $6.25 and free cash flow of $3 to $4 billion. Additionally, for Q3, the company expects earnings per share of $1.25 to $1.75, with a 9% to 11% operating margin, and low single-digit revenue growth.

Delta Air Lines Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Delta Air Lines has demonstrated robust financial performance with significant revenue growth, healthy profit margins, and strong cash flow generation. The balance sheet reflects manageable leverage, though debt levels require monitoring. Overall, Delta's financial stability and operational efficiency support a high score.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Delta Air Lines has demonstrated robust revenue growth over the past few years, with a significant recovery from the lows of 2020. The gross profit margin stands at approximately 24.1% (TTM), and the net profit margin at 5.9% indicates healthy profitability. The EBIT margin of 9.6% and EBITDA margin of 12.2% show strong operational efficiency. This consistent improvement and strong margin performance in a competitive industry justify a high score.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The company's balance sheet shows a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, indicating manageable leverage. The return on equity is impressive at 23.7%, reflecting efficient use of shareholder funds. The equity ratio of 20% suggests a reasonable degree of financial stability. While the reduction in total debt is positive, the relatively high debt levels remain a concern, balancing the overall score.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Delta's cash flow performance is strong, with a free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.77, indicating effective conversion of income to cash. The operating cash flow to net income ratio of 2.18 suggests robust cash generation capabilities. The free cash flow growth rate reflects resilience and efficient capital management, although fluctuations in capital expenditures warrant caution.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue61.93B61.64B58.05B50.58B29.90B17.09B
Gross Profit15.46B15.17B14.13B10.60B2.13B-4.37B
EBITDA7.47B7.92B8.78B5.05B3.67B-12.35B
Net Income3.66B3.46B4.61B1.32B280.00M-12.38B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets77.34B75.37B73.64B72.28B72.47B72.05B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments3.71B3.07B3.87B6.53B11.32B14.10B
Total Debt22.28B22.77B27.28B30.61B34.62B35.55B
Total Liabilities61.90B60.08B62.54B65.82B68.84B70.70B
Stockholders Equity15.45B15.29B11.11B6.46B3.63B1.35B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow2.82B2.88B1.14B-2.00M16.00M-5.69B
Operating Cash Flow8.00B8.03B6.46B6.36B3.26B-3.79B
Investing Cash Flow-4.33B-3.74B-3.15B-6.92B-897.00M-9.24B
Financing Cash Flow-4.11B-4.26B-3.39B-4.54B-3.85B19.36B

Delta Air Lines Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price50.70
Price Trends
50DMA
48.69
Positive
100DMA
48.43
Positive
200DMA
54.21
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.08
Negative
RSI
72.61
Negative
STOCH
74.26
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For DAL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 50.7 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 49.42, above the 50-day MA of 48.69, and below the 200-day MA of 54.21, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.08 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 72.61 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 74.26 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for DAL.

Delta Air Lines Risk Analysis

Delta Air Lines disclosed 2 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Delta Air Lines reported the most risks in the "Tech & Innovation" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 1 New Risks
1.
Failure of the technology we use to perform effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business. Q3, 2024

Delta Air Lines Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (67)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
UAUAL
80
Outperform
$26.52B7.3133.57%5.31%35.95%
DADAL
78
Outperform
$32.99B8.9630.07%1.19%4.91%-27.21%
73
Outperform
$30.64B18.7322.41%1.57%3.12%-13.82%
PAPAC
73
Outperform
$11.58B24.7836.66%3.78%-2.56%-14.94%
LULUV
68
Neutral
$19.36B40.355.63%2.12%3.26%27.77%
67
Neutral
£2.80B10.494.69%217.64%2.40%-24.53%
AAAAL
64
Neutral
$7.64B13.25-21.27%1.92%36.07%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
DAL
Delta Air Lines
50.70
6.24
14.04%
PAC
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico
232.75
80.23
52.60%
RYAAY
Ryanair Holdings
58.29
10.67
22.41%
LUV
Southwest Airlines
37.35
10.99
41.69%
UAL
United Airlines Holdings
91.67
46.03
100.85%
AAL
American Airlines
12.94
2.21
20.60%

Delta Air Lines Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Delta Air Lines Approves Amended Compensation Plan
Neutral
Jun 20, 2025

On June 19, 2025, Delta Air Lines held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders where key decisions were made, including the approval of an amended Performance Compensation Plan. The plan, which extends until 2035, increases the number of shares authorized for issuance. Additionally, all fourteen director nominees were elected, executive compensation was approved, and Ernst & Young LLP was ratified as the company’s independent auditors for 2025. However, a shareholder proposal for written consent was not approved.

The most recent analyst rating on (DAL) stock is a Buy with a $85.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Delta Air Lines stock, see the DAL Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and Financing
Delta Air Lines Completes $2 Billion Notes Offering
Positive
Jun 10, 2025

On June 5, 2025, Delta Air Lines completed a public offering of $2 billion in unsecured notes, divided equally between 4.950% Notes due 2028 and 5.250% Notes due 2030. The proceeds from this offering are intended to repay a portion of the company’s outstanding borrowings under the Payroll Support Program loan and for general corporate purposes. This financial maneuver is expected to impact Delta’s debt structure, offering flexibility in managing its obligations and potentially improving its financial stability.

The most recent analyst rating on (DAL) stock is a Buy with a $85.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Delta Air Lines stock, see the DAL Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Delta Air Lines Acquires Stake in WestJet
Positive
May 9, 2025

Delta Air Lines and Korean Air have announced their acquisition of minority stakes in WestJet, totaling 25% for $550 million, to strengthen partnerships and expand customer benefits. This strategic move aims to enhance connectivity between Canada, North America, Europe, and Asia, providing a seamless travel experience and aligning the airlines’ interests.

Stock Buyback
Delta Air Lines Announces $1 Billion Share Buyback
Positive
May 1, 2025

Delta Air Lines announced a $1 billion share repurchase program to be completed by June 30, 2028, aiming to return over $2 billion to shareholders in the next three years. This reflects the company’s commitment to reducing financial risk, reinvesting in the business, and increasing shareholder returns, supported by strong cash flow and high credit ratings.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jun 25, 2025