Delta Air Lines vs JetBlue Airways: Competitive Analysis
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Delta's Competitive Edge: Delta Air Lines benefits from a lucrative partnership with American Express, generating approximately $8.2 billion annually, which accounts for over 10% of its revenue, showcasing its strong position in the premium travel market while also introducing customer concentration risks.
- JetBlue's Turnaround Strategy: JetBlue Airways is implementing its 'JetForward' strategy to optimize its route network and manage rising infrastructure costs, despite experiencing a revenue decline to nearly $9.1 billion and a net loss of $602 million in FY 2025, highlighting the challenges it faces in its recovery efforts.
- Financial Health Comparison: As of December 2025, Delta's debt-to-equity ratio stands at approximately 1.0, indicating a relatively healthy financial position, whereas JetBlue's ratio is a concerning 4.8, reflecting significant financial strain and liquidity challenges.
- Market Outlook: Delta is projected to see an 11% revenue increase to $70.3 billion in 2026, despite a decline in net income, while JetBlue plans to introduce domestic first class to boost revenue, although it faces the risk of larger net losses during its recovery phase.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy DAL?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on DAL
Wall Street analysts forecast DAL stock price to fall
18 Analyst Rating
18 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 93.170
Low
77.00
Averages
83.50
High
90.00
Current: 93.170
Low
77.00
Averages
83.50
High
90.00
About DAL
Delta Air Lines, Inc. provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States and around the world. The Company has hubs and markets in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Bogota, Boston, Detroit, Lima, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Santiago (Chile), Sao Paulo, Seattle, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo. Its segments include Airline and Refinery. Its airline segment is managed as a single business unit that provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States and around the world and includes its loyalty program, as well as other ancillary businesses. Its refinery segment operates for the benefit of the airline segment by providing jet fuel to the airline segment from its own production and through jet fuel obtained through agreements with third parties. The refinery's production consists of jet fuel as well as non-jet fuel products.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Delta Air Lines Stock Rises for Seven Consecutive Days
- Stock Performance: Delta Air Lines (DAL) shares rose 0.6% to $93.10 on Monday, marking seven consecutive days of gains, with a total increase of 10% over the past six sessions, indicating strong market performance and investor confidence in the airline industry's recovery.
- Year-to-Date Gains: The stock has surged nearly 33% year-to-date and is up 12% over the past month, suggesting enhanced competitiveness in the airline market, which may attract more investor interest in its future growth potential.
- Dividend Increase: Delta declared a quarterly dividend of $0.215 per share, a 14.7% increase from the previous $0.188, which not only boosts shareholder returns but also reflects the company's positive outlook on profitability despite challenges from rising fuel costs.
- Analyst Ratings: Seeking Alpha's Quant Rating gives DAL a Hold rating of 3.2, with 25 analysts rating it Buy or higher, indicating market optimism about its future profitability, although analysts caution about potential earnings pressure in Q2 and Q3 due to elevated fuel costs.
See More
Market Outlook and Company Updates
- Market Performance: On the last trading day of June, the S&P 500 is up nearly 14% and the Nasdaq has risen almost 20%, marking the best quarterly performance since Q2 2020, reflecting optimistic market sentiment regarding economic recovery.
- Comcast Upgrade: Deutsche Bank upgraded Comcast from hold to buy, anticipating that its planned spin-off of NBCUniversal will unlock value, leading to a 4.5% rise in shares yesterday and an additional 2.5% increase in early trading, indicating strong market confidence in future growth.
- Semiconductor Equipment Price Target Increases: Price targets for Applied Materials and Lam Research were significantly raised from $575 and $385 to $900 and $475, respectively, highlighting their critical role in semiconductor manufacturing amid a computing shortage.
- Airline Price Target Increases: Wells Fargo raised Delta Air Lines' price target from $75 to $105 and United Airlines' from $130 to $165, benefiting from a drop in crude transport prices, showcasing the recovery potential in the airline industry.
See More
Delta Air Lines Q2 Earnings Forecast
- Earnings Release Date: Delta Air Lines is set to report its Q2 earnings on July 10, with market attention focused on its performance, as the expected earnings per share (EPS) of $1.48 represents a significant decline from $2.10 last year, indicating profitability challenges.
- Earnings Forecast Decline: The anticipated EPS drop of 29.52% may undermine investor confidence in Delta's future growth potential, particularly in the highly competitive airline industry where margins are already tight.
- Mixed Analyst Ratings: Analysts have mixed ratings regarding Delta's upcoming earnings report, reflecting uncertainty about the company's future performance, which could lead to stock price volatility as investors react to the news.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Given the declining earnings forecast, investors may respond negatively to Delta's stock price, potentially impacting its competitive position and market confidence within the airline sector.
See More
Nike Shares Plummet, Underperforming in Dow Industrials
- Nike Stock Decline: Nike shares have fallen nearly 20% over the past three months and are down 48% from the August 2025 high, making it the worst performer in the Dow Industrials, only better than Chevron, indicating significant weakness in its market position.
- Year-to-Date Performance: Year-to-date, Nike's stock is down about 35%, and no other Dow constituent has performed worse in the past 12 months, highlighting the challenges it faces in the highly competitive sports apparel market.
- Constellation Brands Struggles: Constellation Brands, the maker of Corona and Modelo beers, has seen its stock drop nearly 8% in the last three months and is down 21% from its July 2025 high, reflecting pressure in its market segment.
- Healthcare Sector Strength: The healthcare sector has risen nearly 8% in the past month, with Moderna's stock surging 47%, indicating a strong recovery in the sector and investor confidence in its growth potential.
See More
Analysis of Electric Vehicle Market Dynamics
- Market Trend Shift: EV stocks soared in 2021 due to low interest rates and a surge in post-pandemic vehicle purchases, but many fizzled in 2022 and 2023 as inflation and rising rates dampened interest, leading investors to chase hotter AI stocks instead.
- Rivian Production Challenges: Rivian produced 57,232 vehicles in 2023, but expects a drop to 49,476 in 2024 and 42,284 in 2025, primarily due to supply chain constraints and intense competition, although its new R2 SUV is projected to boost annual deliveries to 62,000-67,000.
- BYD Market Expansion: BYD surpassed Tesla to become the world's largest EV maker in 2025 with annual sales of 4.6 million vehicles, indicating strong growth in the EV market, with revenue and EPS expected to grow at CAGRs of 13% and 23% from 2025 to 2028.
- Joby Aviation Prospects: Joby's S4 eVTOL aircraft has backing from major investors like Toyota and Delta, and while it awaits full FAA certification, its revenue is projected to increase nearly ninefold from 2025 to 2028, highlighting significant potential in the future air mobility market.
See More
Rivian, BYD, and Joby's Market Prospects
- Rivian Production Challenges: Rivian produced 57,232 vehicles in 2023 but expects a drop to 49,476 in 2024 due to supply chain constraints and increased competition, which could impact its market share and profitability.
- R2 Model Launch: Rivian plans to launch the R2 SUV starting at $57,990, expecting to boost annual deliveries to 62,000-67,000 vehicles, thereby enhancing its market appeal and gross margins.
- BYD Global Expansion: BYD sold 4.6 million electric vehicles in 2025, surpassing Tesla, and improved production efficiency and market competitiveness through in-house lithium iron phosphate batteries and a vertically integrated supply chain.
- Joby Commercial Flight Plans: Joby aims to launch its first commercial eVTOL flights in the U.S., and although FAA certification is pending, analysts expect revenue to grow nearly ninefold from 2025 to 2028, indicating significant market potential.
See More
Delta Air Lines Stock Rises for Seven Consecutive Days
- Stock Performance: Delta Air Lines (DAL) shares rose 0.6% to $93.10 on Monday, marking seven consecutive days of gains, with a total increase of 10% over the past six sessions, indicating strong market performance and investor confidence in the airline industry's recovery.
- Year-to-Date Gains: The stock has surged nearly 33% year-to-date and is up 12% over the past month, suggesting enhanced competitiveness in the airline market, which may attract more investor interest in its future growth potential.
- Dividend Increase: Delta declared a quarterly dividend of $0.215 per share, a 14.7% increase from the previous $0.188, which not only boosts shareholder returns but also reflects the company's positive outlook on profitability despite challenges from rising fuel costs.
- Analyst Ratings: Seeking Alpha's Quant Rating gives DAL a Hold rating of 3.2, with 25 analysts rating it Buy or higher, indicating market optimism about its future profitability, although analysts caution about potential earnings pressure in Q2 and Q3 due to elevated fuel costs.
See More
Market Outlook and Company Updates
- Market Performance: On the last trading day of June, the S&P 500 is up nearly 14% and the Nasdaq has risen almost 20%, marking the best quarterly performance since Q2 2020, reflecting optimistic market sentiment regarding economic recovery.
- Comcast Upgrade: Deutsche Bank upgraded Comcast from hold to buy, anticipating that its planned spin-off of NBCUniversal will unlock value, leading to a 4.5% rise in shares yesterday and an additional 2.5% increase in early trading, indicating strong market confidence in future growth.
- Semiconductor Equipment Price Target Increases: Price targets for Applied Materials and Lam Research were significantly raised from $575 and $385 to $900 and $475, respectively, highlighting their critical role in semiconductor manufacturing amid a computing shortage.
- Airline Price Target Increases: Wells Fargo raised Delta Air Lines' price target from $75 to $105 and United Airlines' from $130 to $165, benefiting from a drop in crude transport prices, showcasing the recovery potential in the airline industry.
See More
Delta Air Lines Q2 Earnings Forecast
- Earnings Release Date: Delta Air Lines is set to report its Q2 earnings on July 10, with market attention focused on its performance, as the expected earnings per share (EPS) of $1.48 represents a significant decline from $2.10 last year, indicating profitability challenges.
- Earnings Forecast Decline: The anticipated EPS drop of 29.52% may undermine investor confidence in Delta's future growth potential, particularly in the highly competitive airline industry where margins are already tight.
- Mixed Analyst Ratings: Analysts have mixed ratings regarding Delta's upcoming earnings report, reflecting uncertainty about the company's future performance, which could lead to stock price volatility as investors react to the news.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Given the declining earnings forecast, investors may respond negatively to Delta's stock price, potentially impacting its competitive position and market confidence within the airline sector.
See More
Nike Shares Plummet, Underperforming in Dow Industrials
- Nike Stock Decline: Nike shares have fallen nearly 20% over the past three months and are down 48% from the August 2025 high, making it the worst performer in the Dow Industrials, only better than Chevron, indicating significant weakness in its market position.
- Year-to-Date Performance: Year-to-date, Nike's stock is down about 35%, and no other Dow constituent has performed worse in the past 12 months, highlighting the challenges it faces in the highly competitive sports apparel market.
- Constellation Brands Struggles: Constellation Brands, the maker of Corona and Modelo beers, has seen its stock drop nearly 8% in the last three months and is down 21% from its July 2025 high, reflecting pressure in its market segment.
- Healthcare Sector Strength: The healthcare sector has risen nearly 8% in the past month, with Moderna's stock surging 47%, indicating a strong recovery in the sector and investor confidence in its growth potential.
See More
Analysis of Electric Vehicle Market Dynamics
- Market Trend Shift: EV stocks soared in 2021 due to low interest rates and a surge in post-pandemic vehicle purchases, but many fizzled in 2022 and 2023 as inflation and rising rates dampened interest, leading investors to chase hotter AI stocks instead.
- Rivian Production Challenges: Rivian produced 57,232 vehicles in 2023, but expects a drop to 49,476 in 2024 and 42,284 in 2025, primarily due to supply chain constraints and intense competition, although its new R2 SUV is projected to boost annual deliveries to 62,000-67,000.
- BYD Market Expansion: BYD surpassed Tesla to become the world's largest EV maker in 2025 with annual sales of 4.6 million vehicles, indicating strong growth in the EV market, with revenue and EPS expected to grow at CAGRs of 13% and 23% from 2025 to 2028.
- Joby Aviation Prospects: Joby's S4 eVTOL aircraft has backing from major investors like Toyota and Delta, and while it awaits full FAA certification, its revenue is projected to increase nearly ninefold from 2025 to 2028, highlighting significant potential in the future air mobility market.
See More
Rivian, BYD, and Joby's Market Prospects
- Rivian Production Challenges: Rivian produced 57,232 vehicles in 2023 but expects a drop to 49,476 in 2024 due to supply chain constraints and increased competition, which could impact its market share and profitability.
- R2 Model Launch: Rivian plans to launch the R2 SUV starting at $57,990, expecting to boost annual deliveries to 62,000-67,000 vehicles, thereby enhancing its market appeal and gross margins.
- BYD Global Expansion: BYD sold 4.6 million electric vehicles in 2025, surpassing Tesla, and improved production efficiency and market competitiveness through in-house lithium iron phosphate batteries and a vertically integrated supply chain.
- Joby Commercial Flight Plans: Joby aims to launch its first commercial eVTOL flights in the U.S., and although FAA certification is pending, analysts expect revenue to grow nearly ninefold from 2025 to 2028, indicating significant market potential.
See More
