CHICAGO, Oct. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include United Continental Holdings Inc. (NYSE:UAL), Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:DAL), Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV), JetBlue Airways Corporation (Nasdaq:JBLU) and US Airways Group Inc. (NYSE:LCC).
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/ZIRLOGO)
Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513
Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst Blog:
Mixed Air Traffic for September
Airlines' struggle with rising fuel costs and weak business travel demand are leading to lower traffic and profits. Though fare hikes helped some U.S. air carriers to somewhat manage September traffic in green, the earnings estimates are still trending downward on the back of numerous macroeconomic headwinds. Notably, some low cost carriers once again emerged as the winners in September based on their low fares.
Airline traffic is customarily measured in billions of revenue passenger miles (RPM), which imply revenue generated per mile per passenger.
Consolidated September traffic fell 2.1% at the largest U.S. airline United Continental Holdings Inc. (NYSE:UAL), due to weak domestic and international traffic. Capacity (or available seat miles) slid 1.3% year over year while load factor (percentage of seats filled with passengers) contracted 70 basis points (bps) year over year to 82.1%. United Continental expects unit revenue to decline 2.5-3.5% year over year for the month of September, measured by passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM), a key metric in airlines.
In addition, the weak traffic is denting the company's profitability projections. In the last one month, the Zacks Consensus estimates for UAL went down by 47 cents to $2.43 and by 39 cents to $4.26 for 2012 and 2013, respectively. Notably, the Zacks Consensus Estimates for this year and the next were $2.90 and $4.65, respectively, one month back.
The September traffic for the second largest U.S. airlineDelta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:DAL) fell 1.1% year over year, as weak domestic traffic offset the strong international traffic. Consolidated capacity slid 0.6% while load factor was down a modest 40 bps to 83.2%. The company's PRASM increased 0.5% year over year for September. Like UAL, earnings expectations for Delta have also been trending down. The current Zacks Consensus Estimates of $1.91 and $2.50 for 2012 and 2013 are down from $2.07 and $2.67 a month ago, respectively.
Traffic for the low-cost carrier
Southwest Airlines Co
. (NYSE:
) also nudged down 2.1% year over year in September on the back of 1% drop in capacity and 80 bps fall in load factor. The company expects PRASM to increase 2-3% year over year for September. The Zacks Consensus Estimates for this year and the next have decreased by 10 cents to 63 cents and by 7 cents to $0.94, respectively, in the past one month.
Discount U.S. airline JetBlue Airways Corporation (Nasdaq:JBLU) reported a 6.1% year-over-year traffic increase in September, the highest compared to its rivals. On a year-over-year basis, capacity rose 7.7% and load factor declined 120 bps to 78.6%. Despite the solid growth in traffic, earnings estimates for JetBlue are substantially down from the last month. The Zacks Consensus Estimates fell by a nickel to 46 cents for 2012 and 4 cents to 60 cents for 2013.
The month's traffic for
US Airways Group Inc.
(NYSE:
) increased 1.8% year over year on a 0.9% capacity growth and load factor expanded 80 bps to 84.4%. The earnings estimates for LCC have fallen significantly, with EPS estimates currently being $2.33 and $2.91 for this year and the next, down from $2.63 and $3.22, respectively, over the past one month.
Both United Continental and Delta currently hold a Zacks #5 (Strong Sell) Rank, while the other airlines -- Southwest, JetBlue and US Airways --retain a Zacks #3 (Hold) Rank.
Want more from Zacks Equity Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5515.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5517
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leon Zacks. As a PhD from MIT Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5518.
Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.