Josh Brown names top travel stocks poised to weather geopolitical risks

Travel stocks remain in focus this week as escalations continue between the US and Iran, with the Trump administration threatening to soon hit Tehran “extremely hard".

Geopolitical friction often serves as a major headwind for the travel industry as it drives up jet fuel prices – its highest variable cost – and forces expensive flight rerouting.

Additionally, heightened conflict also dampens consumer confidence, leading to cancelled bookings and reduced demand as travellers avoid uncertainty – ultimately squeezing airlines and hospitality profit margins.

Still, market expert Josh Brown, the chief executive of Ritholtz Wealth Management, believes the following three travel stocks are strongly positioned to remain resilient amidst the US-Iran war.

Hilton Hotels (NYSE: HLT)

Hilton has proven to be a powerhouse compounder, delivering an annualised total return of roughly 23% over the last decade; a percentage gain that matches or exceeds the performance of tech titans like Meta Platforms (META) and Microsoft (MSFT).

By functioning mostly as a loyalty points business (asset-light model), HLT maintains high profit margins with lower real estate risk.

In 2025, the company achieved a net unit growth rate of 6.7% and expanded its operational footprint to over 9,000 hotels.

Financially, Hilton Hotels expects its per-share earnings to grow by 14% on a year-over-year basis, while its expectations for revenue growth currently sit at 9%.

According to Josh Brown, HLT stock is showing strength above the $305 level – as long as it holds above its 200-day moving average (MA) near the $280 level, the long-term uptrend remains intact.  

Viking Holdings (NYSE: VIK)

Josh Brown sees Viking stock as the technical leader in cruise travel, demonstrating a “controlled” consolidation following a stellar 2025, where total revenue went up nearly 22% to $6.5 billion.

VIK entered the new year with immense momentum – as of mid-February, it had already booked 86% of its annual capacity, representing $5.96 billion in advance bookings.

With a 54% repeat guest rate and more than 50% of bookings made directly, Viking has effectively insulated its margins from rising customer acquisition costs.

Investors should watch for a push back toward all-time highs near $80, with a major support floor established around the $65-$70 range, Brown revealed in a recent segment of CNBC.

Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE: DAL)

The airline industry has benefited from a persistent shift toward premium travel.

DAL shares at a compelling P/E ratio of less than 9x currently remain a top pick due to resilience in luxury cabin spending.

Delta Air Lines performance in 2025 was marked by record-breaking traffic and high-margin sales streams – providing a cushion for its share price that sits near the $66 level at the time of writing.

While the market monitors geopolitical tensions and fuel volatility, this airline major is supported by a consumer base that prioritises experiences over physical goods.

A 1.14% dividend yield makes Delta Air Lines even more attractive to own for the long-term, Josh Brown concluded.