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Frontier Group Holdings (ULCC)
NASDAQ:ULCC

Frontier Group Holdings (ULCC) AI Stock Analysis

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ULCC

Frontier Group Holdings

(NASDAQ:ULCC)

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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:52Neutral
Price Target:
$5.50
▲(5.57% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/19/26
The score is held back primarily by weak and inconsistent financial performance (renewed 2025 losses, multi-year cash burn, and historically high leverage). Offsetting factors include improving intermediate technical signals and a credible turnaround framework from the latest earnings call, but near-term guidance remains loss-making and execution/labor risks are meaningful.
Positive Factors
Loyalty & Ancillary Revenue
Material loyalty and ancillary momentum creates higher-margin, more recurring revenue that cushions ticket-cycle volatility. Strong loyalty cash flows also support financing capacity (revolver backed by loyalty assets) and improve long-term unit revenue stability.
Fleet Rightsizing & Cost Savings
A quantified $200M cost-savings program and AerCap lease terminations reduce fixed rent expense and improve maintenance profile and fleet productivity. These structural actions can sustainably raise margins and lower unit costs as benefits fully phase in by 2027.
Strengthened Governance & Leadership
Adding a seasoned finance executive to audit and safety oversight improves board independence and financial discipline. Stronger governance supports credible execution of turnaround initiatives and enhances stakeholder confidence in multi-year restructuring.
Negative Factors
Weak Cash Generation
Persistent negative free cash flow and intermittent operating cash flow limit internal funding for fleet, maintenance, and network investments. Ongoing cash burn forces reliance on external liquidity, raising execution and refinancing risk in a cyclical industry.
Multi‑Year High Leverage
Historically elevated debt levels have constrained financial flexibility and increased refinancing exposure during downturns. Even with an improved 2025 debt entry, thin equity and volatile earnings leave balance-sheet resilience limited over the medium term.
Operational & Labor Risks
Unresolved pilot negotiations and acknowledged poor on-time performance/cancellations threaten schedule reliability and utilization gains. Labor outcomes or continued operational disruption could raise costs and delay realization of utilization and cost-savings targets.

Frontier Group Holdings (ULCC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Frontier Group Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFrontier Group Holdings, Inc., a low-fare airline company, provides air transportation for passengers. The company operates an airline that serves approximately 120 airports throughout the United States and international destinations in the Americas. It offers its services through direct distribution channels, including its website, mobile app, and call center. As of December 31, 2021, the company had a fleet of 110 Airbus single-aisle aircraft comprising, 16 A320ceos, 73 A320neos, and 21 A321ceos. Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.
How the Company Makes MoneyFrontier Group Holdings generates revenue primarily through ticket sales for its flights, which are offered at low base fares. The company's ultra-low-cost business model enables it to earn additional income through ancillary revenue streams, such as fees for checked baggage, seat selection, and in-flight services. Frontier also engages in partnerships with other airlines and travel-related services to enhance its offerings and customer experience. Key factors contributing to its earnings include operational efficiency, strategic route planning, and maintaining a cost-effective fleet, which allows the company to offer competitive pricing while maximizing profitability.

Frontier Group Holdings Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 11, 2026
(Q4-2025)
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% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 30, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call emphasized a clear, actionable turnaround plan with quantifiable levers: fleet rightsizing, a $200M cost-savings target (including ~$90M rent savings), a moderated ~10% long-term growth target, strong loyalty and ancillary momentum (loyalty revenue +30% in Q4), and early RASM/unit revenue improvements (>10% trend). However, 2026 is a transition year with operational reliability issues to remediate, pilot labor negotiations unresolved, one-time redelivery costs to finalize, and timing risk for realizing full cost and utilization benefits (largely realized by 2027). Overall, the company presented tangible progress and concrete initiatives but with meaningful near-term execution and labor risks.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Fleet Rightsizing Agreement with AerCap
Nonbinding agreement to early terminate 24 aircraft leases (effective in Q2) with AerCap, plus intent for an additional ~10 sale-leasebacks; deal has no 2026 liquidity penalty and is expected to improve maintenance profile and fleet productivity over the next 3–5 years.
Revised Airbus Delivery Profile and Moderated Growth
Nonbinding framework with Airbus revising the delivery cadence to support a more measured long-term growth rate of approximately 10% (a meaningful moderation from prior mid/ high-teens and 20%+ historical growth).
Targeted Cost Savings of $200M by 2027 (including $90M Rent Savings)
Management is targeting $200 million of annual run-rate cost savings by 2027 from network optimization, productivity and other efficiencies, including approximately $90 million of expected annual rent savings from the early termination of the 24 leases.
RASM and Unit Revenue Improvement
Management reports RASM/unit revenue trends meaningfully improved, citing early-booking RASM improvement above 10% and overall unit revenue up '10%+' in the quarter (management view). Analysts flagged that achieving guidance midpoint may require high-single to double-digit RASM increases quarter-over-quarter.
Loyalty and Ancillary Momentum
Loyalty assets/cash flows performing strongly: third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth and Q4 loyalty revenue up over 30%. Ancillary attachment and conversions strengthened via product simplification and NDC distribution; UpFront Plus paid load factor noted >80%.
Stable End-Year Fleet Count and Delivery Cadence
Company will start and end 2026 with the same number of aircraft (176). 24 deliveries scheduled for 2026 (6 in Q1, 8 in Q2, 5 in Q3, 5 in Q4) and management expects end-2027 fleet similar to end-2026.
Improved Liquidity / PDP and Revolver Position
Deferred deliveries reduce PDP draw; management expects net PDP deposit returns leading to lower PDP balance at year-end of $170M–$210M. Revolver capacity backed by loyalty assets was increased, supported by strong loyalty cash flows.
Utilization Target to Improve Unit Costs
Target fleet utilization of ~11.5 block hours (management target) versus an average near ~9 hours after the fleet rightsizing step — implying an improvement in utilization of roughly +28% (11.5/9 ≈ 1.28) as the airline reintroduces productivity into the schedule by mid-2027.
Negative Updates
Operational Reliability and Customer Experience Issues
Company acknowledged historically poor cancellation rates and on-time performance; reducing cancellations and improving OTP are explicit strategic priorities and management said 'status quo is not acceptable,' indicating significant operational challenges to address.
Pilot Contract Uncertainty Not Included in Guidance
No pilot agreement is included in the full-year guide; negotiations are ongoing with pilots through mediation. Labor deal outcomes (and potential incremental costs) remain an open risk to the plan and to 2026 guidance.
Transition-Year Uncertainty and Wide Guidance Range
Management described 2026 as a major transition year with a wide guidance range that reflects timing risk on productivity and cost savings. Analysts noted that delivering to midpoint may require sizable sequential RASM improvement, introducing execution risk in a period of accelerating capacity.
One-Time Redelivery/Engine Return Costs
Management expects a one-time noncash expense associated with finalizing redelivery terms for the 24 aircraft (likely to be non-GAAP adjusted). While described as 'relatively minor' and having no 2026 liquidity penalty, redelivery conditions and engine true-ups remain to be worked through.
Pace to Realize Utilization and Cost Benefits Is Multi-Year
Targeted utilization (11.5 hours) and many of the $200M annualized savings are phased to materialize through 2027; management expects a step change in mid-2026 but full benefits and free cash flow generation are multi-year objectives, creating near-term execution and timing risk.
Exposure to Competitive and Network Risks with New-Market Growth
Management expects roughly half of 2026’s ~10% growth to be new markets. New-market expansion can carry variable margin profiles and heightened competition; converting those markets while maintaining cost discipline presents revenue/margin execution risk.
Company Guidance
Frontier framed 2026 as a transition year with a full‑year EPS range of roughly $(0.40) to $0.50 (one‑time noncash costs tied to the fleet transaction expected to be removed on a non‑GAAP basis); a long‑term growth cadence reset to ~10% annually (about 50% infill/50% new markets); a 2026 delivery cadence of 24 aircraft (6 in Q1, 8 in Q2, 5 in Q3, 5 in Q4) offset by early termination of 24 leases in Q2 so the fleet starts and ends 2026 at ~176 aircraft (similar into 2027); a target to lift utilization toward ~11.5 block hours (versus ~9 hours last year) by ~summer 2027; a $200 million target of annual run‑rate cost savings by 2027 (including ≈$90 million of annual rent savings from the 24 terminations); RASM trends running +10%+ year‑over‑year in early bookings (notably into April/May); expected PDP deposit reductions to leave year‑end PDP balance of $170–$210 million; and continued loyalty momentum (loyalty revenue +30%+ in Q4 and third consecutive quarter of double‑digit loyalty growth).

Frontier Group Holdings Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials screen weak and volatile: 2025 revenue fell ~13% vs. 2024 and results swung back to a net loss with negative operating profit/EBITDA. Cash generation is a key concern with mostly negative free cash flow and weak/negative operating cash flow across multiple years, increasing reliance on external liquidity. Balance-sheet risk has been elevated given multi-year very high leverage (2021–2024), despite the 2025 debt figure showing a potentially major improvement.
Income Statement
46
Neutral
Revenue grew strongly coming out of 2020–2022, but momentum has weakened: 2025 revenue declined about 13% versus 2024. Profitability remains inconsistent—2024 delivered modest profitability (about a 2% net margin), but 2025 swung back to a net loss with negative operating profit and EBITDA. Gross margin has improved meaningfully versus the pandemic period, yet the sharp margin compression in 2025 highlights earnings volatility and sensitivity to cost and demand swings.
Balance Sheet
28
Negative
Leverage has been a key risk: debt was very high relative to equity in 2021–2024 (debt-to-equity roughly 5x–7x+), which limits flexibility in a cyclical industry. Equity is positive but relatively thin versus the asset base, and returns on equity have been volatile—positive in 2024 but turning sharply negative in 2025 due to losses. The 2025 entry shows zero debt, which is a major year-over-year change and would be very positive if accurate, but overall balance-sheet quality still screens as pressured given the multi-year high leverage and earnings volatility.
Cash Flow
22
Negative
Cash generation is weak and inconsistent. Free cash flow has been negative in most years (2020, 2022–2025), including a further deterioration in 2025 versus 2024. Operating cash flow has also been negative in 2022–2024, and is shown as zero in 2025, suggesting limited internally generated cash to fund operations and investment. While 2021 was a notable bright spot with positive operating and free cash flow, the overall trend points to ongoing cash burn and higher reliance on external financing or liquidity buffers.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue3.72B3.77B3.59B3.33B2.06B
Gross Profit1.32B1.94B302.00M282.00M-202.00M
EBITDA-58.00M122.00M83.00M10.00M-77.00M
Net Income-137.00M85.00M-11.00M-37.00M-102.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets7.22B6.15B4.99B4.50B4.24B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments671.00M740.00M609.00M761.00M918.00M
Total Debt9.53B4.47B3.46B2.93B2.85B
Total Liabilities6.73B5.55B4.49B3.99B3.71B
Stockholders Equity491.00M604.00M507.00M509.00M530.00M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-624.00M-158.00M-348.00M-230.00M153.00M
Operating Cash Flow-525.00M-82.00M-261.00M-78.00M216.00M
Investing Cash Flow-99.00M-75.00M-90.00M-154.00M-67.00M
Financing Cash Flow555.00M288.00M199.00M75.00M391.00M

Frontier Group Holdings Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price5.21
Price Trends
50DMA
5.20
Positive
100DMA
4.70
Positive
200DMA
4.49
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.06
Positive
RSI
48.24
Neutral
STOCH
15.08
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ULCC, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 5.21 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 5.38, above the 50-day MA of 5.20, and above the 200-day MA of 4.49, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.06 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 48.24 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 15.08 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ULCC.

Frontier Group Holdings Risk Analysis

Frontier Group Holdings disclosed 55 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Frontier Group Holdings reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Frontier Group Holdings Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
$4.26B9.8516.62%19.27%78.26%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
57
Neutral
$1.12B20.908.83%4.27%28.47%
54
Neutral
$1.99B-40.52-4.29%3.29%-983.31%
54
Neutral
$1.18B-18.65-21.64%-6.55%-133.03%
52
Neutral
$1.20B-8.43-27.87%1.77%-1964.48%
50
Neutral
$2.39B-3.55-25.29%-2.49%47.88%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ULCC
Frontier Group Holdings
5.21
-2.48
-32.25%
ALGT
Allegiant Travel Company
107.62
26.01
31.87%
JBLU
JetBlue Airways
5.98
-0.85
-12.39%
SKYW
SkyWest
103.23
6.98
7.25%
VLRS
Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB de CV
10.12
3.33
49.04%
SNCY
Sun Country Airlines Holdings
20.48
3.55
20.97%

Frontier Group Holdings Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Frontier Group Adds Independent Director to Board, Committees
Positive
Feb 9, 2026

On February 5, 2026, Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. expanded its Board of Directors from eleven to twelve members and appointed veteran finance executive Anthony D. Salcido as a Class II independent director, with his initial term running until the 2026 annual shareholders’ meeting. Salcido was simultaneously named to the Audit Committee and the Safety & Security Committee, reinforcing the board’s financial oversight and governance capabilities.

Announced publicly on February 9, 2026, the move brings to Frontier the expertise of a former Chief Accounting Officer of Toyota Motors North America, who has held multiple audit and finance leadership roles in corporate and nonprofit sectors. Salcido will receive standard non-employee director cash and equity compensation, and his appointment is expected to strengthen Frontier’s financial discipline and board independence as it pursues its ultra-low-cost growth strategy.

The most recent analyst rating on (ULCC) stock is a Sell with a $5.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Frontier Group Holdings stock, see the ULCC Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesFinancial Disclosures
Frontier Group Holdings Names Dempsey CEO, Updates Outlook
Positive
Jan 8, 2026

On January 7, 2026, Frontier Group Holdings’ board confirmed James G. Dempsey as president and chief executive officer and appointed him to the board as a Class III director, formalizing his transition from interim CEO, a role he had held since December 15, 2025. The board’s compensation committee approved a substantial pay package aligned with other top executives, including a higher base salary, an increased target cash bonus and significant long-term equity and performance stock unit awards that tie a large portion of his compensation to Frontier’s share-price performance over a four-year period. On January 8, 2026, the company also updated its guidance for the fourth quarter of 2025, saying it now expects adjusted diluted earnings per share to come in at the high end of its prior range of $0.04 to $0.20, reflecting stronger-than-anticipated revenue that offset the drag from a U.S. government shutdown and underscoring management’s confidence as Dempsey takes the helm.

The most recent analyst rating on (ULCC) stock is a Hold with a $8.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Frontier Group Holdings stock, see the ULCC Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Frontier Group Holdings Announces CEO Departure
Neutral
Dec 15, 2025

On December 15, 2025, Frontier Group Holdings announced the departure of Barry L. Biffle as CEO, with James G. Dempsey stepping in as Interim CEO while retaining his role as President. This leadership change is part of Frontier’s strategy to continue its growth and maintain its position as a leading low-cost airline in the U.S. The company also reiterated its fourth-quarter 2025 guidance, indicating stability in its financial outlook.

The most recent analyst rating on (ULCC) stock is a Hold with a $6.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Frontier Group Holdings stock, see the ULCC Stock Forecast page.

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: Feb 19, 2026