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Delta Air Lines (DAL)
NYSE:DAL
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Delta Air Lines (DAL) AI Stock Analysis

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DAL

Delta Air Lines

(NYSE:DAL)

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Outperform 78 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:78Outperform
Price Target:
$68.00
▲(14.02% Upside)
Delta Air Lines' overall stock score of 78 reflects its strong financial recovery, robust earnings call highlights, and attractive valuation. The company's improved financial stability and cash flow generation are significant strengths. However, mixed technical indicators and leverage concerns slightly temper the overall positive outlook.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Delta's record revenue growth highlights its strong market position and ability to capture demand, supporting long-term business stability and expansion.
Cash Flow Generation
Strong free cash flow growth enhances Delta's financial flexibility, enabling reinvestment in operations and reducing reliance on external financing.
Debt Reduction
Debt reduction efforts improve Delta's balance sheet health, decreasing financial risk and interest expenses, which supports long-term profitability.
Negative Factors
Leverage Concerns
Despite improvements, leverage concerns persist, potentially limiting Delta's ability to navigate economic downturns or invest in growth opportunities.
Transatlantic Market Challenges
Challenges in the transatlantic market could impact Delta's revenue diversification and growth, necessitating strategic adjustments to maintain profitability.
Government Shutdown Impact
Prolonged government shutdowns pose risks to Delta's operations and financial performance, potentially disrupting travel demand and regulatory processes.

Delta Air Lines (DAL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Delta Air Lines Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionDelta Air Lines, Inc. provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Seoul-Incheon. The company sells its tickets through various distribution channels, including delta.com and the Fly Delta app, reservations, online travel agencies, traditional brick and mortar, and other agencies. It also provides aircraft maintenance and engineering support, repair, and overhaul services; and vacation packages to third-party consumers, as well as aircraft charters, and management and programs. The company operates through a fleet of approximately 1,200 aircrafts. Delta Air Lines, Inc. was founded in 1924 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
How the Company Makes MoneyDelta Air Lines generates revenue primarily through ticket sales for passenger travel, which includes both economy and premium class fares. Additional significant revenue streams come from cargo services, ancillary fees (such as baggage fees, seat selection fees, and in-flight purchases), and loyalty programs that encourage customer retention. The airline also benefits from partnerships with other airlines within the SkyTeam alliance and codeshare agreements, which expand its market reach and enhance customer options. Furthermore, Delta has been investing in technology and operational efficiencies to reduce costs and maximize profitability, while also leveraging its extensive route network to capture demand across various market segments.

Delta Air Lines Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Passenger Miles
Passenger Miles
Measures the total distance flown by paying passengers, indicating demand for flights and overall airline capacity utilization.
Chart InsightsDelta Air Lines' passenger miles have rebounded significantly from the pandemic lows, nearing pre-2020 levels by mid-2025. Despite operational challenges like weather disruptions and main cabin softness, the company maintains strong financial health with record revenue and robust cash flow. This resilience is bolstered by growth in premium and loyalty segments, indicating a strategic shift towards high-margin revenue streams. The focus on premium offerings and co-brand card partnerships suggests a deliberate move to enhance profitability amidst fluctuating demand in traditional segments.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Delta Air Lines Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 09, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jan 09, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Delta Airlines reported strong financial performance, with record third quarter revenue and robust growth in premium and loyalty segments. However, challenges in the transatlantic market and potential impacts from the U.S. government shutdown were noted. Overall, the positive achievements outweigh the lowlights, indicating a strong position in the industry.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Third Quarter Revenue
Delta reported record third quarter revenue of $15.2 billion, with a 4.1% year-over-year increase, exceeding guidance.
Strong Financial Metrics
Reported pretax income of $1.5 billion, earnings of $1.71 per share, and an 11.2% operating margin. Free cash flow reached $830 million.
Premium and Loyalty Growth
Premium revenue grew 9%, and loyalty revenue improved 9%, with co-brand card spending up double digits.
Operational Excellence
Delta led the industry on reliability and customer experience, with strong performance in on-time operations and customer satisfaction.
Successful Debt Reduction
Successfully repriced SkyMiles term loan, reducing the rate by 225 basis points, and paid down nearly $2 billion in debt year-to-date.
Negative Updates
Challenges in the Transatlantic Market
Transatlantic unit revenue was down 7% in the third quarter, attributed to booking curve misjudgments and lower demand during the summer.
Impact of Government Shutdown
Less than $1 million a day impact from the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, but still a concern for future quarters if prolonged.
Company Guidance
During Delta Airlines' September Quarter 2025 earnings call, the company presented robust financial guidance, highlighting several key metrics. Delta reported a revenue growth of 4%, with pretax income reaching $1.5 billion and earnings per share of $1.71, resulting in an 11.2% operating margin. The airline generated $830 million in free cash flow, bringing the year-to-date total to $2.8 billion, and achieved a return on invested capital of 13%. Looking ahead, Delta anticipates a continuation of positive momentum, projecting a double-digit operating margin in the December quarter, with earnings comparable to the September quarter. For the full year, earnings per share are expected to be around $6, in the upper half of their previous guidance range. Additionally, Delta updated its full-year free cash flow outlook to between $3.5 billion and $4 billion, emphasizing its commitment to building a strong balance sheet and industry leadership.

Delta Air Lines Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Delta Air Lines demonstrates strong revenue and profit growth post-pandemic, with effective cost management and improved debt metrics. However, high reliance on debt and ongoing capital expenditures pose potential risks.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Delta Air Lines shows strong revenue growth with a 6.6% increase from 2023 to TTM 2025, and a substantial improvement from the pandemic-impacted 2020. The company maintains solid profitability, evident in its TTM gross profit margin of 23.9% and net profit margin of 7.2%. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are robust at 9.3% and 11.5% respectively, indicating effective cost management. However, the slight decrease in EBIT margin from 2024 to TTM 2025 highlights potential cost pressures.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
Delta's balance sheet reflects a strong recovery with a solid equity position, as indicated by a significant increase in stockholders' equity from 2021 to TTM 2025. The debt-to-equity ratio has improved to 0.91 in TTM 2025, showing effective debt management. Return on Equity (ROE) at 25.7% indicates high profitability. However, the equity ratio of 22.2% suggests a relatively high reliance on debt financing, posing potential risks in volatile economic conditions.
Cash Flow
78
Positive
The cash flow statement highlights a positive trend in free cash flow, with a substantial growth rate of 65.2% from 2024 to TTM 2025, driven by improved operating cash flows. The operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.65 in TTM 2025 demonstrates efficient cash generation relative to earnings. Nonetheless, high capital expenditures and negative investing cash flows suggest ongoing investments in business operations.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue62.92B61.64B58.05B50.58B29.90B17.09B
Gross Profit16.41B16.56B15.52B11.16B2.13B-4.37B
EBITDA9.54B7.92B8.78B5.05B3.67B-12.35B
Net Income4.63B3.46B4.61B1.32B280.00M-12.38B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets79.62B75.37B73.64B72.28B72.47B72.00B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments3.79B3.07B3.87B6.53B11.32B14.10B
Total Debt21.72B22.77B27.28B30.61B34.68B35.55B
Total Liabilities60.80B60.08B62.54B65.71B68.57B70.46B
Stockholders Equity18.82B15.29B11.11B6.58B3.89B1.53B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow3.07B2.88B1.14B-2.00M16.00M-5.69B
Operating Cash Flow7.98B8.03B6.46B6.36B3.26B-3.79B
Investing Cash Flow-4.63B-3.74B-3.15B-6.92B-897.00M-9.24B
Financing Cash Flow-3.66B-4.26B-3.39B-4.54B-3.85B19.36B

Delta Air Lines Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price59.64
Price Trends
50DMA
59.00
Positive
100DMA
55.14
Positive
200DMA
53.99
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.44
Negative
RSI
53.65
Neutral
STOCH
70.78
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For DAL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 59.64 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 58.09, above the 50-day MA of 59.00, and above the 200-day MA of 53.99, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.44 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 53.65 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 70.78 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for DAL.

Delta Air Lines Risk Analysis

Delta Air Lines disclosed 2 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Delta Air Lines reported the most risks in the "Tech & Innovation" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 1 New Risks
1.
Failure of the technology we use to perform effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business. Q3, 2024

Delta Air Lines Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$39.44B8.5128.52%1.13%4.33%-1.58%
76
Outperform
$32.10B9.9325.59%4.24%20.29%
75
Outperform
$30.97B14.6627.12%1.61%10.61%37.32%
68
Neutral
$17.48B50.064.30%2.15%1.64%284.24%
65
Neutral
$12.78B11.40161.29%2.26%5.64%63.23%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
59
Neutral
$7.85B15.25-21.27%1.50%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
DAL
Delta Air Lines
59.64
5.19
9.53%
RYAAY
Ryanair Holdings
61.98
17.76
40.16%
LUV
Southwest Airlines
33.52
3.76
12.63%
UAL
United Airlines Holdings
99.14
25.14
33.97%
AAL
American Airlines
11.86
-1.11
-8.56%
LTM
LATAM Airlines Group SA Sponsored ADR
44.58
17.96
67.47%

Delta Air Lines Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Delta Air Lines Approves Amended Compensation Plan
Neutral
Jun 20, 2025

On June 19, 2025, Delta Air Lines held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders where key decisions were made, including the approval of an amended Performance Compensation Plan. The plan, which extends until 2035, increases the number of shares authorized for issuance. Additionally, all fourteen director nominees were elected, executive compensation was approved, and Ernst & Young LLP was ratified as the company’s independent auditors for 2025. However, a shareholder proposal for written consent was not approved.

Private Placements and Financing
Delta Air Lines Completes $2 Billion Notes Offering
Positive
Jun 10, 2025

On June 5, 2025, Delta Air Lines completed a public offering of $2 billion in unsecured notes, divided equally between 4.950% Notes due 2028 and 5.250% Notes due 2030. The proceeds from this offering are intended to repay a portion of the company’s outstanding borrowings under the Payroll Support Program loan and for general corporate purposes. This financial maneuver is expected to impact Delta’s debt structure, offering flexibility in managing its obligations and potentially improving its financial stability.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Oct 10, 2025