Southwest Airlines: what the price is pricing in

There is no current cash flow reading for Southwest Airlines: its latest is from June 30, 2026. Switch lens below to see the other readings and how trading the gap would have done.

No published rating for Southwest Airlines: valued with our growth model, which doesn't carry a Buy/Hold/Sell rating yet. The readings below run our models backwards for research and show how trading the gap would have done; they are not a valuation or a rating. The valuation page shows the models and their status.

What growth in cash flow is the price paying for?

No current reading. The latest is from June 30, 2026: the figures this lens needs have not been filed recently enough (or no longer apply), so there is no position this quarter.

Quarters with a position274 long, 23 short, since March 31, 2010

Beat the S&P 50012 of 2744.4% of quarters held

Strategy against the index−54.7%cumulative; worst fall -64.7%

$10,000 became$28,973S&P 500 bought and held: $60,914

Over time

The growth in owner earnings (free cash flow after stock-based pay) that would justify the share price in our discounted-cash-flow model, against the growth the model itself assumes from the company's record.

Growth our model assumes Growth the price implies Long quarter Short quarter. Lower panel: the share price at each quarter end, adjusted for later share splits and spin-offs (the table below gives the price as traded).

$10,000 trading the gap vs the S&P 500

StrategyS&P 500, buy and hold Hypothetical, before costs. The strategy holds the S&P 500 and only changes on a signal: it switches into LUV in long quarters and adds a short of LUV in short quarters. The gap between the lines is what the signal added or lost.

Skill or luck?

In plain English: Across 27 quarters with a position, this lens beat the S&P 500 in 12, by −1.6% a quarter on average. That could easily be chance. One company is a small sample: the results across all companies are the better guide.

Positions	Quarters	Beat the S&P 500	Average vs S&P 500, a quarter	Typical (median), a quarter	A year	Confidence (t)	Evidence
Longs	4	50.0%	−4.3%	−5.2%	−20.5%	-0.49	Too few quarters
Shorts	23	43.5%	−1.2%	−3.2%	−9.3%	-0.34	No reliable evidence
All positions	27	44.4%	−1.6%	−3.2%	−11.1%	-0.53	No reliable evidence

Each position is measured against the S&P 500 over the same quarter: a long earns the stock's return minus the index's, a short the index's minus the stock's. "A year" compounds the per-quarter results. Evidence: strong at a t-statistic of 2 or more, some from 1.5; "worse" when the result is that far below zero; one company's history is a small sample, so read these alongside the results across all companies.

Every quarter (59)

From	Price paid	Growth the price implies	Growth our model assumes	Position	LUV	S&P 500
June 30, 2026	$51.42	42.7%	5.0%	Short	−18.6%	+2.4%
March 31, 2026	$37.57	62.6%	3.9%	Short	+37.5%	+15.1%
December 31, 2024	$33.62	60.0%	12.2%	Short	+0.5%	−4.3%
September 30, 2024	$29.63	34.2%	13.0%	Short	+14.1%	+2.5%
June 30, 2024	$28.61	27.1%	13.0%	Short	+4.2%	+5.8%
March 31, 2024	$29.19	28.7%	13.0%	Short	−1.4%	+4.4%
December 31, 2023	$28.88	27.3%	19.0%	No position	+1.6%	+10.4%
September 30, 2023	$27.07	42.8%	16.8%	Short	+7.3%	+11.6%
March 31, 2023	$32.54	52.5%	13.0%	Short	+11.9%	+8.7%
December 31, 2022	$33.67	12.3%	13.0%	No position	−2.3%	+7.5%
September 30, 2022	$30.84	11.4%	13.0%	No position	+9.2%	+7.6%
June 30, 2022	$36.12	7.8%	13.0%	No position	−14.6%	−4.9%
March 31, 2022	$45.80	9.0%	13.0%	No position	−21.1%	−16.1%
December 31, 2021	$42.84	16.7%	4.0%	Short	+6.9%	−4.6%
September 30, 2021	$51.43	26.5%	4.0%	Short	−16.7%	+11.1%
June 30, 2021	$53.09	36.8%	4.0%	Short	−3.1%	+0.6%
March 31, 2021	$61.06	35.0%	4.0%	Short	−13.1%	+8.4%
December 31, 2020	$46.61	13.8%	4.0%	No position	+31.0%	+6.3%
September 30, 2020	$37.50	-5.3%	4.0%	No position	+24.3%	+12.1%
June 30, 2020	$34.18	-10.9%	2.0%	Long	+9.7%	+9.0%
March 31, 2020	$35.61	-11.8%	2.6%	Long	−4.0%	+20.2%
December 31, 2019	$53.98	-3.1%	3.7%	No position	−33.8%	−19.4%
September 30, 2019	$54.01	-1.9%	4.0%	No position	+0.3%	+9.0%
June 30, 2019	$50.78	-2.1%	3.8%	No position	+6.7%	+1.8%
March 31, 2019	$51.91	-0.7%	3.7%	No position	−1.8%	+4.2%
December 31, 2018	$46.48	-0.8%	3.0%	No position	+12.0%	+13.5%
September 30, 2018	$62.45	4.4%	3.0%	No position	−25.4%	−13.5%
June 30, 2018	$50.88	1.5%	3.9%	No position	+23.1%	+7.7%
March 31, 2018	$57.28	4.3%	3.9%	No position	−10.9%	+3.5%
December 31, 2017	$65.45	12.5%	3.8%	No position	−12.3%	−1.0%
September 30, 2017	$55.98	10.0%	3.0%	No position	+17.1%	+6.8%
June 30, 2017	$62.14	13.5%	2.9%	Short	−9.7%	+4.4%
March 31, 2017	$53.76	12.6%	4.0%	No position	+15.8%	+3.1%
December 31, 2016	$49.84	12.1%	4.8%	No position	+8.1%	+5.9%
September 30, 2016	$38.89	8.0%	7.1%	No position	+28.4%	+4.0%
June 30, 2016	$39.21	10.8%	6.5%	No position	−0.6%	+3.8%
March 31, 2016	$44.80	19.0%	5.8%	Short	−12.3%	+2.5%
December 31, 2015	$43.06	18.9%	5.2%	Short	+4.2%	+1.3%
September 30, 2015	$38.04	27.2%	4.0%	Short	+13.4%	+7.0%
June 30, 2015	$33.09	33.5%	5.2%	Short	+15.2%	−6.4%
March 31, 2015	$44.30	38.5%	5.5%	Short	−25.1%	+0.2%
December 31, 2014	$42.32	38.3%	6.7%	Short	+4.8%	+0.9%
September 30, 2014	$33.77	49.1%	7.9%	Short	+25.5%	+4.9%
June 30, 2014	$26.86	50.5%	9.8%	Short	+26.0%	+1.1%
March 31, 2014	$23.61	39.2%	10.3%	Short	+14.0%	+5.2%
December 31, 2013	$18.84	25.5%	10.3%	Short	+25.5%	+1.7%
September 30, 2013	$14.56	18.8%	10.5%	No position	+29.7%	+10.5%
June 30, 2013	$12.89	20.3%	10.6%	No position	+13.3%	+5.2%
March 31, 2013	$13.48	8.1%	13.7%	No position	−4.1%	+2.9%
December 31, 2012	$10.24	19.7%	17.0%	No position	+31.8%	+10.5%
September 30, 2012	$8.77	1.9%	20.0%	Long	+16.9%	−0.4%
June 30, 2012	$9.22	-5.1%	13.0%	Long	−4.8%	+6.3%
March 31, 2012	$8.24	5.2%	13.0%	No position	+12.0%	−2.8%
June 30, 2011	$11.42	-4.0%	4.0%	No position	−29.6%	−13.8%
March 31, 2011	$12.63	-2.7%	4.0%	No position	−9.5%	+0.0%
December 31, 2010	$12.98	6.3%	4.0%	No position	−2.7%	+5.9%
September 30, 2010	$13.07	6.0%	4.0%	No position	−0.7%	+10.8%
June 30, 2010	$11.11	-0.6%	2.0%	No position	+17.7%	+11.2%
March 31, 2010	$13.22	-0.3%	2.0%	No position	−15.9%	−11.4%

Price paid: the closing price that day as traded, before any later share split.

What growth in earnings is the price paying for?

The price implies earnings growth of 5.3% a year; our model expects 7.8%.

Gap too narrow for a position this quarter

What the price implies What our model expects

Quarters with a position3023 long, 7 short, since March 31, 2010

Beat the S&P 5009 of 3030.0% of quarters held

Strategy against the index−80.0%cumulative; worst fall -82.6%

$10,000 became$11,286S&P 500 bought and held: $56,258

Over time

The earnings growth the price-to-earnings ratio requires, against the growth our model assumes. Net income is already after interest, so it is valued at the return shareholders require, plus spare cash (none for banks and insurers, whose cash is funded by deposits and policies), with no debt subtracted.

Growth our model assumes Growth the P/E implies Long quarter Short quarter. Lower panel: the share price at each quarter end, adjusted for later share splits and spin-offs (the table below gives the price as traded).

$10,000 trading the gap vs the S&P 500

Skill or luck?

In plain English: Across 30 quarters with a position, this lens beat the S&P 500 in 9, by −4.5% a quarter on average. That is reliably worse than the index: trading the gap lost money on this company. One company is a small sample: the results across all companies are the better guide.

Positions	Quarters	Beat the S&P 500	Average vs S&P 500, a quarter	Typical (median), a quarter	A year	Confidence (t)	Evidence
Longs	23	30.4%	−3.5%	−5.0%	−16.0%	-1.28	No reliable evidence
Shorts	7	28.6%	−7.9%	−11.5%	−29.4%	-2.16	Too few quarters
All positions	30	30.0%	−4.5%	−6.8%	−19.3%	-2.01	Strong evidence: worse

Every quarter (60)

From	Price paid	Growth the P/E implies	Growth our model assumes	Position	LUV	S&P 500
September 30, 2026 (open)	$41.64	5.3%	7.8%	No position	+5.4%	−0.8%
June 30, 2026	$51.42	10.9%	5.0%	No position	−18.6%	+2.4%
March 31, 2026	$37.57	18.7%	3.9%	Short	+37.5%	+15.1%
December 31, 2025	$41.33	21.6%	3.7%	Short	−8.7%	−4.4%
September 30, 2025	$31.91	14.8%	5.4%	No position	+30.1%	+2.7%
June 30, 2025	$32.44	4.9%	8.8%	No position	−1.1%	+8.1%
March 31, 2025	$33.58	14.8%	12.8%	No position	−2.8%	+10.8%
September 30, 2024	$29.63	38.5%	13.0%	Short	+14.1%	+2.5%
June 30, 2024	$28.61	2.1%	13.0%	Long	+4.2%	+5.8%
March 31, 2024	$29.19	3.8%	13.0%	No position	−1.4%	+4.4%
December 31, 2023	$28.88	-1.5%	19.0%	Long	+1.6%	+10.4%
September 30, 2023	$27.07	-8.8%	16.8%	Long	+7.3%	+11.6%
June 30, 2023	$36.21	0.2%	12.9%	Long	−24.8%	−3.2%
March 31, 2023	$32.54	4.9%	13.0%	No position	+11.9%	+8.7%
December 31, 2022	$33.67	-20.3%	13.0%	Long	−2.3%	+7.5%
September 30, 2022	$30.84	-30.0%*	13.0%	Long	+9.2%	+7.6%
June 30, 2022	$36.12	-23.3%	13.0%	Long	−14.6%	−4.9%
March 31, 2022	$45.80	-14.1%	13.0%	Long	−21.1%	−16.1%
December 31, 2021	$42.84	100.0%*	4.0%	Short	+6.9%	−4.6%
September 30, 2020	$37.50	17.9%	4.0%	Short	+24.3%	+12.1%
June 30, 2020	$34.18	-13.7%	2.0%	Long	+9.7%	+9.0%
March 31, 2020	$35.61	-14.3%	2.6%	Long	−4.0%	+20.2%
December 31, 2019	$53.98	-6.4%	3.7%	Long	−33.8%	−19.4%
September 30, 2019	$54.01	-5.8%	4.0%	No position	+0.3%	+9.0%
June 30, 2019	$50.78	-6.5%	3.8%	Long	+6.7%	+1.8%
March 31, 2019	$51.91	-6.2%	3.7%	No position	−1.8%	+4.2%
December 31, 2018	$46.48	-14.4%	3.0%	Long	+12.0%	+13.5%
September 30, 2018	$62.45	-7.8%	3.0%	Long	−25.4%	−13.5%
June 30, 2018	$50.88	-11.2%	3.9%	Long	+23.1%	+7.7%
March 31, 2018	$57.28	-8.2%	3.9%	Long	−10.9%	+3.5%
December 31, 2017	$65.45	2.4%	3.8%	No position	−12.3%	−1.0%
September 30, 2017	$55.98	0.7%	3.0%	No position	+17.1%	+6.8%
June 30, 2017	$62.14	2.2%	2.9%	No position	−9.7%	+4.4%
March 31, 2017	$53.76	-1.7%	4.0%	No position	+15.8%	+3.1%
December 31, 2016	$49.84	-3.2%	4.8%	No position	+8.1%	+5.9%
September 30, 2016	$38.89	-9.0%	7.1%	Long	+28.4%	+4.0%
June 30, 2016	$39.21	-7.2%	6.5%	Long	−0.6%	+3.8%
March 31, 2016	$44.80	-3.4%	5.8%	No position	−12.3%	+2.5%
December 31, 2015	$43.06	-1.1%	5.2%	No position	+4.2%	+1.3%
September 30, 2015	$38.04	-0.7%	4.0%	No position	+13.4%	+7.0%
June 30, 2015	$33.09	-1.8%	5.2%	No position	+15.2%	−6.4%
March 31, 2015	$44.30	8.6%	5.5%	No position	−25.1%	+0.2%
December 31, 2014	$42.32	7.1%	6.7%	No position	+4.8%	+0.9%
September 30, 2014	$33.77	3.4%	7.9%	No position	+25.5%	+4.9%
June 30, 2014	$26.86	3.7%	9.8%	No position	+26.0%	+1.1%
March 31, 2014	$23.61	3.5%	10.3%	No position	+14.0%	+5.2%
December 31, 2013	$18.84	1.6%	10.3%	No position	+25.5%	+1.7%
September 30, 2013	$14.56	4.3%	10.5%	No position	+29.7%	+10.5%
June 30, 2013	$12.89	1.8%	10.6%	No position	+13.3%	+5.2%
March 31, 2013	$13.48	2.5%	13.7%	Long	−4.1%	+2.9%
December 31, 2012	$10.24	-8.9%	17.0%	Long	+31.8%	+10.5%
September 30, 2012	$8.77	-6.4%	20.0%	Long	+16.9%	−0.4%
June 30, 2012	$9.22	-3.2%	13.0%	Long	−4.8%	+6.3%
March 31, 2012	$8.24	3.5%	13.0%	No position	+12.0%	−2.8%
June 30, 2011	$11.42	-8.5%	4.0%	Long	−29.6%	−13.8%
March 31, 2011	$12.63	-2.4%	4.0%	No position	−9.5%	+0.0%
December 31, 2010	$12.98	-0.7%	4.0%	No position	−2.7%	+5.9%
September 30, 2010	$13.07	12.3%	4.0%	No position	−0.7%	+10.8%
June 30, 2010	$11.11	14.0%	2.0%	Short	+17.7%	+11.2%
March 31, 2010	$13.22	28.8%	2.0%	Short	−15.9%	−11.4%

Price paid: the closing price that day as traded, before any later share split. * At the edge of the range we solve for.

Is the price-to-earnings ratio cheap or dear for the growth delivered?

Southwest Airlines trades on 24.5 times earnings while its earnings per share grew 20.8% a year: a PEG of 1.18.

Gap too narrow for a position this quarter

PEG: under 0.75 cheap for the growth, over 3 expensive

Quarters with a position1918 long, 1 short, since March 31, 2013

Beat the S&P 5008 of 1942.1% of quarters held

Strategy against the index−26.0%cumulative; worst fall -31.5%

$10,000 became$18,364S&P 500 bought and held: $25,160

Over time

The P/E divided by the earnings-per-share growth delivered over three years. Under 0.75 the market pays little for the growth (long); over 3 it pays a lot (short).

EPS growth, 3 years (%) Price-to-earnings ratio (x) Long quarter Short quarter. Lower panel: the share price at each quarter end, adjusted for later share splits and spin-offs (the table below gives the price as traded).

$10,000 trading the gap vs the S&P 500

Skill or luck?

In plain English: Across 19 quarters with a position, this lens beat the S&P 500 in 8, by −0.7% a quarter on average. That could easily be chance. One company is a small sample: the results across all companies are the better guide.

Positions	Quarters	Beat the S&P 500	Average vs S&P 500, a quarter	Typical (median), a quarter	A year	Confidence (t)	Evidence
Longs	18	44.4%	−0.7%	−2.9%	−6.3%	-0.22	No reliable evidence
Shorts	1	0.0%	−0.7%	−0.7%	−2.7%	—	Too few quarters
All positions	19	42.1%	−0.7%	−1.5%	−6.1%	-0.23	No reliable evidence

Every quarter (29)

From	Price paid	Price-to-earnings ratio (x)	EPS growth, 3 years (%)	Position	LUV	S&P 500
September 30, 2026 (open)	$41.64	24.5x	20.8%	No position	+5.4%	−0.8%
June 30, 2026	$51.42	31.7x	14.1%	No position	−18.6%	+2.4%
September 30, 2023	$27.07	29.8x	43.3%	Long	+7.3%	+11.6%
June 30, 2020	$34.18	9.7x	1.2%	Short	+9.7%	+9.0%
March 31, 2020	$35.61	8.2x	6.4%	No position	−4.0%	+20.2%
December 31, 2019	$53.98	11.8x	8.3%	No position	−33.8%	−19.4%
September 30, 2019	$54.01	12.2x	4.7%	No position	+0.3%	+9.0%
June 30, 2019	$50.78	11.7x	7.6%	No position	+6.7%	+1.8%
March 31, 2019	$51.91	11.8x	9.6%	No position	−1.8%	+4.2%
December 31, 2018	$46.48	7.4x	31.1%	Long	+12.0%	+13.5%
September 30, 2018	$62.45	10.4x	36.5%	Long	−25.4%	−13.5%
June 30, 2018	$50.88	8.6x	41.0%	Long	+23.1%	+7.7%
March 31, 2018	$57.28	10.2x	50.5%	Long	−10.9%	+3.5%
December 31, 2017	$65.45	18.4x	28.5%	Long	−12.3%	−1.0%
September 30, 2017	$55.98	17.0x	28.1%	Long	+17.1%	+6.8%
June 30, 2017	$62.14	18.4x	40.8%	Long	−9.7%	+4.4%
March 31, 2017	$53.76	14.9x	50.0%	Long	+15.8%	+3.1%
December 31, 2016	$49.84	13.8x	60.4%	Long	+8.1%	+5.9%
September 30, 2016	$38.89	10.1x	94.3%	Long	+28.4%	+4.0%
June 30, 2016	$39.21	11.3x	88.0%	Long	−0.6%	+3.8%
March 31, 2016	$44.80	13.5x	80.5%	Long	−12.3%	+2.5%
December 31, 2015	$43.06	15.6x	61.1%	Long	+4.2%	+1.3%
September 30, 2015	$38.04	16.2x	74.4%	Long	+13.4%	+7.0%
June 30, 2015	$33.09	15.7x	81.7%	Long	+15.2%	−6.4%
March 31, 2015	$44.30	26.8x	92.3%	Long	−25.1%	+0.2%
December 31, 2013	$18.84	21.6x	12.6%	No position	+25.5%	+1.7%
September 30, 2013	$14.56	27.9x	19.6%	No position	+29.7%	+10.5%
June 30, 2013	$12.89	24.6x	23.4%	No position	+13.3%	+5.2%
March 31, 2013	$13.48	24.1x	60.2%	Long	−4.1%	+2.9%

Price paid: the closing price that day as traded, before any later share split.

What profit margin is the price paying for?

The price implies an owner-earnings margin of 3.3%; the company has kept -1.3%.

Gap too narrow for a position this quarter

What the price implies What the company delivered

Quarters with a position92 long, 7 short, since March 31, 2010

Beat the S&P 5006 of 966.7% of quarters held

Strategy against the index+44.5%cumulative; worst fall -29.0%

$10,000 became$102,380S&P 500 bought and held: $69,328

Over time

The owner-earnings margin (free cash flow after stock pay, as a share of revenue) the price requires at our model's growth, against the margin the company has delivered over three years.

Margin delivered Margin the price implies Long quarter Short quarter. Lower panel: the share price at each quarter end, adjusted for later share splits and spin-offs (the table below gives the price as traded).

$10,000 trading the gap vs the S&P 500

Skill or luck?

In plain English: Across 9 quarters with a position, this lens beat the S&P 500 in 6, by +5.4% a quarter on average. That could easily be chance. One company is a small sample: the results across all companies are the better guide.

Positions	Quarters	Beat the S&P 500	Average vs S&P 500, a quarter	Typical (median), a quarter	A year	Confidence (t)	Evidence
Longs	2	50.0%	−11.8%	−11.8%	−41.7%	—	Too few quarters
Shorts	7	71.4%	+10.3%	+4.3%	+44.0%	1.92	Too few quarters
All positions	9	66.7%	+5.4%	+3.7%	+17.8%	0.96	No reliable evidence

Every quarter (65)

From	Price paid	Margin the price implies	Margin delivered	Position	LUV	S&P 500
September 30, 2026 (open)	$41.64	3.3%	-1.3%	No position	+5.4%	−0.8%
June 30, 2026	$51.42	5.0%	0.7%	No position	−18.6%	+2.4%
March 31, 2026	$37.57	4.6%	0.2%	No position	+37.5%	+15.1%
December 31, 2025	$41.33	4.6%	-0.5%	Short	−8.7%	−4.4%
September 30, 2025	$31.91	3.2%	-0.3%	No position	+30.1%	+2.7%
June 30, 2025	$32.44	2.6%	-0.1%	No position	−1.1%	+8.1%
March 31, 2025	$33.58	2.7%	-0.3%	No position	−2.8%	+10.8%
December 31, 2024	$33.62	2.4%	0.2%	No position	+0.5%	−4.3%
September 30, 2024	$29.63	2.1%	0.7%	No position	+14.1%	+2.5%
June 30, 2024	$28.61	1.8%	0.8%	No position	+4.2%	+5.8%
March 31, 2024	$29.19	2.1%	0.9%	No position	−1.4%	+4.4%
December 31, 2023	$28.88	1.4%	0.9%	No position	+1.6%	+10.4%
September 30, 2023	$27.07	1.4%	0.4%	No position	+7.3%	+11.6%
June 30, 2023	$36.21	2.4%	-0.6%	No position	−24.8%	−3.2%
March 31, 2023	$32.54	2.6%	0.3%	No position	+11.9%	+8.7%
December 31, 2022	$33.67	2.4%	2.5%	No position	−2.3%	+7.5%
September 30, 2022	$30.84	2.1%	2.3%	No position	+9.2%	+7.6%
June 30, 2022	$36.12	2.9%	3.9%	No position	−14.6%	−4.9%
March 31, 2022	$45.80	4.8%	6.0%	No position	−21.1%	−16.1%
December 31, 2021	$42.84	9.1%	4.5%	No position	+6.9%	−4.6%
September 30, 2021	$51.43	14.4%	4.2%	Short	−16.7%	+11.1%
June 30, 2021	$53.09	22.8%	3.9%	Short	−3.1%	+0.6%
March 31, 2021	$61.06	19.9%	3.8%	Short	−13.1%	+8.4%
December 31, 2020	$46.61	10.1%	5.8%	No position	+31.0%	+6.3%
September 30, 2020	$37.50	5.3%	9.2%	No position	+24.3%	+12.1%
June 30, 2020	$34.18	4.9%	10.4%	Long	+9.7%	+9.0%
March 31, 2020	$35.61	4.6%	10.7%	Long	−4.0%	+20.2%
December 31, 2019	$53.98	6.8%	10.1%	No position	−33.8%	−19.4%
September 30, 2019	$54.01	6.9%	9.7%	No position	+0.3%	+9.0%
June 30, 2019	$50.78	6.8%	9.5%	No position	+6.7%	+1.8%
March 31, 2019	$51.91	7.2%	9.3%	No position	−1.8%	+4.2%
December 31, 2018	$46.48	7.0%	8.7%	No position	+12.0%	+13.5%
September 30, 2018	$62.45	9.7%	8.9%	No position	−25.4%	−13.5%
June 30, 2018	$50.88	7.7%	8.9%	No position	+23.1%	+7.7%
March 31, 2018	$57.28	8.8%	8.7%	No position	−10.9%	+3.5%
December 31, 2017	$65.45	10.2%	6.2%	No position	−12.3%	−1.0%
September 30, 2017	$55.98	9.3%	6.2%	No position	+17.1%	+6.8%
June 30, 2017	$62.14	10.6%	5.8%	No position	−9.7%	+4.4%
March 31, 2017	$53.76	8.9%	5.5%	No position	+15.8%	+3.1%
December 31, 2016	$49.84	7.9%	5.2%	No position	+8.1%	+5.9%
September 30, 2016	$38.89	5.5%	5.2%	No position	+28.4%	+4.0%
June 30, 2016	$39.21	5.8%	4.6%	No position	−0.6%	+3.8%
March 31, 2016	$44.80	7.3%	3.5%	No position	−12.3%	+2.5%
December 31, 2015	$43.06	7.3%	3.4%	No position	+4.2%	+1.3%
September 30, 2015	$38.04	7.2%	2.0%	Short	+13.4%	+7.0%
June 30, 2015	$33.09	5.8%	1.3%	No position	+15.2%	−6.4%
March 31, 2015	$44.30	8.0%	1.4%	Short	−25.1%	+0.2%
December 31, 2014	$42.32	7.1%	1.3%	Short	+4.8%	+0.9%
September 30, 2014	$33.77	5.3%	0.6%	No position	+25.5%	+4.9%
June 30, 2014	$26.86	4.0%	0.5%	No position	+26.0%	+1.1%
March 31, 2014	$23.61	3.5%	0.8%	No position	+14.0%	+5.2%
December 31, 2013	$18.84	2.8%	1.2%	No position	+25.5%	+1.7%
September 30, 2013	$14.56	2.2%	1.4%	No position	+29.7%	+10.5%
June 30, 2013	$12.89	2.0%	1.2%	No position	+13.3%	+5.2%
March 31, 2013	$13.48	1.9%	2.6%	No position	−4.1%	+2.9%
December 31, 2012	$10.24	1.2%	1.0%	No position	+31.8%	+10.5%
September 30, 2012	$8.77	0.9%	2.4%	No position	+16.9%	−0.4%
June 30, 2012	$9.22	1.3%	3.7%	No position	−4.8%	+6.3%
March 31, 2012	$8.24	1.5%	2.3%	No position	+12.0%	−2.8%
June 30, 2011	$11.42	4.3%	6.8%	No position	−29.6%	−13.8%
March 31, 2011	$12.63	5.6%	8.3%	No position	−9.5%	+0.0%
December 31, 2010	$12.98	6.2%	5.4%	No position	−2.7%	+5.9%
September 30, 2010	$13.07	6.8%	6.0%	No position	−0.7%	+10.8%
June 30, 2010	$11.11	5.7%	6.7%	No position	+17.7%	+11.2%
March 31, 2010	$13.22	6.3%	7.2%	No position	−15.9%	−11.4%

Price paid: the closing price that day as traded, before any later share split.

What return on equity is the price paying for?

The price implies a return on equity of 19.9%; the company earned 11.1%.

Market more optimistic than our model: short this quarter

What the price implies What the company delivered

Quarters with a position4310 long, 33 short, since March 31, 2010

Beat the S&P 50020 of 4346.5% of quarters held

Strategy against the index−72.5%cumulative; worst fall -83.6%

$10,000 became$20,776S&P 500 bought and held: $69,328

Over time

The return on equity that justifies the price-to-book ratio, (P/B)(r − g) + g with an 8.5% required return and 2.5% long-run growth, against the return the company delivered last year.

Return on equity delivered Return on equity the price implies Long quarter Short quarter. Lower panel: the share price at each quarter end, adjusted for later share splits and spin-offs (the table below gives the price as traded).

$10,000 trading the gap vs the S&P 500

Skill or luck?

In plain English: Across 43 quarters with a position, this lens beat the S&P 500 in 20, by −1.8% a quarter on average. That could easily be chance. One company is a small sample: the results across all companies are the better guide.

Positions	Quarters	Beat the S&P 500	Average vs S&P 500, a quarter	Typical (median), a quarter	A year	Confidence (t)	Evidence
Longs	10	40.0%	−2.0%	−2.9%	−11.1%	-0.45	No reliable evidence
Shorts	33	48.5%	−1.7%	−3.2%	−11.4%	-0.63	No reliable evidence
All positions	43	46.5%	−1.8%	−3.2%	−11.3%	-0.77	No reliable evidence

Every quarter (65)

From	Price paid	Return on equity the price implies	Return on equity delivered	Position	LUV	S&P 500
September 30, 2026 (open)	$41.64	19.9%	11.1%	Short	+5.4%	−0.8%
June 30, 2026	$51.42	25.1%	10.1%	Short	−18.6%	+2.4%
March 31, 2026	$37.57	18.9%	4.8%	Short	+37.5%	+15.1%
December 31, 2025	$41.33	19.3%	4.2%	Short	−8.7%	−4.4%
September 30, 2025	$31.91	15.4%	4.3%	Short	+30.1%	+2.7%
June 30, 2025	$32.44	14.6%	5.6%	Short	−1.1%	+8.1%
March 31, 2025	$33.58	16.7%	4.5%	Short	−2.8%	+10.8%
December 31, 2024	$33.62	14.1%	-0.5%	Short	+0.5%	−4.3%
September 30, 2024	$29.63	13.4%	0.7%	Short	+14.1%	+2.5%
June 30, 2024	$28.61	12.6%	3.8%	Short	+4.2%	+5.8%
March 31, 2024	$29.19	13.9%	4.4%	Short	−1.4%	+4.4%
December 31, 2023	$28.88	12.5%	4.5%	Short	+1.6%	+10.4%
September 30, 2023	$27.07	12.1%	5.3%	Short	+7.3%	+11.6%
June 30, 2023	$36.21	15.0%	6.3%	Short	−24.8%	−3.2%
March 31, 2023	$32.54	15.3%	5.1%	Short	+11.9%	+8.7%
December 31, 2022	$33.67	14.3%	16.4%	No position	−2.3%	+7.5%
September 30, 2022	$30.84	13.1%	18.3%	Long	+9.2%	+7.6%
June 30, 2022	$36.12	14.8%	15.3%	No position	−14.6%	−4.9%
March 31, 2022	$45.80	18.5%	19.6%	No position	−21.1%	−16.1%
December 31, 2021	$42.84	17.7%	0.0%	Short	+6.9%	−4.6%
September 30, 2021	$51.43	22.1%	-15.6%	Short	−16.7%	+11.1%
June 30, 2021	$53.09	23.8%	-31.5%	Short	−3.1%	+0.6%
March 31, 2021	$61.06	26.9%	-32.9%	Short	−13.1%	+8.4%
December 31, 2020	$46.61	19.4%	-16.8%	Short	+31.0%	+6.3%
September 30, 2020	$37.50	14.2%	1.6%	Short	+24.3%	+12.1%
June 30, 2020	$34.18	14.1%	19.3%	Long	+9.7%	+9.0%
March 31, 2020	$35.61	14.0%	23.4%	Long	−4.0%	+20.2%
December 31, 2019	$53.98	19.9%	24.3%	No position	−33.8%	−19.4%
September 30, 2019	$54.01	20.2%	24.1%	No position	+0.3%	+9.0%
June 30, 2019	$50.78	19.7%	24.6%	No position	+6.7%	+1.8%
March 31, 2019	$51.91	20.2%	25.3%	Long	−1.8%	+4.2%
December 31, 2018	$46.48	18.1%	37.5%	Long	+12.0%	+13.5%
September 30, 2018	$62.45	24.2%	37.5%	Long	−25.4%	−13.5%
June 30, 2018	$50.88	21.2%	39.1%	Long	+23.1%	+7.7%
March 31, 2018	$57.28	23.7%	38.5%	Long	−10.9%	+3.5%
December 31, 2017	$65.45	29.2%	25.3%	No position	−12.3%	−1.0%
September 30, 2017	$55.98	26.3%	24.4%	No position	+17.1%	+6.8%
June 30, 2017	$62.14	30.4%	26.4%	No position	−9.7%	+4.4%
March 31, 2017	$53.76	28.2%	30.8%	No position	+15.8%	+3.1%
December 31, 2016	$49.84	25.7%	30.1%	No position	+8.1%	+5.9%
September 30, 2016	$38.89	21.6%	32.8%	Long	+28.4%	+4.0%
June 30, 2016	$39.21	22.8%	31.1%	Long	−0.6%	+3.8%
March 31, 2016	$44.80	28.7%	32.2%	No position	−12.3%	+2.5%
December 31, 2015	$43.06	27.1%	25.5%	No position	+4.2%	+1.3%
September 30, 2015	$38.04	24.0%	21.5%	No position	+13.4%	+7.0%
June 30, 2015	$33.09	22.1%	20.4%	No position	+15.2%	−6.4%
March 31, 2015	$44.30	29.5%	16.1%	Short	−25.1%	+0.2%
December 31, 2014	$42.32	26.1%	16.0%	Short	+4.8%	+0.9%
September 30, 2014	$33.77	21.3%	15.2%	Short	+25.5%	+4.9%
June 30, 2014	$26.86	18.4%	12.0%	Short	+26.0%	+1.1%
March 31, 2014	$23.61	16.3%	10.5%	Short	+14.0%	+5.2%
December 31, 2013	$18.84	14.0%	8.8%	Short	+25.5%	+1.7%
September 30, 2013	$14.56	11.8%	5.5%	Short	+29.7%	+10.5%
June 30, 2013	$12.89	10.6%	5.4%	Short	+13.3%	+5.2%
March 31, 2013	$13.48	11.2%	6.1%	Short	−4.1%	+2.9%
December 31, 2012	$10.24	9.0%	7.3%	No position	+31.8%	+10.5%
September 30, 2012	$8.77	8.4%	9.9%	No position	+16.9%	−0.4%
June 30, 2012	$9.22	8.5%	4.0%	No position	−4.8%	+6.3%
March 31, 2012	$8.24	8.1%	2.7%	Short	+12.0%	−2.8%
June 30, 2011	$11.42	10.3%	7.5%	No position	−29.6%	−13.8%
March 31, 2011	$12.63	11.6%	7.8%	No position	−9.5%	+0.0%
December 31, 2010	$12.98	12.3%	8.0%	No position	−2.7%	+5.9%
September 30, 2010	$13.07	13.0%	4.2%	Short	−0.7%	+10.8%
June 30, 2010	$11.11	11.5%	3.9%	Short	+17.7%	+11.2%
March 31, 2010	$13.22	13.3%	1.9%	Short	−15.9%	−11.4%

Price paid: the closing price that day as traded, before any later share split.

How the test works

At each quarter end since March 2010 we rebuild the models from Southwest Airlines's quarters ending at least 90 days earlier (and no more than 200 days before that), using the figures as later filed, including any restatement, and value them at that day's close, adjusted for later share splits and spin-offs so that price and share count are on the same basis. A wide enough gap is a long or a short for one quarter (growth 10 points; margin and return on equity 5 points; a PEG under 0.75 or over 3), measured on total return against the S&P 500. The rules were set before the test. No trading or borrowing costs; today's list of companies. Not investment advice. All companies and the results across them.

Compare with peers

Head to head: LUV vs RYAAY AAL vs LUV LUV vs UAL ALK vs LUV

More: Passenger Airlines stocks compared, Industrials sector, rankings of US companies

Figures from Southwest Airlines's SEC filings (10-K and 10-Q), retrieved October 23, 2026. How we read and check them: methodology and data sources. Not investment advice. Back to Southwest Airlines.