American Airlines Group (AAL) vs Delta Air Lines (DAL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Delta Air Lines (DAL) has outperformed American Airlines Group (AAL) over the past year, gaining 46.7% versus a gain of 10.2%. Over five years, DAL leads with a +102.4% price change compared with -35.7% for AAL. Delta Air Lines is the larger company by market cap ($54.56 billion vs $8.51 billion), about 6.4 times the size.
On valuation, American Airlines Group trades at a lower forward P/E (8.6x vs 10.5x for Delta Air Lines). Delta Air Lines pays a dividend yielding 0.94%, while American Airlines Group does not currently pay one. Delta Air Lines converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 7.9% 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 | DAL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $12.85 | $82.97 |
| Market cap | $8.51B | $54.56B |
| 1-day change | -1.15% | -0.82% |
| YTD return | -16.18% | +19.70% |
| 1-year return | +10.21% | +46.69% |
| 5-year return | -35.69% | +102.42% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 13.76 |
| Forward P/E | 8.61 | 10.52 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.49 | $6.03 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.94% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.778 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $54.63B | $63.36B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.78% | +2.79% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $111.00M | $5.00B |
| Operating margin | 2.69% | 9.19% |
| Net margin | 0.20% | 7.90% |
| 52-week high | $18.79 | $95.68 |
| 52-week low | $10.09 | $55.03 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -31.61% | -13.28% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.60% | +22.56% |
| Average volume | 78.56M | 6.27M |
| Shares outstanding | 661.97M | 657.62M |
| Employees | 143,400 | 103,000 |
| 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
- Delta Air Lines is about 6.4 times larger than American Airlines Group by market value ($54.56B vs $8.51B).
- DAL has outperformed AAL by 36.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Delta Air Lines is more profitable, keeping 7.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 0.2 cents for American Airlines Group.
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 Delta Air Lines
DAL stock →Delta Air Lines, Inc. provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Air Freight/Delivery Services · 103,000 employees
AAL vs DAL FAQ
Which is bigger, American Airlines Group or Delta Air Lines?
Delta Air Lines (DAL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $54.56B compared with $8.51B for American Airlines Group (AAL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AAL or DAL?
DAL returned +46.69% over the past 12 months, compared with +10.21% for AAL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, American Airlines Group or Delta Air Lines?
Delta Air Lines pays a dividend yielding 0.94%, while American Airlines Group does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are American Airlines Group and Delta Air Lines in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Air Freight/Delivery Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.