Alaska Air Group (ALK) 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 Alaska Air Group (ALK) over the past year, gaining 28.8% versus a loss of 19.2%. Over five years, LUV leads with a -17.2% price change compared with -31.5% for ALK. Southwest Airlines is the larger company by market cap ($20.41 billion vs $4.42 billion), about 4.6 times the size, while Alaska Air Group is growing revenue faster (+21.3% vs +2.1%).
On valuation, Southwest Airlines trades at a lower forward P/E (9.2x vs 11.6x for Alaska Air Group). Southwest Airlines pays a dividend yielding 1.73%, while Alaska Air Group does not currently pay one. Southwest Airlines converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 1.6% 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 | LUV |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $39.59 | $41.72 |
| Market cap | $4.42B | $20.41B |
| 1-day change | -0.75% | -1.72% |
| YTD return | -21.29% | +0.94% |
| 1-year return | -19.20% | +28.81% |
| 5-year return | -31.47% | -17.16% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 26.08 |
| Forward P/E | 11.56 | 9.23 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-1.59 | $1.60 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.73% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.72 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $14.24B | $28.06B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +21.34% | +2.11% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $100.00M | $441.00M |
| Operating margin | 2.13% | 1.53% |
| Net margin | 0.70% | 1.57% |
| 52-week high | $60.63 | $55.11 |
| 52-week low | $33.03 | $29.26 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -34.70% | -24.30% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +40.52% | +18.50% |
| Average volume | 2.78M | 5.35M |
| Shares outstanding | 111.60M | 489.21M |
| Employees | 31,596 | 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 4.6 times larger than Alaska Air Group by market value ($20.41B vs $4.42B).
- LUV has outperformed ALK by 48.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Southwest Airlines offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.73% vs 0.00%).
- Alaska Air Group grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+21.34% vs +2.11%).
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 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
ALK vs LUV FAQ
Which is bigger, Alaska Air Group or Southwest Airlines?
Southwest Airlines (LUV) is larger, with a market capitalization of $20.41B compared with $4.42B for Alaska Air Group (ALK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ALK or LUV?
LUV returned +28.81% 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 Southwest Airlines?
Southwest Airlines pays a dividend yielding 1.73%, while Alaska Air Group does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Alaska Air Group and Southwest Airlines in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Air Freight/Delivery Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.