Southwest Airlines Ends Open Seating Policy
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 28 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Policy Shift: Southwest Airlines has officially ended its open seating policy, which has been in place for over 54 years, in favor of assigned seating to enhance customer satisfaction and increase revenue, with projections of over $4 billion in earnings before interest and taxes.
- Customer Reactions: While 80% of customers prefer assigned seating, some loyal passengers express disappointment, feeling that the airline has lost its uniqueness, which could lead to potential customer attrition.
- Market Competition: This policy change aligns with consumer demand for certainty in seating, as Southwest aims to enhance its market share by adopting industry standards, especially after expanding its network to Hawaii and Costa Rica.
- Financial Outlook: Southwest anticipates a tripling of earnings per share to $3.19 in 2026, driven in part by the new seating policy, reflecting the company's optimistic outlook on future financial performance.
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Analyst Views on CSWC
Wall Street analysts forecast CSWC stock price to rise
5 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 21.820
Low
21.00
Averages
22.13
High
24.00
Current: 21.820
Low
21.00
Averages
22.13
High
24.00
About CSWC
Capital Southwest Corporation is an internally managed business development company. The Company is a market lending firm focused on supporting the acquisition and growth of middle market businesses with investments across the capital structure, including first lien, second lien and non-control equity co-investments. It specializes in providing customized debt and equity financing to lower middle market (LMM) companies in a broad range of investment segments located primarily in the United States. Its investment objective is to produce attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating current income from its debt investments and capital appreciation from its equity and equity-related investments. It invests primarily in first-lien debt securities, secured by security interests in portfolio company assets. It also invests in equity interests in its portfolio companies alongside its debt securities. It also offers managerial assistance to its portfolio companies.
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.
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- Dividend Payment Schedule: The dividend will be payable on April 30 for shareholders of record as of April 15, with an ex-dividend date also set for April 15, ensuring shareholders receive their returns in a timely manner.
- Quarterly Supplemental Dividend: The company has also announced a quarterly supplemental dividend of $0.06 per share, payable on June 30, further enhancing overall shareholder returns and reflecting confidence in future profitability.
- Investment Return Target: Capital Southwest outlines a low to mid-teens equity return target for its new joint venture, demonstrating the company's strategic intent to advance disciplined portfolio growth and attract more investor interest.
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- Dividend Announcement: Capital Southwest Corporation's Board of Directors has declared a regular monthly dividend of $0.1934 per share for April, May, and June 2026, indicating strong cash flow and profitability, which is expected to bolster investor confidence.
- Supplemental Dividend: The company also announced a quarterly supplemental dividend of $0.06 per share payable in June 2026, further enhancing shareholder returns and reflecting optimistic expectations for future earnings.
- Dividend Reinvestment Plan: Capital Southwest offers a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) that allows registered shareholders to automatically reinvest dividends into company stock, increasing the attractiveness of long-term investments and promoting stock price stability.
- Investment Portfolio Size: As of December 31, 2025, the company had approximately $2.0 billion in investments at fair value, focusing on supporting the acquisition and growth of middle-market businesses, showcasing its strong financing capabilities and flexibility in the market.
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- Dividend Stability: The Board declared a regular dividend of $0.58 per share and a supplemental dividend of $0.06 per share for the March 2026 quarter, totaling $0.64, reflecting the company's confidence in future cash flows and commitment to returning value to shareholders.
- New Joint Venture Launch: The company established a new first-out senior loan joint venture with a private credit asset manager, expected to enhance competitiveness in the core lower middle market and generate low to mid-teens equity returns once fully ramped, marking a significant strategic shift for the company.
- Portfolio Expansion: The company committed $244 million across 8 new and 16 existing portfolio companies, with total assets growing to $1.8 billion, a 19% year-over-year increase, indicating the company's proactive expansion and growth potential in the market.
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- Net Asset Value Increase: The net asset value per share rose to $16.75 in Q3 from $16.62 in the previous quarter, reflecting improved asset quality and enhanced investment returns, which further bolsters investor confidence.
- Record New Commitments: The company originated $244 million in new commitments during the quarter, including $199.4 million in eight new portfolio companies, showcasing its proactive strategy in expanding its investment portfolio and capitalizing on market opportunities.
- Asset Operations Earnings: The net increase in net assets from operations reached $32.9 million in Q4, up from $25.6 million in Q2, demonstrating ongoing improvements in asset management and investment returns, thereby enhancing its future growth potential.
See More
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- Net Investment Income Performance: Pre-tax net investment income stood at $34.6 million, translating to $0.60 per weighted average common share, reflecting the company's stability in income generation, which helps bolster investor confidence.
- Portfolio Scale: As of the reporting date, the total investment portfolio reached $2.0 billion, with a credit portfolio of $1.8 billion, 99% of which consists of first lien senior secured debt, showcasing the company's strategic choices in risk management and yield acquisition.
- New Investment Commitments: The company made $241.4 million in new committed credit investments during the quarter, demonstrating a proactive approach to seizing market opportunities, while current non-accruals have a fair value of $29.2 million, representing 1.5% of the total investment portfolio, reflecting a degree of risk management capability.
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- Additional Earnings Releases: In addition to the aforementioned companies, others like ASH, DOC, DVA, FN, MTG, NJR, RMBS, TWO, and WWD will also report earnings after the market closes on Monday, making it crucial for investors to monitor these performance metrics closely.
- Market Reaction Expectations: The market is generally expecting these earnings reports to significantly influence the stock prices of the respective companies, particularly in the current economic climate where investor focus on corporate profitability remains heightened.
- Earnings Season Calendar: Seeking Alpha has provided a comprehensive earnings season calendar, assisting investors in staying informed about the timing of various companies' earnings releases to make more informed investment decisions.
See More
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- Monthly Dividend Declaration: Capital Southwest has declared a monthly dividend of $0.1934 per share, consistent with previous distributions, indicating the company's stable cash flow and shareholder return strategy, which is expected to bolster investor confidence.
- Dividend Payment Schedule: The dividend will be payable on April 30 for shareholders of record as of April 15, with an ex-dividend date also set for April 15, ensuring shareholders receive their returns in a timely manner.
- Quarterly Supplemental Dividend: The company has also announced a quarterly supplemental dividend of $0.06 per share, payable on June 30, further enhancing overall shareholder returns and reflecting confidence in future profitability.
- Investment Return Target: Capital Southwest outlines a low to mid-teens equity return target for its new joint venture, demonstrating the company's strategic intent to advance disciplined portfolio growth and attract more investor interest.
See More
Capital Southwest Corporation Declares Quarterly Dividends for 2026
- Dividend Announcement: Capital Southwest Corporation's Board of Directors has declared a regular monthly dividend of $0.1934 per share for April, May, and June 2026, indicating strong cash flow and profitability, which is expected to bolster investor confidence.
- Supplemental Dividend: The company also announced a quarterly supplemental dividend of $0.06 per share payable in June 2026, further enhancing shareholder returns and reflecting optimistic expectations for future earnings.
- Dividend Reinvestment Plan: Capital Southwest offers a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) that allows registered shareholders to automatically reinvest dividends into company stock, increasing the attractiveness of long-term investments and promoting stock price stability.
- Investment Portfolio Size: As of December 31, 2025, the company had approximately $2.0 billion in investments at fair value, focusing on supporting the acquisition and growth of middle-market businesses, showcasing its strong financing capabilities and flexibility in the market.
See More
Capital Southwest Reports Strong Q3 2026 Earnings with New Joint Venture
- Investment Income Growth: Capital Southwest reported a pretax net investment income of $0.60 per share for Q3 2026, with total investment income reaching $61.4 million, up from $56.9 million in the prior quarter, demonstrating effective portfolio management and market adaptability.
- Dividend Stability: The Board declared a regular dividend of $0.58 per share and a supplemental dividend of $0.06 per share for the March 2026 quarter, totaling $0.64, reflecting the company's confidence in future cash flows and commitment to returning value to shareholders.
- New Joint Venture Launch: The company established a new first-out senior loan joint venture with a private credit asset manager, expected to enhance competitiveness in the core lower middle market and generate low to mid-teens equity returns once fully ramped, marking a significant strategic shift for the company.
- Portfolio Expansion: The company committed $244 million across 8 new and 16 existing portfolio companies, with total assets growing to $1.8 billion, a 19% year-over-year increase, indicating the company's proactive expansion and growth potential in the market.
See More
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- Investment Income Growth: Capital Southwest reported total investment income of $61.5 million for Q3, exceeding the average analyst estimate of $57.9 million and rising from $56.9 million in the previous quarter, indicating effective portfolio management and a recovering market demand.
- Net Asset Value Increase: The net asset value per share rose to $16.75 in Q3 from $16.62 in the previous quarter, reflecting improved asset quality and enhanced investment returns, which further bolsters investor confidence.
- Record New Commitments: The company originated $244 million in new commitments during the quarter, including $199.4 million in eight new portfolio companies, showcasing its proactive strategy in expanding its investment portfolio and capitalizing on market opportunities.
- Asset Operations Earnings: The net increase in net assets from operations reached $32.9 million in Q4, up from $25.6 million in Q2, demonstrating ongoing improvements in asset management and investment returns, thereby enhancing its future growth potential.
See More
Capital Southwest Reports Q3 Investment Income Growth
- Investment Income Growth: Capital Southwest reported total investment income of $61.4 million in Q3, an 8.2% increase from $56.9 million in the previous quarter, indicating effective portfolio management and a rebound in market demand.
- Net Investment Income Performance: Pre-tax net investment income stood at $34.6 million, translating to $0.60 per weighted average common share, reflecting the company's stability in income generation, which helps bolster investor confidence.
- Portfolio Scale: As of the reporting date, the total investment portfolio reached $2.0 billion, with a credit portfolio of $1.8 billion, 99% of which consists of first lien senior secured debt, showcasing the company's strategic choices in risk management and yield acquisition.
- New Investment Commitments: The company made $241.4 million in new committed credit investments during the quarter, demonstrating a proactive approach to seizing market opportunities, while current non-accruals have a fair value of $29.2 million, representing 1.5% of the total investment portfolio, reflecting a degree of risk management capability.
See More
Major Earnings Reports Expected After Monday's Close
- Major Earnings Preview: After Monday's close, companies such as Palantir Technologies, Simon Property Group, NXP Semiconductors, Capital Southwest Corporation, and Teradyne are set to release their earnings reports, with market participants keenly anticipating the potential impact on stock prices.
- Additional Earnings Releases: In addition to the aforementioned companies, others like ASH, DOC, DVA, FN, MTG, NJR, RMBS, TWO, and WWD will also report earnings after the market closes on Monday, making it crucial for investors to monitor these performance metrics closely.
- Market Reaction Expectations: The market is generally expecting these earnings reports to significantly influence the stock prices of the respective companies, particularly in the current economic climate where investor focus on corporate profitability remains heightened.
- Earnings Season Calendar: Seeking Alpha has provided a comprehensive earnings season calendar, assisting investors in staying informed about the timing of various companies' earnings releases to make more informed investment decisions.
See More
