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5 Best Airline Stocks to Buy for Q4 2025
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This page covers the best airline stocks and explains why you might want to invest in them. Learn the fundamentals of what makes the best stocks in the airline industry and find out where to invest.
What are the top airline stocks to buy?
Copy link to sectionYou can own shares in some of the most successful airline companies by investing in stocks within the airline industry. Our experts have been through the stock market to choose their favourites and you can find them ranked in the table below. Click the links to find up to date price information or read on for a summary of each company in turn.
| # | Stock ticker | Company name | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LUV | Southwest Airlines | Learn more > |
| 2 | DAL | Delta Air Lines, Inc. | Learn more > |
| 3 | AAL | American Airlines Group | Learn more > |
| 4 | RYAAY | Ryanair | Learn more > |
| 5 | EZJ | EasyJet PLC | Learn more > |
1. Southwest Airlines [NYSE: LUV]
Copy link to section- Market Cap: $21 billion
- P/E Ratio: 25
- Revenue Growth: 7.6%
- Stock Price: $28
Southwest Airlines is one of the biggest airlines in the US, generating over $26 billon in annual revenue and over 817 aircraft. The company pioneered the concept of low-cost flying, a move that has seen it pass some of the legacy airlines in multiple areas.
Southwest Airlines’ stock price has not done well in the past few years, which has seen its stock plunge by over 44% in the past five years. This happened after several PR issues that exposed its weak technology.
Southwest has now vowed to upgrade its system, which explains why its net profit has been falling. In June 2024, it was reported that Elliot Management, a highly feared activist investor, had taken a large position in the company.
Analysts expect that he will help to accelerate its turnaround, a move that could push its stock price higher.
2. Delta Air Lines, Inc. [NYSE: DAL]
Copy link to section- Market Cap: $32 billion
- P/E Ratio: 7
- Revenue Growth: 9.3%
- Stock Price: $50
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is an American passenger airline company that operates both domestically and internationally. The company’s segments include both airline and refinery, making it a viable stock for investors old and new. The company currently enjoys market presence and has commercial hubs across airports in Amsterdam, London, Mexico City, Seoul, and Paris.
Also experiencing the industry-trend of a downturn in profits during the pandemic, Delta has a been executing promising business development strategy since the post-pandemic recovery.
Though a significant industry-wide concern affecting risk assessment for Delta stock is the highly competitive industry. Delta’s prices are often higher than lower-budget airlines and this places significant pressure on the company’s future performance in a stiff post-pandemic market.
The company’s revenue growth and profits have been impressive. Its annual profit surged to over $59 billion in 2023 from $50 billion a year earlier. This growth happened because of Delta’s higher prices and more guests. This trend will continue barring any major travel issue in the aviation industry.
3. American Airlines Group Inc. [NASDAQ: AAL]
Copy link to section- Market Cap: $7.5 billion
- P/E Ratio: 5.6
- Revenue Growth: 25%
- Stock Price: $11
American Airlines is another top airline stock to consider. It is one of the biggest companies in the US with hundreds of planes and almost $50 billion in annual revenues.
American Airlines business has recovered well from the pandemic when its annual revenue dropped to $17.7 billion. It is now generating more revenue than it did during the pandemic while its profits are rising gradually.
The company has more room to boost its profits in the next few years. I expect that its annual profit will grow to over $1.6 billion, where it was before the pandemic started. The only major risk to remember is that American Airlines has over $27 billion in long-term debt against $9 billion in cash, which could affect its returns to investors.
4. Ryanair. [NASDAQ: RYAAY]
Copy link to section- Market Cap: $21 billion
- P/E Ratio: 11
- Revenue Growth: 24%
- Stock Price: $120
Ryanair has grown from a small Irish company into the biggest one in the world by market capitalization. It is one of the most popular regional airlines globally with over $14 billion in annual revenue. In addition to its eponymous brand, the company also owns Lauda, Buzz, and Malta Air.,
The company is beloved because of its lower prices and safety record compared to its peers. While it is a regional low-cost company, it has higher margins. In 2023, Ryanair had gross margins of 28% and a net profit margin of 15%.
Ryanair’s business is growing as evidenced by the 169 million costumes it served in 2023. It expects to carry over 300 million customers by 2034. It also has a strong balance sheet with over 500 million euros in cash on its balance sheet.
The biggest challenge that Ryanair faces is that it operates just Boeing planes at a time when the manufacturer is facing production issues. Boeing’s problems could see it miss its guest numbers if they persist for longer.
5. EasyJet PLC [LSE: EZJ]
Copy link to section- Market Cap: $4.5 billion
- P/E Ratio: 9.4
- Revenue Growth: 25%
- Stock Price: 460p
EasyJet is another great airline stock to buy. The company, which is listed in London, operates a fleet of Airbus planes and travels numerous routes in Europe. In the past few years, it has become one of the biggest challenges to Ryanair because of its lower costs.
EasyJet is a good investment because of its strong balance sheet. It has over $4.2 billion in cash and short-term investments against $2.7 billion in debt. This means that it has one of the best balance sheets in the industry.
EasyJet has more room to grow, thanks to the orders it has made from Airbus and its growing market share in Europe. The challenge for American investors is that they don’t have a direct exposure to the stock since it is listed in London.
Where to buy the best airline stocks
Copy link to sectionThe best place to buy airline stocks is through an online stock broker. We have pulled together the best brokers below so that you can get a quick start simply by following the links in the table.
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What is an airline stock?
Copy link to sectionIt’s a company in the airlines sector operating air transportation services, and managing commercial and/or cargo fleets of air transport. Popular companies that attract investor interest are household names like United Airlines Holdings, Spirit Airlines, Delta Airlines, EasyJet, American Airlines, and businesses of that ilk.
The airline sector is enormous and growing all the time. Travel demand has proved resilient to the pandemic and the industry has battled through other pressures like rising oil prices and the resulting fuel price volatility as well.
Though some air transportation companies are state owned national airlines, there are plenty of private companies to invest in. Make sure to invest in one that’s part of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the international regulator for airlines.
Are airline stocks a good investment?
Copy link to sectionIf you invest with a view of the long term, yes, they can be. Though you need to understand that not only is the airline industry extremely competitive, it’s also very susceptible to unexpected events – the pandemic, high oil prices, strikes and software problems have all caused fewer flights to take off and lower airline revenue over the past few years.
Any investment made must be without expectation of quick profit and with the view of long-term hold for a return. The main concern in the short term is that the industry heavily relies on the price and supply of fuel and fuel prices have incurred dramatic increases in the last couple of years – meaning unpredicted future costs for airline companies.
As with any stock investment, investors must do their own due diligence into the stock and broker that is the right fit for them.
Methodology: How we choose the best airline stocks
Copy link to sectionAt Invezz, our mission is to empower our readers with the most accurate and reliable financial information. Our curated selection of the best stocks in specific industries is designed to provide investors with well-researched, expertly reviewed stock recommendations. Our team follows a rigorous process to ensure our readers receive high-quality, trustworthy stock selections.
- Initial screening. Our team of experienced stock market analysts conducts an initial screening of stocks within the chosen industry. This involves analyzing a broad range of companies based on key financial metrics such as revenue growth, profitability, debt levels, and market capitalization.
- Earnings reports and financial analysis. Analysts review the latest earnings reports of shortlisted companies. This includes a detailed assessment of financial statements, looking for consistent earnings growth, strong balance sheets, and positive cash flow trends. Special attention is given to year-over-year performance and quarterly results.
- Sector analysis. A comprehensive sector analysis is conducted to understand the macroeconomic factors affecting the industry. This includes examining market trends, competitive landscape, regulatory changes, and technological advancements. Our analysts utilize industry reports, market research, and economic forecasts to gain a holistic view of the sector.
- Analyst recommendations. We consider recommendations from reputable sources such as Barron’s and Zacks. These sources provide expert opinions and ratings on stocks, which serve as an additional layer of validation for our selections. Incorporating external analyst recommendations ensures that our curated stocks are backed by a consensus of expert views.
- Internal review. After the initial selection by our analysts, the chosen stocks are reviewed by a sub-editor. The sub-editor ensures that the analysis is clear, concise, and adheres to Invezz’s editorial guidelines. This review process helps maintain the quality and readability of our content, making it accessible to a broad audience.
- Quarterly updates. To ensure our stock recommendations remain relevant and up-to-date, we update the curated section quarterly. Each update cycle involves re-evaluating the stocks based on the latest financial reports, industry developments, and market conditions. This regular update process ensures that our recommendations reflect the most current information available.
Our approach combines expert analysis, comprehensive research, and regular updates to deliver reliable and insightful investment recommendations. Read more about our review process and editorial policy.