>> THIS IS "BLOOMBERG BUSINESS WEEK DAILY" WEEK. REPORTING FROM THE MAGAZINE THAT HELPED GLOBAL LEADERS STAY AHEAD, WITH INSIGHT ON THE PEOPLE, COMPANIES AND TRENDS SHAPING TODAY’S COMPLEX ECONOMY, PLUS GLOBAL BUSINESS, FINANCE, AND TECH NEWS AS IT HAPPENS. "BLOOMBERG BUSINESS WEEK DAILY" WITH CAROL MASSAR AND TIM STENOVEC, LIVE ON BLOOMBERG RADIO, TELEVISION, YOUTUBE AND BLOOMBERG ORIGINALS.CAROL: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. YES INDEED, IT IS THE TUESDAY EDITION, OR THE PRE-FED DECISION, I SHOULD SAY, OF "B ...

United Airlines Eclipses American With Huge Buildup At Chicago O’Hare https://t.co/YIC7FgQ7G5 https://t.co/biWeokRVTf ...

American Airlines projected Tuesday that its focus on premium will “begin delivering results in 2026” as the carrier races to catch up to its far more profitable rivals and capitalize on strong demand from high-spending customers. American posted net income of $99 million, or 15 cents per share, on revenue of $14 billion. Revenue was up 2.5% from last year. Excluding net special items, the company reported adjusted earnings per share of 16 cents. ...

United is adding new routes and increasing flying from Chicago, escalating competition with American Airlines at one of the world’s busiest airports https://t.co/al7rG3VjsA ...

American Airlines reports fourth-quarter results that missed analyst estimates, and expects the recent winter storm to clip revenue in the current period https://t.co/vonVNjYwAX ...

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].

Core Viewpoint - United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is experiencing a positive trend in analyst price targets, reflecting strong confidence in its operational performance and growth potential [2][4][6] Price Target Trends - The average price target for UAL has increased from $123.04 a year ago to $144.8 last month, indicating a significant upward revision and growing optimism among analysts [2][4] - The average price target in the last quarter was $138.44, showing a steady increase from the previous quarter, attributed to strategic initiatives and preparations for the upcoming Q4 earnings call [3][4] Strategic Initiatives - United Airlines is implementing strategic changes, including welcoming new executives and expanding its fleet with luxurious Dreamliner jets, which contribute to the optimistic outlook [2][6] - Despite the anticipated decline in Q4 earnings, the company's stock is approaching its all-time high, suggesting resilience in its market position [5][6]

Group 1: Stock Ratings and Price Targets - AT&T Inc. received a Buy rating from Bernstein with a price target of $31 on January 8 [1] - Scotiabank lowered its price target for AT&T from $30.25 to $29.50 while maintaining a Sector Perform rating [1] - KeyBanc downgraded AT&T to Sell with a price target of $20, down from $30 [2] - Arete also downgraded AT&T to Sell from Neutral with a price target of $20 [2] Group 2: Business Developments - AT&T announced a partnership with American Airlines to provide free in-flight Wi-Fi for loyalty program customers, with rollout starting in January and expected to be available on nearly all flights by early spring [3] - The company operates through two segments: Communications, which offers wireline telecom, wireless, and broadband services, and Latin America, which manages services in Mexico [4]

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 Viewpoint - Delta Air Lines is expected to report strong earnings, with positive sentiment surrounding the airline industry as a whole, which has seen significant recovery since November [1] Company Overview - Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) provides passenger and cargo air transportation, operating a large fleet and global network, and also offers aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul services [1] Industry Performance - The airline sector has experienced a notable rebound, with the Jets ETF rising nearly 20% from its lows three weeks ago, and major airlines like Delta, United, and American Airlines seeing over 20% increases during the same period [1] - Demand for holiday travel is strong, with expectations for continued healthy demand into early 2026 [1] Financial Impact - Delta estimated a $200 million hit to pre-tax profit due to the government shutdown, but indicated that the overall impact was smaller than anticipated [1]