Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL)
UndervaluedFundamental
68
Price
$82.17
Market Cap
$55.02B
Part 1 · What the company is worth
Overview
Delta Air Lines, Inc. provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Santiago (Chile), Sao Paulo, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo. It also provides aircraft maintenance and engineering support, repair, and overhaul services; and vacation packages. The company operates through a fleet of approximately 1,314 aircraft. Delta Air Lines, Inc. was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
No editorial profile for this company yet
Direct competitors
Who this company fights with for the same customers
Generated on September 18, 2026 with claude-haiku-4-5 — shared with all users
The other large U.S. network carrier with a comparable hub system and transatlantic and transpacific joint ventures, competing for the same corporate travellers and premium long-haul cabins Delta depends on.
Named by Delta as a network competitor, it overlaps on most major domestic trunk routes and leads the rival oneworld alliance on the same international markets.
The largest U.S. domestic point-to-point carrier, competing directly with Delta for price-sensitive domestic passengers in and around Delta's hub cities.
After absorbing Hawaiian Airlines it competes with Delta on West Coast, Seattle-hub and Hawaii routes, and is building its own long-haul international network from Seattle.
Competes with Delta in the New York and Boston markets and on Caribbean and transatlantic leisure routes, targeting the same coastal travellers with a lower-fare premium product.
An ultra-low-cost carrier that Delta lists among its domestic competitors, undercutting Delta's main-cabin and basic-economy fares on overlapping leisure routes.
Balance Sheet & Liquidity
Revenue
$68.29B
Trailing 12 months (through 6/30/2026)
Net Income
$3.95B
Trailing 12 months (through 6/30/2026)
Free Cash Flow
$3.84B
Total Equity
$20.85B
Total Liabilities
$60.46B
Current Ratio
0.42
Interest Coverage
-
Debt/EBITDA
2.42
Earnings Per Share
Revenue & Net Income
Free Cash Flow
Income Breakdown
Historical statement
Margins over time
Debt over time
How heavy the debt is
Growth grid
Growth — Revenue
Fair Value Estimation
Fair Value
$124.84
Current Price
$82.17
Margin of Safety
+34.2%
Fair Value Range
$81.15 - $168.54
Spread across the valuation methods used, not a statistically calibrated confidence interval.
Estimation Methods
Valuation Metrics
P/E Ratio
13.65
ROE
24.0%
P/B Ratio
2.48
P/FCF
14.32
Gross Margin
-
ROIC
8.3%
Profitability Radar
Value Creation (Economic Moat)
ROIC
8.3%
WACC
9.1%
ROIC − WACC
-0.8 pp
ROIC is roughly in line with the cost of capital — the company is barely covering its capital cost.
Fundamental Analysis Criteria
Passed (16)
- EPS shows upward trend
- ROIC 8.3%
- P/FCF 14.32
- P/B ratio 2.48
- Debt/equity ratio
- Operating margin 8.1%
- Positive free cash flow
- Debt/EBITDA
- Return on tangible assets
- ROE 19.3%
- Revenue growth 5Y 30.0%
- Analyst consensus: 91% buy
- Earnings surprise, average 6.5%
- Earnings quality (operating cash flow / net income) 2.06
- Share dilution 0.7%
- Piotroski F-Score 7/9
Failed (7)
- Price CAGR 4.97%
- CapEx intensity
- Current ratio
- Low reliance on intangibles
- Price below Graham Number
- DCF valuation (Overvalued)
- Net margin trend 5.8% vs 7.2%
Unavailable (4)
- Gross margin –
- Dividend payout –
- Interest coverage
- PEG ratio (needs P/E > 0 and growth > 0)
Piotroski F-Score
Strong financial health
Earnings Quality
High quality: earnings backed by cash
Share Dilution
Share count is stable
Institutional Holdings
Governance
Executive Team
| Name | Title | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Edward H. Bastian | CEO & Director | 67 |
| Mr. Peter W. Carter J.D. | President | 61 |
| Mr. Daniel Charles Janki | Executive VP & COO | 56 |
| Mr. Glen William Hauenstein | Strategic Advisor | 64 |
| Mr. Alain M. Bellemare | EVP, President of Intl., Chairman of Delta TechOps & Chairman of Advisory Board of Delta MRO | 64 |
| Mr. Erik Storey Snell | Executive VP & CFO | 47 |
| Ms. Julia Ann McConnell | Principal Accounting Officer | 56 |
| Ms. Julie Stewart | Vice President of Investor Relations & Corporate Development | - |
| Captain Brad Sheehan | Senior VP of Corporate Safety, Security & Compliance | - |
| Mr. Tim Mapes | Senior VP & Chief Communications Officer | 60 |
Audit Risk
6
Board Risk
1
Compensation Risk
1
Shareholder Rights Risk
3
Part 2 · The price and when to enter
This part won't tell you whether the company is worth owning: it helps you choose when to buy it, once the fundamentals have convinced you. Inside: technical analysis, potential, historical drawdowns, gamma exposure.
Documents
- View document
Annual Report (10-K)
A yearly overview of the business, its financial results, and the risks it faces.
Filed on 2026-02-11
- View document
Quarterly Report (10-Q)
A snapshot of financial performance for the most recent three-month period.
Filed on 2026-10-09
- View document
Current Report (8-K)
An announcement of a major event, such as a leadership change or big news.
Filed on 2026-10-09
via SEC EDGAR
Income History
via SEC EDGAR
Latest News
Recent headlines for DAL, sourced from Markets Gazette.
- 2d agoNEGATIVE‘I drive a Tesla’: After Elon Musk said he’d lose his job, Delta CEO Ed Bastian says there’s ‘no tit for tat’ as airline unveils earnings miss
Delta Air Lines reported its first earnings miss in two years, primarily attributed to a significant 62% surge in fuel costs. CEO Ed Bastian commented on the situation, stating there was 'no tit for tat' regarding Elon Musk's Starlink service, framing the business decision as separate from personal interactions. This earnings miss, driven by operational cost pressures, signals potential headwinds for the airline's profitability in the near term, warranting investor caution.
- 2d agoPOSITIVEDelta Air Lines, ricavi record nel terzo trimestre
Delta Air Lines announced record operating revenues for the quarter ending September 2026, driven by robust demand and increased fares. The airline's strong performance indicates a healthy travel market and effective pricing strategies. For investors, this suggests continued operational efficiency and potential for further profit growth, reinforcing Delta's position in the airline industry. The company's ability to capitalize on high demand and optimize fare structures provides a positive outlook for its financial stability and shareholder returns.
- 2d agoNEUTRALDelta Demand Looks Good Despite Fuel Prices, Jeffries Analyst Says
Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu reviewed Delta Air Lines' third-quarter performance, noting the company's decision to lower its full-year earnings forecast due to elevated jet fuel costs. Despite this downward revision, the analyst's commentary suggests that underlying demand for air travel remains robust. Investors will be monitoring Delta's ability to manage fuel price volatility and its capacity to pass on costs to consumers while maintaining passenger volumes in the upcoming quarters.
- 14d agoNEGATIVEDelta apre lunedì con due shock: gli investitori guardano il problema sbagliato
Delta Air Lines faces dual challenges as a flight diversion due to a mechanical issue draws public attention, while a surge in Brent crude oil prices above $106 per barrel threatens airline profitability. The diversion of flight DL251 from Barcelona to Boston to Porto, Portugal, due to smoke in the cabin, resulted in minor passenger injuries. While the mechanical issue is concerning, the more significant financial threat for investors lies in the rising oil costs, a major operating expense for airlines. This could put renewed pressure on Delta's earnings, potentially impacting its stock performance.
- 8/17/2026POSITIVEBerkshire Hathaway incrementa le quote in Delta Air Lines e Alphabet
Berkshire Hathaway has increased its stake in Delta Air Lines, utilizing its substantial cash reserves. This move signals strong confidence from one of the world's most respected investors in the airline's future prospects and operational resilience. The investment, detailed in regulatory filings, suggests Berkshire Hathaway sees significant value and growth potential in Delta, potentially driven by recovering travel demand and strategic operational improvements. Investors often view such actions by major investment firms as a positive endorsement, potentially leading to increased market interest and upward pressure on the stock price.
- 7/13/2026NEUTRALDelta CEO Says Oil Prices Will Stay 'Sticky for Longer'
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian anticipates oil prices will remain 'sticky for longer,' a factor that typically pressures airline margins. However, Bastian expressed confidence that Delta will 'do just fine,' citing robust demand for premium and international travel. This outlook suggests the airline is well-positioned to absorb potential cost increases, with strong revenue streams expected to offset higher fuel expenses. Investors will monitor Delta's ability to maintain profitability amidst these evolving market conditions.
- 7/13/2026POSITIVEDelta Will Do Just Fine With High Fuel Prices, CEO Says
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian stated that the airline is resilient to elevated fuel prices, citing robust demand across premium, corporate, and international travel segments. He highlighted a consumer trend towards upgrading seats, indicating a willingness to pay for enhanced travel experiences. This suggests strong pricing power and operational efficiency, allowing Delta to navigate cost pressures effectively. For investors, this points to sustained revenue growth and profitability, potentially outperforming competitors facing similar challenges.
via Markets Gazette