Evolve Private Wealth LLC Buys Shares of 17,718 Southwest Airlines Co. $LUV

Evolve Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 17,718 shares of the airline’s stock, valued at approximately $666,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Southwest Airlines by 100.6% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 39,347 shares of the airline’s stock worth $1,303,000 after purchasing an additional 19,729 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Southwest Airlines by 5.4% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 61,060 shares of the airline’s stock valued at $2,050,000 after purchasing an additional 3,141 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in shares of Southwest Airlines by 7.6% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 7,459 shares of the airline’s stock valued at $250,000 after purchasing an additional 527 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Southwest Airlines by 73.4% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,690 shares of the airline’s stock worth $185,000 after purchasing an additional 2,408 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Southwest Airlines by 47.4% in the second quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 307,602 shares of the airline’s stock worth $9,979,000 after purchasing an additional 98,986 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.82% of the company’s stock.

Southwest Airlines Stock Up 3.4%

Shares of NYSE LUV opened at $51.11 on Thursday. Southwest Airlines Co. has a 52-week low of $28.98 and a 52-week high of $55.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a current ratio of 0.48. The business has a fifty day moving average of $41.95 and a two-hundred day moving average of $43.03. The stock has a market cap of $24.98 billion, a PE ratio of 32.98, a PEG ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 1.15.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 22nd. The airline reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.45. Southwest Airlines had a net margin of 2.83% and a return on equity of 10.66%. The firm had revenue of $7.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.46 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.13) earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 12.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Southwest Airlines has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 0.350-0.650 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Southwest Airlines Co. will post 2.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Southwest Airlines Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 11th. Southwest Airlines’s dividend payout ratio is 46.45%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on LUV shares. Citigroup decreased their target price on Southwest Airlines from $54.00 to $44.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 20th. Raymond James Financial raised their target price on shares of Southwest Airlines from $45.00 to $55.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their target price on shares of Southwest Airlines from $27.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, March 5th. HSBC upgraded shares of Southwest Airlines from a “reduce” rating to a “hold” rating and upped their price target for the company from $24.40 to $36.10 in a report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane boosted their price objective on Southwest Airlines from $24.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and five have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Southwest Airlines has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $44.95.

Southwest Airlines Profile

Southwest Airlines Co is a U.S.-based low-cost carrier that operates a point-to-point domestic and near-international airline network. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company primarily flies Boeing 737 aircraft and offers no-frills, single-class service designed to keep fares competitive. Southwest’s operating model emphasizes high aircraft utilization, quick turnaround times and an open seating policy, allowing customers to board and select seats on a first-come, first-served basis.

Founded in 1967 by Herb Kelleher and Rollin King as Air Southwest Company, Southwest began commercial service in 1971, initially connecting Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.