Market Overview - U.S. stocks ended lower, primarily driven by declines in financial shares due to concerns over President Trump's credit-card proposal [10] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 398.21 points (0.80%) to 49,191.99, while the S&P 500 lost 13.53 points (0.19%) to 6,963.74 [10] - The Nasdaq Composite decreased by 24.03 points (0.10%) to 23,709.87 [10] Financial Sector Performance - Shares of Visa fell by 4.5%, Mastercard dropped by 3.8%, and the financial sector overall declined by 1.8%, leading the S&P 500's losses [10] - JPMorgan's shares ended down by 4.2%, despite reporting a better-than-expected quarterly profit, attributed to a drop in investment banking fees [10][5] - Other major banks also experienced declines ahead of their quarterly earnings reports, although analysts expect stronger results for the last quarter of 2025 [5] Economic Indicators - A report on U.S. inflation for December met expectations, which helped to stabilize market expectations for potential interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve this year [10] - Tim Ghriskey, a senior portfolio strategist, noted that financials are being negatively impacted by Trump's credit-card proposal, which could hurt profits for financial companies [2] Earnings Season Insights - The fourth-quarter U.S. earnings season unofficially began with results from JPMorgan and other companies, with expectations of positive earnings news overall [6] - Oliver Pursche, a senior vice president at Wealthspire Advisors, indicated that there may be upward revisions for 2026 earnings forecasts [6] Market Dynamics - Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by a ratio of 1.15-to-1, with 577 new highs and 77 new lows [11] - On the Nasdaq, 2,068 stocks rose while 2,701 fell, resulting in a declining issues ratio of 1.31-to-1 [11] - Trading volume on U.S. exchanges reached 18.68 billion shares, surpassing the 20-day average of approximately 16.4 billion shares [11]

Core Insights - The earnings season is currently active, with many prominent companies in the market releasing their latest financial reports and outlooks for 2026 [1] Group 1 - Advisors and investors are closely monitoring the performance and forecasts of these companies during this earnings season [1]

Core Viewpoint - Delta Air Lines reported mixed fourth-quarter results, exceeding profit expectations but missing revenue forecasts, leading to a decline in share price by approximately 3% intraday Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings for the December quarter were $1.55 per share, slightly above the consensus estimate of $1.52 [2] - Total revenue for the quarter was $14.61 billion, falling short of analysts' expectations of $14.72 billion [2] - Revenue growth was impacted by approximately two percentage points due to the government shutdown, which primarily affected domestic travel demand [2] - Quarterly revenue increased by 1.2% year over year, supported by a capacity growth of 1.3% [3] - For the full year 2025, Delta achieved record revenue of $58.3 billion, a 2.3% increase from 2024 [3] - Revenue from diversified streams, including premium services, cargo, and maintenance operations, rose by 7% year over year, accounting for 60% of total revenue [3] Future Guidance - Delta forecasts first-quarter 2026 revenue growth of 5% to 7% year over year, with operating margins expected between 4.5% and 6% [4] - Projected first-quarter earnings per share are estimated to be between $0.50 and $0.90, compared to consensus expectations of $0.72 [4] - For the full year 2026, Delta anticipates earnings of $6.50 to $7.50 per share, indicating approximately 20% growth at the midpoint from 2025 levels, but below the Street consensus of $7.32 [4] Strategic Developments - Delta announced a new agreement with Boeing to purchase 30 Boeing 787-10 widebody aircraft, with options for an additional 30 planes, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2031 [5]

Core Insights - Basic airfares are expected to rise as airlines adjust to maintain profitability, particularly in the main cabin segment [2][8] - Delta's fourth-quarter earnings were slightly below analysts' expectations, with a more conservative profit forecast than anticipated [3] - The airline industry is experiencing a shift in demand, with premium ticket sales increasing while low-cost seat sales are sluggish [6] Industry Trends - Airlines, including Delta, are losing money on transporting passengers and are focusing on ancillary services for profit [2] - Delta reported that revenue from premium tickets reached $5.7 billion in the fourth quarter, surpassing the $5.6 billion from basic tickets [6][8] - Capacity reductions and consolidation among airlines are likely to continue, impacting flight availability and pricing [4][7][8] Consumer Impact - Reduced main cabin capacity may lead to fewer flight options and changes in operational schedules [4] - The increase in premium ticket sales indicates that wealthier consumers are less affected by economic pressures, influencing overall travel demand [5][6]

Core Insights - Delta Air Lines is strategically entering the long-haul market by ordering up to 60 Boeing 787-10 planes, aiming to attract premium travelers and compete with rivals like American and United [1][2] - The new 787 aircraft will feature Delta's Delta One business class, premium economy, and standard coach, enhancing its offerings in the competitive transatlantic market [2] - Delta's President highlighted the 787's financial advantages, including improved cargo capacity and fuel efficiency, while the airline plans to grow capacity by 3% this year, focusing on premium cabins [3] Fleet Strategy - This order marks Delta's first direct purchase of the Boeing 787, indicating a shift in its long-haul fleet strategy, as it previously favored Airbus [4][5] - The 787-10 variant ordered can seat up to 336 passengers and has a range of approximately 7,300 miles, making it a suitable replacement for Delta's aging 767s [6] - The addition of the 787-10 diversifies Delta's fleet, which has been predominantly Airbus, and is expected to enhance operational efficiency on long-haul routes [5][6] Market Context - Delta's 767s primarily serve routes to Europe and South America, where the 787 is seen as an ideal addition, reflecting confidence in Boeing amid its recent challenges [7] - The announcement of the 787 order coincides with Delta's strong financial performance, reporting a net income of about $5 billion for 2025, driven by robust demand in premium and corporate travel [8][9] - Despite a 7% year-over-year decline in main-cabin ticket revenue, Delta's stock has gained approximately 6% over the past year, indicating resilience in its market position [9]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying undervalued stocks that are mispriced by the market as a strategy for investment in 2026 [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Stone Fox Capital is an RIA based in Oklahoma, led by Mark Holder, a CPA with 30 years of investing experience, including 15 years as a portfolio manager [2]. - The investing group "Out Fox The Street" provides stock picks and in-depth research aimed at uncovering potential multibaggers while managing portfolio risk through diversification [2]. Group 2: Features and Services - The group offers various model portfolios, stock picks with identifiable catalysts, daily updates, real-time alerts, and access to community chat and direct communication with Mark for inquiries [2].

Bastian and his executive team were explicit that the engine behind those results is Delta’s premium customer base and an increasingly sophisticated merchandising model that charges more for better seats and flexibility. President Glen Hauenstein, who is retiring next month after two decades shaping the airline’s commercial strategy, said premium revenue grew 7% in 2025 and that diversified, higher‑margin lines—premium, loyalty, cargo, maintenance, and travel products—now account for 60% of total revenue.​​ ...

Core Insights - Delta Air Lines reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.55, exceeding the estimated $1.53, while revenue of $14.61 billion fell short of the expected $15.69 billion [1][6] - CEO Ed Bastian expressed optimism for a 50% increase in EPS for the first quarter of 2026, driven by strong travel demand [2] - Delta has placed an order for thirty Boeing 787-10 aircraft, indicating a strategic move to expand its fleet and meet increasing demand for premium travel services [3] Financial Metrics - The company has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 9.94, and a price-to-sales ratio of about 0.74, indicating the market's valuation of its earnings and sales [4] - Delta's earnings yield stands at about 10.06%, while the debt-to-equity ratio is approximately 1.15, reflecting the company's financial leverage [5] - The current ratio is around 0.40, suggesting a need for improvement in managing short-term liabilities [5]

Core Insights - Delta Air Lines (DAL) reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings of $1.55 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.53, but reflecting a 16.22% year-over-year decline due to high labor costs [1] - Revenues for the quarter reached $16 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $15.63 billion, and showing a 2.9% increase year-over-year [2] Financial Performance - Adjusted operating revenues (excluding third-party refinery sales) increased 1.2% year-over-year to $14.6 billion, impacted by approximately 2 points due to the government shutdown [2] - Passenger revenues, which constituted 80.7% of total revenues, rose 1% year-over-year to $12.91 billion, with domestic passenger revenues remaining flat due to the government shutdown [5] - Cargo revenues decreased by 1% year-over-year to $246 million, while other revenues increased by 14% to $2.84 billion [6] - Adjusted operating margin was 10.1% in Q4 2025, down from 12% a year ago [6] Operational Metrics - Revenue passenger miles decreased by 1% to 59.86 billion, while capacity expanded by 1.3% to 72.9 billion [7] - Load factor decreased by 200 basis points to 82%, slightly below the estimate of 84% [7] - Total operating expenses rose by 5% to $14.5 billion, with salaries and related costs increasing by 11% to $4.6 billion due to higher wages from a new pilot contract [8] Fleet and Growth Strategy - Delta has agreed to acquire 30 Boeing 787-10 widebody aircraft, with options for an additional 30, expected to enhance fuel efficiency and long-haul capabilities [3][4] - The order is part of Delta's international growth strategy, aimed at strengthening its global footprint [4] Cash Flow and Debt - At the end of Q4 2025, Delta had cash and cash equivalents of $4.3 billion, up from $3.07 billion at the end of Q4 2024 [9] - Adjusted net debt decreased by $3.7 billion to $14.3 billion [9] - Adjusted operating cash flow for the December quarter was $2.2 billion, with free cash flow of $1.8 billion [10] Future Guidance - For Q1 2026, Delta expects adjusted earnings per share in the range of $0.50 to $0.90, with an adjusted operating margin of 4.5% to 6% [11] - Full-year earnings guidance for 2026 is projected between $6.5 and $7.5 per share, indicating a 20% year-over-year growth [12]

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets are experiencing a mixed session with major indexes showing slight pullbacks as investors assess inflation data and fourth-quarter earnings reports [1][2] - The S&P 500 Index is down less than 0.1%, the Nasdaq Composite Index has slipped 0.2%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen 0.6% [2] Economic Indicators - The December Consumer Price Index (CPI) data shows a 2.7% year-over-year rise in headline inflation, matching expectations, while core inflation is at 2.6%, slightly below the projected 2.8% [4] - The 10-year Treasury yield has decreased to below 4.18% from 4.20% following the CPI data release, indicating potential room for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts [4] Earnings Reports - JPMorgan Chase (JPM) reported adjusted profits exceeding expectations but with slightly lower revenue, leading to a 2.5% decline in shares [7] - Delta Air Lines (DAL) shares fell nearly 6% pre-bell and 1.5% in recent trading after forecasting lower-than-expected profit growth for fiscal 2026, despite reporting operating revenue of $16.00 billion [7] - L3Harris Technologies (LHX) shares surged 3% to an all-time high following plans to spin off its Missile Solutions business, supported by a $1 billion government investment [8] Sector Movements - A sector rotation trend has been observed since late December 2025, with the Dow Jones and small-cap Russell 2000 outperforming AI-heavy mega-cap technology stocks [3] Corporate Developments - Sun Country Airlines Holdings Inc. (SNCY) shares jumped 10.6% after announcing an acquisition agreement with Allegiant Travel (ALGT) valued at $18.89 per share [10] - Posco Holdings Inc. (PKX) shares rose 12% after raising $700 million in global bond markets and providing a positive earnings outlook for 2026 [11] Political Impact - President Trump's proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% has negatively impacted financial stocks, with Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA) down 5%, and American Express Company (AXP) down 4.3% [9]