Delta Air Lines (DAL)
Delta Air Lines is a major global airline that connects passengers and cargo across the world through its extensive network of flights.
Is Delta Air Lines a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Delta Air Lines is a major global airline that connects passengers and cargo across the world through its extensive network of flights.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Successful fleet modernisation and efficiency gains
Prolonged global recession or travel restrictions
What does Delta Air Lines do?
Delta operates a massive fleet of aircraft, making money primarily by selling tickets to travellers and shipping cargo. It is a classic 'cyclical' business, meaning its success is closely tied to how much money people have to spend on holidays and how busy businesses are with travel. Watch how well they juggle fuel costs and ticket prices, since both can swing their profits quite dramatically.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on value and momentum, and weakest on quality.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 0.9% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 19% over the year
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 20%)
- Value screens high (82/100)
- Momentum screens high (81/100)
- Strong brand recognition in the aviation sector
- High return on equity suggests efficient use of shareholder money
- Extensive global route network
- Economic downturns significantly reduce travel demand
- Rising fuel costs can quickly erode profitability
- Operational disruptions from strikes or technical issues
What do Delta Air Lines's numbers mean?
How much money does Delta Air Lines make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Delta Air Lines pay a dividend?
Yes - Delta Air Lines currently pays a dividend of about 0.9% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Delta Air Lines report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Delta Air Lines is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-08 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-10 | $1.49 | $1.56 | Beat +5% |
| 2026-04-08 | $0.57 | $0.64 | Beat +11% |
| 2026-01-13 | $1.55 | $1.55 | In line |
| 2025-10-09 | $1.53 | $1.71 | Beat +12% |
| 2025-07-10 | $2.06 | $2.10 | Beat +2% |
| 2025-04-09 | $0.39 | $0.46 | Beat +19% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Delta Air Lines came in ahead of what analysts expected 5 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
More in Industrials
Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
GE Vernova
Global Payments Inc.
Vertiv Holdings Co
Howmet Aerospace Inc.
EMCOR Group, Inc.
Southwest Airlines Co.
Masco CorporationWhat are the scenarios for Delta Air Lines?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Delta Air Lines?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong brand recognition in the aviation sector
- High return on equity suggests efficient use of shareholder money
- Extensive global route network
- Low net profit margins leave little room for error
- Earnings growth has been negative recently
- Highly sensitive to external factors like fuel prices and weather
- Economic downturns significantly reduce travel demand
- Rising fuel costs can quickly erode profitability
- Operational disruptions from strikes or technical issues
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained, long-term drop in global air travel demand
- A permanent shift in corporate culture away from business travel
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.