Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs SkyWest (SKYW)
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 SkyWest (SKYW) over the past year, gaining 28.8% versus a loss of 2.6%. Over five years, SKYW leads with a +95.5% price change compared with -17.2% for LUV. Southwest Airlines is the larger company by market cap ($20.41 billion vs $3.75 billion), about 5.4 times the size.
On valuation, SkyWest trades at a lower forward P/E (8.0x vs 9.2x for Southwest Airlines). Southwest Airlines pays a dividend yielding 1.73%, while SkyWest 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 | LUV | SKYW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $41.72 | $96.64 |
| Market cap | $20.41B | $3.75B |
| 1-day change | -1.72% | -1.10% |
| YTD return | +0.94% | -3.75% |
| 1-year return | +28.81% | -2.62% |
| 5-year return | -17.16% | +95.55% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 26.08 | 9.47 |
| Forward P/E | 9.23 | 7.97 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.60 | $10.21 |
| Dividend yield | 1.73% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.72 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $28.06B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.11% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $441.00M | — |
| Operating margin | 1.53% | — |
| Net margin | 1.57% | — |
| 52-week high | $55.11 | $117.72 |
| 52-week low | $29.26 | $77.89 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -24.30% | -17.91% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.50% | +29.69% |
| Average volume | 5.34M | 363.54K |
| Shares outstanding | 489.21M | 38.83M |
| Employees | 73,456 | 13,818 |
| 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 5.4 times larger than SkyWest by market value ($20.41B vs $3.75B).
- LUV has outperformed SKYW by 31.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Southwest Airlines trades at a higher earnings multiple (26.1x vs 9.5x trailing P/E).
- Southwest Airlines offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.73% vs 0.00%).
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 SkyWest
SKYW stock →SkyWest, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of a regional airline in the United States. It operates through SkyWest Airlines and SWC; and SkyWest Leasing segments.
Consumer Discretionary · Air Freight/Delivery Services · 13,818 employees
LUV vs SKYW FAQ
Which is bigger, Southwest Airlines or SkyWest?
Southwest Airlines (LUV) is larger, with a market capitalization of $20.41B compared with $3.75B for SkyWest (SKYW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LUV or SKYW?
LUV returned +28.81% over the past 12 months, compared with -2.62% for SKYW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LUV or SKYW?
SKYW has the lower trailing P/E at 9.5, 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 SkyWest?
Southwest Airlines pays a dividend yielding 1.73%, while SkyWest does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Southwest Airlines and SkyWest in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Air Freight/Delivery Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.