Southwest Airlines (LUV) 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
Southwest Airlines (LUV) has outperformed Ryanair (RYAAY) over the past year, gaining 28.8% versus a loss of 8.1%. Over five years, RYAAY leads with a +18.9% price change compared with -17.2% for LUV. Ryanair is the larger company by market cap ($29.00 billion vs $20.41 billion), about 1.4 times the size.
On valuation, Southwest Airlines trades at a lower forward P/E (9.2x vs 13.1x for Ryanair). Southwest Airlines offers the higher dividend yield (1.73% 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 | LUV | RYAAY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $41.72 | $56.00 |
| Market cap | $20.41B | $29.00B |
| 1-day change | -1.72% | +0.24% |
| YTD return | +0.94% | -22.80% |
| 1-year return | +28.81% | -8.08% |
| 5-year return | -17.16% | +18.86% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 26.08 | 13.43 |
| Forward P/E | 9.23 | 13.09 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.60 | $4.17 |
| Dividend yield | 1.73% | 0.69% |
| Annual dividend | $0.72 | $0.388 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $28.06B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.11% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $441.00M | $885.00M |
| Operating margin | 1.53% | — |
| Net margin | 1.57% | — |
| 52-week high | $55.11 | $74.24 |
| 52-week low | $29.26 | $51.68 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -24.30% | -24.57% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.50% | +20.57% |
| Average volume | 5.34M | 1.43M |
| Shares outstanding | 489.21M | 517.92M |
| Employees | 73,456 | 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
- LUV has outperformed RYAAY by 36.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Southwest Airlines trades at a higher earnings multiple (26.1x vs 13.4x trailing P/E).
- Southwest Airlines offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.73% vs 0.69%).
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
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
LUV vs RYAAY FAQ
Which is bigger, Southwest Airlines or Ryanair?
Ryanair (RYAAY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $29.00B compared with $20.41B for Southwest Airlines (LUV).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LUV or RYAAY?
LUV returned +28.81% over the past 12 months, compared with -8.08% for RYAAY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LUV or RYAAY?
RYAAY has the lower trailing P/E at 13.4, versus 26.1 for LUV. 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, Southwest Airlines or Ryanair?
Southwest Airlines has the higher yield at 1.73%, compared with 0.69% for Ryanair.
Are Southwest Airlines and Ryanair in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Air Freight/Delivery Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.