Delta Air Lines, Inc. $DAL Stock Position Reduced by Valley Wealth Managers Inc.

Valley Wealth Managers Inc. reduced its position in shares of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 358,406 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 9,964 shares during the period. Delta Air Lines makes up about 1.5% of Valley Wealth Managers Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Valley Wealth Managers Inc.’s holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $29,913,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Delta Air Lines in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,182,646,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 50.9% during the 1st quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 4,033,595 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $268,153,000 after acquiring an additional 1,360,195 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 2,779,679 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $192,900,000 after acquiring an additional 124,267 shares during the period. Panagora Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Delta Air Lines by 31.1% in the 4th quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,804,005 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $125,198,000 after acquiring an additional 428,450 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great Lakes Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Delta Air Lines in the 2nd quarter valued at about $160,265,000. 69.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Delta Air Lines News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Delta Air Lines this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Delta reported record September-quarter revenue of approximately $17.6 billion, up 21.1% year over year, reflecting resilient passenger demand, healthy yields and strength in its premium business. Management said bookings remain strong and expects revenue to grow about 20% in the December quarter. Delta Air Lines Announces September Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Management expects higher fares to help offset elevated fuel expenses and projects approximately $2.5 billion of 2026 free cash flow, while targeting more than $2 billion of debt repayment. These plans support Delta’s balance-sheet and shareholder-return narrative. Delta Air Lines cuts 2026 forecast on fuel surge, but CEO says demand is still strong
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains broadly favorable, including a Buy rating from Morgan Stanley. Call-option activity was also above normal, suggesting some traders continue to anticipate a recovery despite the guidance reduction.
• Neutral Sentiment: Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the company can absorb roughly $6 billion in additional fuel costs and sees no meaningful deterioration in travel demand. However, the timing and persistence of fuel-price relief remain uncertain. Delta Air Lines cuts profit forecast as fuel costs outpace fare gains
• Negative Sentiment: Adjusted third-quarter EPS was $1.72, below the $1.77 consensus, while revenue also narrowly missed estimates. The earnings miss was Delta’s first in roughly two years and indicates that rising costs are already pressuring margins.
• Negative Sentiment: Jet-fuel expense increased more than 60% year over year, overwhelming revenue gains. Delta cut 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $5.10–$5.60 from $6.50–$7.50; fourth-quarter EPS guidance of $1.15–$1.65 and revenue guidance of $17.5 billion were also below consensus. DAL Q3 Earnings Miss Estimates as Higher Fuel Costs Hurt Margins

Insider Buying and Selling at Delta Air Lines

In other news, EVP Alain Bellemare sold 35,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.72, for a total value of $3,245,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 95,025 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,810,718. This represents a 26.92% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, President Peter Carter sold 39,900 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.98, for a total value of $3,709,902.00. Following the sale, the president directly owned 424,704 shares in the company, valued at $39,488,977.92. This trade represents a 8.59% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders sold 356,726 shares of company stock worth $33,081,037. Corporate insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Delta Air Lines Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE:DAL opened at $82.32 on Friday. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $55.03 and a fifty-two week high of $95.68. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $83.51 and its 200 day moving average price is $79.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The stock has a market cap of $54.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.34.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 9th. The transportation company reported $1.72 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.77 by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $17.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $17.65 billion. Delta Air Lines had a net margin of 5.79% and a return on equity of 17.52%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 21.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.71 earnings per share. Delta Air Lines has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 1.150-1.650 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.600 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Delta Air Lines Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 15th will be given a dividend of $0.2150 per share. This represents a $0.86 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 15th. Delta Air Lines’s dividend payout ratio is currently 14.26%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Delta Air Lines from $106.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Sunday, July 12th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $105.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 11th. Evercore upped their target price on shares of Delta Air Lines from $85.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Delta Air Lines in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Delta Air Lines in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Twenty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Delta Air Lines presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $100.24.

Delta Air Lines Company Profile

Delta Air Lines, Inc is a major U.S. airline that provides scheduled passenger and air freight transportation. The company serves destinations throughout the United States and connects customers to international markets across Europe, Asia, Latin America, Canada, Africa and the Caribbean through its own operations and regional airline partners.

Delta offers multiple classes of passenger service, including premium cabins and its main cabin, along with travel-related products such as vacation packages and loyalty benefits through the SkyMiles program.