American Airlines Group (AAL) vs Southwest Airlines (LUV)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Southwest Airlines (LUV) has outperformed American Airlines Group (AAL) over the past year, gaining 28.8% versus a gain of 10.2%. Over five years, LUV leads with a -17.2% price change compared with -35.7% for AAL. Southwest Airlines is the larger company by market cap ($20.41 billion vs $8.51 billion), about 2.4 times the size.
On valuation, American Airlines Group trades at a lower forward P/E (8.6x vs 9.2x for Southwest Airlines). Southwest Airlines pays a dividend yielding 1.73%, while American Airlines Group does not currently pay one. Southwest Airlines converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 1.6% 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 | LUV |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $12.85 | $41.72 |
| Market cap | $8.51B | $20.41B |
| 1-day change | -1.15% | -1.72% |
| YTD return | -16.18% | +0.94% |
| 1-year return | +10.21% | +28.81% |
| 5-year return | -35.69% | -17.16% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 26.08 |
| Forward P/E | 8.61 | 9.23 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.49 | $1.60 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.73% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.72 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $54.63B | $28.06B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.78% | +2.11% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $111.00M | $441.00M |
| Operating margin | 2.69% | 1.53% |
| Net margin | 0.20% | 1.57% |
| 52-week high | $18.79 | $55.11 |
| 52-week low | $10.09 | $29.26 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -31.61% | -24.30% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.60% | +18.50% |
| Average volume | 77.00M | 5.34M |
| Shares outstanding | 661.97M | 489.21M |
| Employees | 143,400 | 73,456 |
| 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
- Southwest Airlines is about 2.4 times larger than American Airlines Group by market value ($20.41B vs $8.51B).
- LUV has outperformed AAL by 18.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Southwest Airlines offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.73% vs 0.00%).
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 Southwest Airlines
LUV stock →Southwest Airlines Co. operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Air Freight/Delivery Services · 73,456 employees
AAL vs LUV FAQ
Which is bigger, American Airlines Group or Southwest Airlines?
Southwest Airlines (LUV) is larger, with a market capitalization of $20.41B compared with $8.51B for American Airlines Group (AAL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AAL or LUV?
LUV returned +28.81% 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 Southwest Airlines?
Southwest Airlines pays a dividend yielding 1.73%, while American Airlines Group does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are American Airlines Group and Southwest Airlines in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Air Freight/Delivery Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.