American Airlines Group (AAL) vs Alaska Air Group (ALK)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
American Airlines Group (AAL) has outperformed Alaska Air Group (ALK) over the past year, gaining 10.2% versus a loss of 19.4%. Over five years, ALK leads with a -31.5% price change compared with -35.7% for AAL. American Airlines Group is the larger company by market cap ($8.51 billion vs $4.42 billion), about 1.9 times the size, while Alaska Air Group is growing revenue faster (+21.3% vs +0.8%).
On valuation, American Airlines Group trades at a lower forward P/E (8.6x vs 11.6x for Alaska Air Group). Alaska Air Group converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 0.7% versus 0.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AAL | ALK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $12.85 | $39.59 |
| Market cap | $8.51B | $4.42B |
| 1-day change | -1.15% | -0.75% |
| YTD return | -16.18% | -21.50% |
| 1-year return | +10.21% | -19.42% |
| 5-year return | -35.69% | -31.47% |
| Forward P/E | 8.61 | 11.56 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.49 | $-1.59 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $54.63B | $14.24B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.78% | +21.34% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $111.00M | $100.00M |
| Operating margin | 2.69% | 2.13% |
| Net margin | 0.20% | 0.70% |
| 52-week high | $18.79 | $60.63 |
| 52-week low | $10.09 | $33.03 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -31.61% | -34.70% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.60% | +40.52% |
| Average volume | 78.56M | 2.78M |
| Shares outstanding | 661.97M | 111.60M |
| Employees | 143,400 | 31,596 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Air Freight/Delivery Services | Air Freight/Delivery Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- AAL has outperformed ALK by 29.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Alaska Air Group grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+21.34% vs +0.78%).
About American Airlines Group
AAL stock →American Airlines Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a network air carrier in the United States, Latin America, Atlantic, and Pacific. The company provides scheduled air transportation services for passengers and cargo through its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C., as well as through partner gateways in London, Doha, Madrid, Seattle/Tacoma, Sydney, and Tokyo.
Consumer Discretionary · Air Freight/Delivery Services · 143,400 employees
About Alaska Air Group
ALK stock →Alaska Air Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. It operates through three segments: Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Regional.
Consumer Discretionary · Air Freight/Delivery Services · 31,596 employees
AAL vs ALK FAQ
Which is bigger, American Airlines Group or Alaska Air Group?
American Airlines Group (AAL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $8.51B compared with $4.42B for Alaska Air Group (ALK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AAL or ALK?
AAL returned +10.21% over the past 12 months, compared with -19.42% for ALK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are American Airlines Group and Alaska Air Group in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Air Freight/Delivery Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.