Delta Stock Remains a Strong Buy After Earnings
Delta stock is soaring Friday after the air carrier beat earnings expectations and issued a strong outlook. Here's what investors need to know.


Delta Air Lines (DAL) stock sailed higher out of the gate Friday after the air carrier beat top- and bottom-line expectations for its fourth quarter and issued a strong outlook for the first quarter.
In the three months ended December 31, Delta's operating revenue increased 5.7% year over year to $14.4 billion. Its earnings per share (EPS) rose 44.5% from the year-ago period to $1.85.
"Delta built momentum as we closed out 2024, with December quarter total revenue growth of 5.7% coming in ahead of guidance as our team delivered industry-leading operational performance and demand trends accelerated through the quarter," said Delta President Glen Hauenstein in a statement.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The results beat analysts' expectations. Wall Street was anticipating revenue of $14.2 billion and earnings of $1.75 per share, according to CNBC.
For the first quarter of fiscal 2025, Delta said it expects to achieve revenue growth in the range of 7% to 9% and EPS of 70 cents to $1.00. This is ahead of the 5% revenue growth and 65 cents to 97 cents in earnings per share analysts are anticipating.
For the full fiscal year, Delta added that it expects earnings per share to grow more than 10%.
"As we move into 2025, we expect strong demand for travel to continue, with consumers increasingly seeking the premium products and experiences that Delta provides," CEO Ed Bastian said in a statement.
Is Delta stock a buy, sell or hold?
Delta Air Lines is up more than 60% in the past year and Wall Street is very bullish on the industrial stock.
According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the average analyst target price for DAL stock is $77.06, representing implied upside of more than 13% to current levels. Additionally, the consensus recommendation is a Strong Buy.
Financial services firm Argus Research has a Buy rating on the large-cap stock with a $70 price target.
"We expect demand for leisure travel to remain strong in 2025," wrote Argus analyst John Staszak in a January 6 note. "We also expect a continued recovery in international traffic. Based on management's plans to increase unit revenue and reduce debt, we believe DAL shares are attractively valued at 7.5 times our 2025 EPS estimate."
Related Content
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
Joey Solitro is a freelance financial journalist at Kiplinger with more than a decade of experience. A longtime equity analyst, Joey has covered a range of industries for media outlets including The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Market Realist, and TipRanks. Joey holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.
-
Retirement Savings On Track? How Much Should You Have Between 61 and 65
JPMorgan’s guide can help baby boomers determine whether they have saved enough for a retirement pegged to their income level.
By Donna Fuscaldo Published
-
Empower Review: Is This Financial Hub Right for You?
Empower offers you a way to see all your financial accounts and set savings goals in one digital hub.
By Sean Jackson Published
-
What You Don't Know About Annuities Can Hurt You
Lack of awareness leads many to overlook these potent financial tools, and with the possibility of running out of money in retirement, that could really hurt.
By Ken Nuss Published
-
Three Keys to Logical Investing When Markets Are Volatile
Focusing on these market fundamentals can help investors stay grounded rather than being swayed by emotion or market hysteria.
By Dennis D. Coughlin, CFP, AIF Published
-
Yes, the Markets Are Spooked, But You Don't Have to Be
It's human nature for investors to freak out in a downturn. But with a little discipline, you can overcome the urge to sell and stay focused on long-term goals.
By Jimmy Lee, IAR Published
-
Remembering Bogle: A New Standard for Municipal Investing
Improvements in technology, data, systematic trading and risk analytics have led to more successful municipal indexing.
By Paul Malloy Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Are Mixed Before Liberation Day
Markets are getting into the freewheeling rhythm of a second Trump administration.
By David Dittman Published
-
How to Invest in Sports
If it's springtime, Forbes is out with its annual list of baseball franchise values. The billions involved might make you wonder how to invest in sports.
By David Dittman Published
-
Winning Strategies for Financial Advisers as Clients' Lives Evolve
How can the wealth management industry help make life transitions easier for the adviser and the client?
By David Conti, CPRC Published
-
How Advisers Can Establish Relationships With HNW Prospects
These strategies can help to build influence with high-net-worth individuals, who are often looking to an adviser for insight rather than solutions.
By Jeremy Green, CFP®, CTFA, CLU®, CEBS®, AEP®, EA, MSFS Published