Here's Why Investors Should Bet on SkyWest Stock for Now

Core Viewpoint - SkyWest (SKYW) is experiencing strong demand and operational efficiency, enhancing its prospects and share performance, making it an attractive investment opportunity [1] Upsides for SkyWest - Earnings estimates for SkyWest have been revised upward by 3.14% for the current quarter and by 3% for 2025, indicating broker confidence in the stock [2] - The company's shares have increased by 33.9% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Transportation – Airline industry's growth of 14.9% [3] - SkyWest has a positive earnings surprise history, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters with an average surprise of 17.3% [4] - The company holds a solid Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [4] Growth Factors - SkyWest is set to operate a total of 278 E175 aircraft by the end of 2026, with 16 additional units scheduled for delivery, highlighting the E175's importance in its fleet strategy [5] - In Q1 2025, SkyWest reported a 21.5% increase in total block hours, a 19.1% rise in departures, and a 13.6% increase in passengers carried, demonstrating strong demand [6] - The airline maintained a 99.9% adjusted flight completion rate and improved raw flight completion to 98.2%, reflecting operational reliability [6] Financial Position - SkyWest increased its share repurchase plan by $250 million in May 2025, raising total authorization to $272 million [7] - In Q1 2025, the company repurchased 141,000 shares for $13.7 million at an average price of $97.27 per share, up from 47,000 shares in Q4 2024 [9] - As of March 31, 2025, SkyWest had $34 million remaining under its current share repurchase program [9]