LUV Stock Analysis: Buy, Sell, or Hold?

LUV - Southwest Airlines Co.

AIR TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULED
$47.52
-0.98 (-2.02%) ▼
HOLD
MODERATE Confidence
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Last Updated: January 30, 2026
Earnings: Apr 23, 2026

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Interactive Price Chart (1 Month)

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💡
Bottom Line:
📊 HOLD: LUV shows mixed signals. Fine to hold existing positions. Not urgent to buy or sell.

Long-Term Wealth Forecast (2031)

Based on Analyst Consensus Growth & Historical Valuation

0% (Stagnation) 50% (Hyper Growth)
EST. PRICE IN 2031
$86.62
Based on 14.5% avg growth
INTRINSIC VALUE TODAY
$53.78
11.6% Margin of Safety

How this is calculated: We use a Growth Decay Model: starting with analyst consensus growth (adjusted above) and gradually slowing it down to a long-term terminal rate (4%) by Year 5. This provides a more realistic valuation than assuming constant hyper-growth. We then apply a 13.8x Exit PE.

In-depth Analysis How we analyze

Valuation Analysis: LUV is currently trading at $47.52, which is considered extended relative to its 30-day fair value range of $40.93 to $44.42. The stock's valuation (Forward PE: 15.1) is in line with its historical norms (13.8). At these levels, the market is pricing in 3.0% annual earnings growth.

Technical Outlook: Technically, LUV is in a strong uptrend. Immediate support is located at $40.68, while resistance sits at $49.12.

Market Sentiment: LUV has a strong technical setup (60/100), with favorable trendlines, momentum, and price action for short-term traders. However, the stock is trading significantly above the average Wall Street target of $41.93. The stock is fairly positioned - fine to hold existing positions or accumulate slowly on dips, but not an urgent buy.

Quick Decision Summary

Current Position EXTENDED
Fair Price Range $40.93 - $44.42
Company Quality Score 59/100 (HOLD)
Volume Confirmation HIGH
Confidence Score 51.0%

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All Signals

  • BEARISH: Price extended above range (+7.0% above fair value)
  • BULLISH: Strong technical setup (60/100)
  • BULLISH: High volume confirmation
  • BEARISH: Trading 13.5% above Wall St target ($41.93)
  • BULLISH: Expecting earnings turnaround to 3.0% growth with 1.2% revenue growth

Fair Price Analysis

30-Day Fair Range $40.93 - $44.42
Current vs Fair Value EXTENDED

Support & Resistance Levels

Support Level $40.68
Resistance Level $49.12
Current Trend Strong Uptrend

Fundamental Context

Forward P/E (Next Year Est.) 15.05
Wall Street Target $41.93 (-13.5%)
Revenue Growth (YoY) 1.2%
Earnings Growth (YoY) -9.1%
Profit Margin 1.4%
Valuation Premium vs History +3.0% premium
PE vs Historical 15.1 vs 13.8 FAIR
Market-Implied Price Targets If current PE multiple persists
Implied Growth (YoY): +3.0% (market-implied from PE analysis)
1-Year Target $49.96 (+3%)
2-Year Target $51.45 (+6%)
3-Year Target $53.00 (+9%)
3-Yr Target (if PE normalizes) (PE: 15→14) PE COMPRESSION $48.60 (+0%)
Earnings growth offset by PE compression
3-Year Scenarios Using analyst projected EPS growth
Bull: (PE: 22.3, Growth: 238.5%) $242.59 (+400%)
Base: (SPY PE: 15.0, Growth: 238.5%) $163.69 (+238%)
Bear: (PE: 12.8, Growth: 238.5%) $139.13 (+187%)
📈 Valuation based on Current Earnings
RECOVERY PLAY: Stock looks expensive now (15x PE), but valuation improves significantly next year (15x PE) as earnings recover.
Forward PE: 15.15 | Forward EPS (Implied): $3.14
Bull Case $57.38 (+21%)
Analyst growth 15.0%, PE expands to 15.9
Base Case $47.52 (0%)
Market implied 0.0%, PE stable at 15.2
Bear Case $36.35 (-24%)
Severe decline -15.0%, PE contracts to 13.6
These are projections based on PE multiples and EPS growth scenarios, not predictions. Actual results may vary significantly.
Last updated: January 31, 2026 2:10 AM ET
Data refreshes hourly during market hours. Next update: 3:10 AM
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Ticker Score Recommendation Change %
Insider Activity (6 Months)
3
Buys
1
Sells
+
Net
INSIDERS BUYING
Recent Transactions
Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. BUY 2025-09-05
Gregg A Saretsky BUY 3345 shares 2025-08-06
Sarah Feinberg BUY 1500 shares 2025-08-05

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Professional options setups generated by AI based on today's LUV price and gamma walls.

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