Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL)

In the past six months, Delta Air Lines' stock (DAL) experienced fluctuations. The Q1 2025 earnings report led to a downward revision in revenue growth expectations due to softness in US domestic travel demand, but shares closed up more than 23% after the report. Delta declared quarterly dividends on April 24, 2025, and June 19, 2025. DAL stock underperformed the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) over the past three months and year-to-date, attributed to economic uncertainty. Delta is reducing planned capacity growth in the second half of the year. The company reported a year-over-year increase in top-line revenue in its transatlantic markets in Q4 2024 and anticipates strong performance in these routes for Q1 2025 and beyond.

Demand for Delta's air transportation services is seasonal, with peak travel during the IATA summer season. Delta strategically expands its network with seasonal routes to high-demand leisure markets and increases service during the college football season. Winter is generally considered off-peak, but transatlantic routes are becoming more de-seasonalized, potentially improving profitability during the first quarter. Demand is also influenced by external factors like weather, natural disasters, and economic conditions.

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) is a major global airline headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, operating within the Industrials sector. The company provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo. Its major products and services include passenger transportation, cargo transportation, the SkyMiles loyalty program, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services through Delta TechOps, refinery operations via Monroe Energy, vacation services through Delta Vacations, and digital travel services and technology platforms.

Delta Air Lines operates a global network, serving over 300 destinations in 52 countries across six continents. It utilizes a hub-and-spoke system with nine major hubs in the United States, including Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Salt Lake City, and Seattle/Tacoma. Delta also has international hubs in cities such as Amsterdam, London-Heathrow, Mexico City, Paris, and Seoul-Incheon. Through its regional subsidiaries and the Delta Connection brand, Delta extends its network to smaller cities. Delta is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, further expanding its global reach.

Delta Air Lines had a strong reputation as a premium carrier, but a major IT outage in July 2024, caused by a faulty security update, led to widespread flight cancellations and stranded passengers. This incident resulted in significant financial losses, class-action lawsuits, and a federal investigation, negatively impacting the airline's brand reputation.

Delta Air Lines is a publicly traded company on the NYSE (DAL). Institutional investors hold a significant majority of the stock, ranging from approximately 62.12% to over 78%, with Vanguard Group Inc. being the largest individual shareholder. Individual ownership (insiders) is relatively small, around 0.37%, with top shareholders including Edward H. Bastian (CEO), Glen W. Hauenstein (President), and Peter W. Carter (E.V.P.). Retail investors hold approximately 14.96% of Delta Air Lines stock.