Delta and United Earnings Point to Less Turbulence Ahead

Core Viewpoint - Airline stocks have underperformed the broader market due to high operating costs, economic uncertainty affecting flight demand, and pilot labor shortages, compounded by a government shutdown impacting the FAA and air traffic control [2][4]. Industry Summary - The transportation industry, particularly airlines, may present some of the best value stocks in the industrials sector, with a 6.74% gain over the past month, ranking it as the third-best performer among S&P 500 sectors [3]. Company Summary - Delta Air Lines reported record free cash flow of $4.6 billion for the full year 2025 and Q4, alongside a pre-tax profit of $5 billion and a double-digit operating margin, indicating strong financial health [4][7]. - Delta's earnings per share (EPS) of $1.55 surpassed analyst expectations of $1.53, marking the third consecutive quarter of exceeding bottom-line estimates, with Q4 revenue also beating projections for the fourth consecutive time [5]. - Delta's shares are trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 9.2, with 23 analysts assigning a Buy rating and a consensus 12-month price target suggesting nearly 17% potential upside [5][6]. - Delta ranks higher than 99% of companies evaluated by MarketBeat and is positioned 2nd out of 133 stocks in the transportation sector, with its financial health in the Green Zone for over eight months [6].