Delta Air Lines (DAL): analysis in plain words
Is Delta Air Lines cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Delta Air Lines (DAL) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in travel, leisure and gaming. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Delta Air Lines according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Delta Air Lines (DAL) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $89.24 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 17.8x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +21.1% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 4.6% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 2.2x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 1.03% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $58.7 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Delta Air Lines figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any DAL figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Delta Air Lines makes money
Delta Air Lines makes most of its money selling passenger tickets, with Atlanta as its main hub alongside other major U.S. airports. It also earns from SkyMiles, as American Express pays for miles issued on co-branded cards, plus cargo, maintenance work for other airlines and sales from its own oil refinery.
Over the last 12 months, Delta Air Lines brought in revenue of $71.8 billion. For every 100 it sells, Delta Air Lines keeps 17.9 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 7.2 after all operating costs (operating margin).
Delta Air Lines against its sector
To know whether a Delta Air Lines figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Delta Air Lines with the median of the 13 travel, leisure and gaming companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Delta Air Lines | travel, leisure and gaming median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 17.8x | 17.8x (13) |
| Revenue growth | +21.1% | +8.8% (14) |
| Net margin | 4.6% | 11.6% (14) |
| Dividend yield | 1.03% | 1.31% (14) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 2.2x | 2.8x (14) |
In short, against the typical travel, leisure and gaming company, Delta Air Lines grows faster, earns a thinner margin and pays a lower dividend yield. By size, Delta Air Lines ranks number 6 of 11 travel, leisure and gaming companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Delta Air Lines
These are the strengths in the Delta Air Lines figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Delta Air Lines is selling more than a year ago: +21.1% in its latest quarter (the typical travel, leisure and gaming company grew +8.8%).
- Analysts expect Delta Air Lines earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 12.2x, below the current 17.8x.
The main risk for Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines runs on a thin net margin (4.6%, against a travel, leisure and gaming median of 11.6%): a rise in costs can easily wipe out profit.
And, like the rest of travel, leisure and gaming, Delta Air Lines is exposed to people travelling and spending less on leisure if the economy worsens, plus fuel prices.
Frequently asked questions about Delta Air Lines
Is it a good time to buy Delta Air Lines stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Delta Air Lines, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Delta Air Lines stock trades at $89.24, 7% below its 52-week high ($95.68) and 61% above its low ($55.27). Its P/E is 17.8x against a travel, leisure and gaming median of 17.8x, and 12.2x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Delta Air Lines, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Delta Air Lines pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Delta Air Lines pays $0.86 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 1.03%. It uses 16% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips.
Is Delta Air Lines stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Delta Air Lines trades at 17.8x its last 12 months of earnings: in line with the travel, leisure and gaming median (17.8x). A high P/E alone does not make Delta Air Lines expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Delta Air Lines's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Delta Air Lines with United Airlines, Carnival and Royal Caribbean, which are also in travel, leisure and gaming. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Delta Air Lines below.
Delta Air Lines competitors
- United Airlines (UAL) analysis · Delta Air Lines vs United Airlines comparison
- Carnival (CCL) analysis · Delta Air Lines vs Carnival comparison
- Royal Caribbean (RCL) analysis · Delta Air Lines vs Royal Caribbean comparison
To understand Delta Air Lines better
- How to Read a Balance Sheet: A Beginner's Guide
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Delta Air Lines: travel, leisure and gaming stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full DAL analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Delta Air Lines, not investment advice.