Alaska Air Group (ALK) 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 Alaska Air Group (ALK) over the past year, gaining 46.5% versus a loss of 19.2%. Over five years, DAL leads with a +102.4% price change compared with -31.5% for ALK. Delta Air Lines is the larger company by market cap ($54.56 billion vs $4.42 billion), about 12.3 times the size, while Alaska Air Group is growing revenue faster (+21.3% vs +2.8%).
On valuation, Delta Air Lines trades at a lower forward P/E (10.5x vs 11.6x for Alaska Air Group). Delta Air Lines pays a dividend yielding 0.94%, while Alaska Air Group does not currently pay one. Delta Air Lines converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 7.9% versus 0.7%.
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 | ALK | DAL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $39.59 | $82.97 |
| Market cap | $4.42B | $54.56B |
| 1-day change | -0.75% | -0.82% |
| YTD return | -21.29% | +19.55% |
| 1-year return | -19.20% | +46.51% |
| 5-year return | -31.47% | +102.42% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 13.76 |
| Forward P/E | 11.56 | 10.52 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-1.59 | $6.03 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.94% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.778 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $14.24B | $63.36B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +21.34% | +2.79% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $100.00M | $5.00B |
| Operating margin | 2.13% | 9.19% |
| Net margin | 0.70% | 7.90% |
| 52-week high | $60.63 | $95.68 |
| 52-week low | $33.03 | $55.03 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -34.70% | -13.28% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +40.52% | +22.56% |
| Average volume | 2.78M | 6.27M |
| Shares outstanding | 111.60M | 657.62M |
| Employees | 31,596 | 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 12.3 times larger than Alaska Air Group by market value ($54.56B vs $4.42B).
- DAL has outperformed ALK by 65.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Delta Air Lines is more profitable, keeping 7.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 0.7 cents for Alaska Air Group.
- Alaska Air Group grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+21.34% vs +2.79%).
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
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
ALK vs DAL FAQ
Which is bigger, Alaska Air Group or Delta Air Lines?
Delta Air Lines (DAL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $54.56B compared with $4.42B for Alaska Air Group (ALK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ALK or DAL?
DAL returned +46.51% over the past 12 months, compared with -19.20% for ALK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Alaska Air Group or Delta Air Lines?
Delta Air Lines pays a dividend yielding 0.94%, while Alaska Air Group does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Alaska Air 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.