Delta Air Lines (DAL) 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
Delta Air Lines (DAL) has outperformed Ryanair (RYAAY) over the past year, gaining 46.5% versus a loss of 7.6%. Over five years, DAL leads with a +102.4% price change compared with +18.9% for RYAAY. Delta Air Lines is the larger company by market cap ($54.56 billion vs $29.00 billion), about 1.9 times the size.
On valuation, Delta Air Lines trades at a lower forward P/E (10.5x vs 13.1x for Ryanair). Delta Air Lines offers the higher dividend yield (0.94% vs 0.69%).
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 | DAL | RYAAY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $82.97 | $56.00 |
| Market cap | $54.56B | $29.00B |
| 1-day change | -0.82% | +0.24% |
| YTD return | +19.55% | -22.43% |
| 1-year return | +46.51% | -7.64% |
| 5-year return | +102.42% | +18.86% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.87 | 13.43 |
| Forward P/E | 10.52 | 13.09 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.98 | $4.17 |
| Dividend yield | 0.94% | 0.69% |
| Annual dividend | $0.778 | $0.388 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $63.36B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.79% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $5.00B | $885.00M |
| Operating margin | 9.19% | — |
| Net margin | 7.90% | — |
| 52-week high | $95.68 | $74.24 |
| 52-week low | $55.03 | $51.68 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.28% | -24.57% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +22.56% | +20.57% |
| Average volume | 6.27M | 1.43M |
| Shares outstanding | 657.62M | 517.92M |
| Employees | 103,000 | 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
- DAL has outperformed RYAAY by 54.1 percentage points over the past year.
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
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
DAL vs RYAAY FAQ
Which is bigger, Delta Air Lines or Ryanair?
Delta Air Lines (DAL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $54.56B compared with $29.00B for Ryanair (RYAAY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DAL or RYAAY?
DAL returned +46.51% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.64% for RYAAY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, DAL or RYAAY?
RYAAY has the lower trailing P/E at 13.4, versus 13.9 for DAL. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Delta Air Lines or Ryanair?
Delta Air Lines has the higher yield at 0.94%, compared with 0.69% for Ryanair.
Are Delta Air Lines and Ryanair in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Air Freight/Delivery Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.