Southwest Airlines Company (LUV), based in Dallas, Texas, is a passenger airline that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and closest international markets. The company is valued at $16.83 billion by market cap and offers short-haul, high-frequency, point-to-point, and low-fare services. Incorporated in 1967 and taking flight in 1971, it is the world's largest operator of the Boeing fleet.
Shares of this largest domestic airline in terms of originating passengers, with a 22% market share, have underperformed the broader market considerably over the past year. LUV has declined 4.4% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 28.3%. In 2024 alone, shares of LUV are down 3.8%, while the SPX is up 11.3% on a YTD basis.
