American Airlines Group (AAL) vs Ryanair (RYAAY)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
American Airlines Group (AAL) has outperformed Ryanair (RYAAY) over the past year, gaining 10.2% versus a loss of 7.6%. Over five years, RYAAY leads with a +18.9% price change compared with -35.7% for AAL. Ryanair is the larger company by market cap ($29.00 billion vs $8.51 billion), about 3.4 times the size.
On valuation, American Airlines Group trades at a lower forward P/E (8.6x vs 13.1x for Ryanair). Ryanair pays a dividend yielding 0.69%, while American Airlines Group does not currently pay one.
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 | RYAAY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $12.85 | $56.00 |
| Market cap | $8.51B | $29.00B |
| 1-day change | -1.15% | +0.24% |
| YTD return | -16.18% | -22.43% |
| 1-year return | +10.21% | -7.64% |
| 5-year return | -35.69% | +18.86% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 13.43 |
| Forward P/E | 8.61 | 13.09 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.48 | $4.17 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.69% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.388 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $54.63B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.78% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $111.00M | $885.00M |
| Operating margin | 2.69% | — |
| Net margin | 0.20% | — |
| 52-week high | $18.79 | $74.24 |
| 52-week low | $10.09 | $51.68 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -31.61% | -24.57% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.60% | +20.57% |
| Average volume | 77.00M | 1.43M |
| Shares outstanding | 661.97M | 517.92M |
| Employees | 143,400 | 30,000 |
| 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
- Ryanair is about 3.4 times larger than American Airlines Group by market value ($29.00B vs $8.51B).
- AAL has outperformed RYAAY by 17.8 percentage points over the past year.
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 Ryanair
RYAAY stock →Ryanair Holdings plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of scheduled-passenger airline services in Ireland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It offers various ancillary services; engages in other activities connected with its air passenger service, including non-flight scheduled and Internet-related services, as well as in-flight sale of beverages, food, duty-free, and merchandise; and markets car hire, travel insurance, and accommodation services through its website and mobile app.
Consumer Discretionary · Air Freight/Delivery Services · 30,000 employees
AAL vs RYAAY FAQ
Which is bigger, American Airlines Group or Ryanair?
Ryanair (RYAAY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $29.00B compared with $8.51B for American Airlines Group (AAL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AAL or RYAAY?
AAL returned +10.21% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.64% for RYAAY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, American Airlines Group or Ryanair?
Ryanair pays a dividend yielding 0.69%, while American Airlines Group does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are American Airlines Group and Ryanair in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Air Freight/Delivery Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.