Core Insights - Three stocks in the industrials sector are showing signs of being overbought, which may concern momentum-focused investors [1] Group 1: Stock Performance and Ratings - Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:DAL) has a recent Buy rating from UBS analyst Atul Maheswari, with a price target raised to $90. The stock has increased by approximately 28% over the past month, reaching a 52-week high of $72.34. Its RSI value is 71.9, and it closed at $71.14, down 0.2% [5] - United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:UAL) also received a Buy rating from UBS, with a price target increased to $142. The stock has gained around 25% in the last month, achieving a 52-week high of $116.00. The RSI value is 72.6, and it closed at $112.48, up 4.4% [5] - Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV) was upgraded by Barclays from Equal-Weight to Overweight, with the price target raised from $34 to $56. The stock has surged approximately 32% over the past month, hitting a 52-week high of $43.54. Its RSI value is notably high at 85.1, and it closed at $42.17, gaining 1.1% [5]

Group 1 - Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) has shown strong performance in the consumer travel sector, with airline stocks, including Delta, rising over 20% from their lows in November [1] - Melius Research analyst Conor Cunningham noted that the impact of the government shutdown on airline stocks was smaller than anticipated, with holiday travel demand remaining robust [1] - Delta estimated a $200 million hit to pre-tax profit due to the government shutdown but indicated that demand for the December quarter is healthy and trends are strong for early 2026 [1] Group 2 - Delta Air Lines provides passenger and cargo air transportation, operating a large fleet and global network across major hubs, and also offers aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul services [2]

Stock Performance & Trends - Caterpillar hit a record high today [1] - Steve White's stock is up 31% quarter to date [1] - Delta is up 24% in a quarter and also hit a record high today; estimates for next year started at around $830%, went below $700%, and are now just above $700% [3][4] - Unity Software is up 23% quarter to date, reaching a 52-week high [5] - Brenda Parker Hannifan is up 185% quarter to date, also hitting a record high today, and is up about 40% for the year [6] - Hasbro is up 105% in the quarter, reaching a 52-week high [7][8] Investment Strategy & Outlook - The discussion favors playing the "picks and shovels" approach, particularly in private markets, rather than directly picking the next AI technology [2] - The economy is expected to be much stronger in 2026 than initially anticipated at the beginning of this year [4] - Brenda Parker Hannifan's strength is driven by the aerospace trend, with a focus on cost control, and the outlook remains positive [6][7] - Unity Software is considered a high-risk trade, requiring a turnaround to be seen to be believed, but is on the right track with 3D gaming and industrial simulation [5]

Market Overview - The Dow has reached a new record high, indicating strong market performance [1] - The S&P also set a new closing record high recently, reflecting positive investor sentiment [2] Company Highlights - Delta Airlines is expected to report earnings for the first time since its IPO, with anticipation of strong results [3] - The stock of Delta has hit an all-time high, suggesting robust performance and investor confidence [3] Sector Insights - Gold prices are above 4,300 and silver above 64, contributing to a 10% increase in related stocks, particularly after the acquisition of New Gold [2] - The tech sector is being closely monitored, with insights expected from analysts like Gene Munster regarding future trends [1]

Core Viewpoint - Delta Airlines (DAL) is viewed positively due to its recovery story, effective cost management, and increased revenue from premium seating [1] Group 1: Company Performance - Delta was rated a Buy at a price of $56, indicating confidence in its growth potential [1] - The company has successfully kept costs down, contributing to its financial recovery [1] - Delta is generating more revenue from premium seats, which is a key factor in its profitability [1] Group 2: Analyst Perspective - The analysis is based on a clear and disciplined approach, focusing on numerical data and business fundamentals rather than narratives [1]

Core Insights - Sky Harbour Group Corporation is expanding its network by developing Home Base Operator campuses at Dallas Love Field and Dallas Executive Airport, authorized by the Dallas City Council [1][2] - The new campuses will enhance the infrastructure for corporate and private business aircraft, creating hundreds of local jobs and providing significant economic benefits to the Dallas area [2][4] - With the addition of these two locations, Sky Harbour's network will grow to 23 airports across the United States, with nine currently operational and fourteen under development [3] Company Developments - The Dallas campuses will feature six 37,000-square-foot hangars designed for late-model business aircraft, along with tailored office and lounge suites [4] - The CEO of Sky Harbour emphasized the strategic clustering of campuses in major business aviation markets to provide tailored solutions and operational benefits [4] - The City of Dallas expressed optimism about the long-term economic impact of Sky Harbour's presence at its airports [4] Financial Updates - On December 9, the company secured a $15 million corporate loan with an 18-month term at an interest rate of 7.75%, intended for general corporate purposes [5] - Stratus Building Systems, a subsidiary, closed a $9.5 million commercial term loan to refinance existing debt, with a floating interest rate for the first year [6]

Core Viewpoint - The Zacks Transportation - Airline industry has faced significant challenges due to the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, which lasted 43 days, leading to flight cancellations and operational disruptions. Despite these challenges, certain companies are expected to show resilience through growth strategies and operational efficiency [1][2]. Industry Overview - The Zacks Airline industry involves transporting passengers and cargo globally, with operators maintaining a fleet of mainline jets and regional planes. The industry includes both legacy carriers and low-cost airlines, and its performance is closely tied to the overall economy. Following the pandemic, air travel demand has improved, and there is a focus on boosting cargo revenues [3]. Factors Affecting Industry Performance - The recent government shutdown caused significant operational strain, with Delta Air Lines estimating a reduction in pre-tax profitability of nearly $200 million, or about 25 cents per share, for the December quarter due to the shutdown [4]. - Despite the shutdown, passenger volumes peaked during the Thanksgiving holiday, with a record 3.13 million passengers screened on a single day, indicating a positive trend for holiday travel [5]. - Labor costs have increased, with Delta reporting a 7% year-over-year rise in salaries and related costs in the first nine months of 2025, which is limiting bottom-line growth due to labor shortages and increased bargaining power of labor groups [6]. Industry Ranking and Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Airline industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 150, placing it in the bottom 38% of 243 Zacks industries, indicating a negative earnings outlook for the group [7][9]. - Earnings estimates for the industry have declined, with a 21.6% decrease for 2025 and an 8.3% decrease for 2026 over the past year, reflecting analysts' pessimism about earnings growth potential [10]. Market Performance - Over the past year, the Zacks Transportation - Airline industry has gained 8.2%, underperforming the S&P 500's rise of 14.6%, while the broader sector has declined by 6.8% [11]. Valuation Metrics - The industry has a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 0.54X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 5.3X and the sector's 1.31X. Historically, the industry has traded between 0.31X and 1.09X over the past five years [14]. Notable Companies to Watch - LATAM Airlines is benefiting from a lean cost structure and strategic partnerships, with an impressive earnings surprise history, averaging a 29.8% surprise over the last four quarters [16][17]. - SkyWest operates as a regional airline and has seen a 3.6% stock gain over the past six months, with a 7.2% upward revision in earnings estimates for 2026 [20][21]. - Delta has consistently surpassed earnings estimates, with an average beat of 8.9% over the last four quarters, and has gained 30% in stock value over the past six months [23][26].

Core Insights - The current economic environment shows rising unemployment and inflation, with over 150,000 layoffs in October, leading to a decline in consumer sentiment to its lowest since 2022 [1] - Despite these challenges, travel demand remains strong, particularly among affluent consumers, which is expected to benefit companies in the travel sector [2][4] Company Performance - Delta Air Lines has been added to the "Best Stocks in the Market" list by Ritholtz Wealth Management, highlighting its operational performance and focus on premium experiences [3][6] - In Q3, Delta's high-margin segments, including premium and loyalty services, accounted for 60% of its total revenue, indicating resilience among affluent customers [4] - Expedia has also been recognized for its strong performance, with an 11% increase in room bookings in Q3, attributed to significant growth in the U.S. market [5][6] Market Trends - The travel sector, including airlines and cruise lines, has reported resilient results despite economic fears, suggesting that consumer travel spending is not slowing down [3][6] - Companies like Delta and Expedia demonstrate that high service quality and pricing power can lead to positive returns even in challenging economic conditions [5][6]

Investment Recommendations - G Squared Private Well recommends Delta Airlines and Viking Cruises as potential beneficiaries of Fed rate cuts [1][4] - G Squared Private Well suggests Lowe's as a play on an improving housing market [8][11] Airline Industry (Delta) - Airlines are asset-heavy with significant debt, benefiting from lower interest rates [2] - Fuel costs account for approximately one-third of Delta's EPS [3] - Delta caters to higher-end consumers through premium seats, corporate travel, and international routes [3] Cruise Industry (Viking) - Cruise companies are asset-heavy, with high costs associated with building and operating cruise ships [6] - Viking targets high-net-worth individuals with river cruises in Europe and expeditions to the South Pole [7] - Viking already has 70% of its 2026 cruises booked, exceeding its 2025 run rate [7] - The IEA anticipates a potential oversupply of oil markets by 4 million barrels a day, which could lower fuel prices [6] Home Improvement (Lowe's) - Lower mortgage rates, potentially below 6% from the current average of 63%, could stimulate the housing market [9] - Lowe's benefits from increased remodeling activity and appliance sales [10] - Lowe's serves both the construction/professional market and the consumer market [10]

Group 1: Delta Airlines - Delta Airlines is expected to benefit from lower interest rates due to its asset-heavy nature and significant debt from purchasing new airplanes and modernizing its fleet [2][3] - Fuel costs account for about one-third of Delta's earnings per share (EPS), making lower oil prices advantageous for the company [3][6] - Delta targets higher-end consumers, benefiting from premium seats and corporate travel, which remains strong despite tighter consumer wallets [3][4] Group 2: Viking Cruises - Viking Cruises is positioned to benefit from a Fed rate cut as consumers will experience lower credit costs and potential tax rebates, easing their financial burden [5] - The company has a strong booking rate, with 70% of its capacity for 2026 already booked, indicating robust demand for its high-end cruise offerings [7] - Viking's continued investment in cruise ships and lower debt levels provide a favorable outlook for earnings growth [7][8] Group 3: Lowe's - Lowe's is seen as a strong investment in an improving housing market, particularly if mortgage rates drop below 6% [9][10] - The company is well-positioned to benefit from increased consumer spending on home remodeling and appliances, which have been stagnant [10][11] - Lowe's serves both the construction and professional markets, making it a solid choice for investors looking for exposure to the housing sector [10][11]