Markets

Insider Trading

Hedge Funds

Retirement

Opinion

11 Best Airline Stocks To Buy Now

In this article, we discuss 11 best airline stocks to buy now. If you want to see more stocks in this selection, check out 5 Best Airline Stocks To Buy Now

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects passenger revenues to account for $498 billion of total industry revenues in 2022, more than double the $239 billion generated in 2021. Scheduled passenger numbers are forecasted to reach 3.8 billion and yields are expected to increase 5.6%. In 2022, industry revenues are expected to touch $782 billion, up 54.5% as compared to 2021 and 93.3% of the 2019 levels. The number of flights operated in 2022 will amount to 33.8 million as per IATA, which is 86.9% of 2019 levels, when total flights amounted to 38.9 million. Overall, expenses are expected to climb to $796 billion, which is a 44% increase as compared to 2021, reflecting the costs of expanding operations and the inflationary impact.

IATA expects that the airline industry will be profitable in 2023 as pent-up travel demand leads to higher airline bookings even as the global economy weakens. Bloomberg cited IATA Director General Willie Walsh, who told a group of airline chiefs in June 2022: 

“Industry-wide profit should be on the horizon in 2023. We are rebounding. By next year, most markets should see traffic reach or exceed pre-pandemic levels.”

While Walsh did not overlook the harsh economic and political climate, he noted that “the desire to travel and the necessity of moving goods are both solid.” The North American market is on its way to profitability, and airlines are forecasted to collectively report a net income of $8.8 billion this year. Some of the best airline stocks to buy in order to benefit from the boom in the sector include Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV), and American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL). 

Our Methodology 

We selected the following airline stocks based on growth fundamentals, positive analyst coverage, and strong hedge fund sentiment as of June 2022. We have arranged the list according to the number of hedge fund holders in each firm, tracked by Insider Monkey as of the second quarter of 2022.

emiel-molenaar-JOrUKpuMOeU-unsplash (1)

Best Airline Stocks To Buy Now

11. Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNCY)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 13

Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNCY) is a Minnesota-based air carrier company that provides scheduled passenger, air cargo, charter air transportation, and related services in the United States, Latin America, and internationally. On November 1, the company posted its Q3 results, reporting a non-GAAP EPS of $0.12 and a revenue of $221.7 million, outperforming Wall Street estimates by $0.08 and $4.97 million, respectively. 

On October 12, Barclays analyst Brandon Oglenski reiterated an Overweight rating on Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNCY) but lowered the price target on the shares to $21 from $26. Despite “likely favorable” short-term revenue outlook by many airlines, the analyst significantly trimmed 2023 earnings forecasts to factor in weaker demand expectations and soaring fuel prices. However, the analyst told investors that the Q3 earnings season could bring some brighter news on U.S. travel demand “relative to a more somber transport outlook”. 

According to Insider Monkey’s data, 13 hedge funds were bullish on Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNCY) at the end of June 2022, compared to 14 funds in the prior quarter. Paul Reeder and Edward Shapiro’s PAR Capital Management is the leading position holder in the company, with 2.2 million shares worth $40.2 million. 

Like Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV), and American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL), Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNCY) is one of the best airline stocks to invest in. 

10. Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ:RYAAY)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 14

Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ:RYAAY) is an Irish company that focuses on scheduled-passenger airline services in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Germany, and other European countries. On November 2, Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ:RYAAY) disclosed that it flew 15.7 million passengers during October, up 37.7% year-over-year and up 14% on pre-COVID levels. The airline expects to fly 166.5 million passengers in the year to the end of March 2023, ahead of its previous record of 149 million. Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ:RYAAY) is one of the best airline stocks to invest in. 

On October 24, Deutsche Bank analyst Jaime Rowbotham maintained a Buy recommendation on Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ:RYAAY) but lowered the price target on the shares to EUR 14.50 from EUR 15.50.

According to Insider Monkey’s data, 14 hedge funds were bullish on Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ:RYAAY) at the end of June 2022, compared to 17 funds in the prior quarter. Harris Associates is the leading position holder in the company, with nearly 9 million shares worth $601.3 million. 

Here is what Artisan International Fund has to say about Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ:RYAAY) in its Q4 2020 investor letter:

“Our top Q4 contributor was Ryanair Holdings, a low-cost European airline. The positive vaccine-related news caused Ryanair and other travel and leisure stocks to rally sharply as markets looked ahead to travel demand’s recovery in 2021. We continue to like Ryanair’s leading market position, low cost base and history of returning capital to shareholders.”

9. Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULCC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17

Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULCC) is a Colorado-based low-fare airline company that provides air transportation for passengers. The airline serves approximately 120 airports throughout the United States and international destinations in the Americas. Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULCC) stock climbed after reporting stronger than expected profits in Q3 2022 and forecasting continued improvement. It is one of the premier airline stocks to invest in. 

On October 27, Cowen analyst Helane Becker maintained an Outperform rating on Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULCC) but trimmed the firm’s price target on the shares to $18 from $20. The analyst said record ancillary revenues supported the top line while unit costs were helped by higher asset utilization and benefits from the company’s cost control initiatives.

Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULCC) was part of 17 public stock portfolios at the end of June 2022, compared to 24 in the prior quarter. Quincy Lee’s Ancient Art is the leading position holder in the company, with 5.10 million shares worth $47.85 million. 

8. Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18

Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA) is a Panama-based company that provides airline passenger and cargo services. The company’s latest report on October 11 reported an increase in capacity, traffic, and load factors for September 2022 as compared to September 2019. UBS analyst Rogerio Araujo upgraded Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA) on October 27 to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $120, up from $79. It is one of the best airline stocks to monitor. 

According to the second quarter database of Insider Monkey, 18 hedge funds were long Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA), with combined stakes worth $309 million, compared to 29 funds in the prior quarter worth $434 million. Paul Marshall and Ian Wace’s Marshall Wace LLP is the leading stakeholder of the company, with 1.4 million shares valued at $87.7 million. 

7. Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE:SAVE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25

Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE:SAVE) is a Florida-based company that provides airline services. Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE:SAVE) sells tickets through its call centers and airport ticket counters, and online through spirit.com. For the fourth quarter 2022, leisure demand remains robust and the company expects unit revenue to be up 15% to 16.5% on 24.5% additional capacity, compared to the fourth quarter 2019. Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE:SAVE) is one of the best airline stocks to monitor. 

On November 1, Citi analyst Stephen Trent raised the price target on Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE:SAVE) to $23 from $22 and maintained a Neutral rating on the shares. Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE:SAVE) should enjoy at least some seat mile cost dilution, as the airline recovers pre-pandemic utilization levels next year, the analyst told investors in a research note. 

According to Insider Monkey’s data, 25 hedge funds were bullish on Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE:SAVE) at the end of the second quarter of 2022, compared to 26 funds in the prior quarter. Paul Reeder and Edward Shapiro’s PAR Capital Management held the leading stake in the company, with 4.2 million shares worth $101.6 million. 

6. Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ:ALGT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25

Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ:ALGT) is based in Las Vegas, Nevada, operating as a leisure travel company that offers scheduled air transportation between under-served cities and leisure destinations. On October 17, Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ:ALGT) announced that it has been granted authorization for an ultra-low cost alliance for travel between Mexico and the United States. 

On November 3, Cowen analyst Helane Becker maintained an Outperform rating on Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ:ALGT) but slashed the price target on the shares to $120 from $153. The analyst noted that the firm trimmed Q4 capacity due to the lingering effect of Hurricane Ian resulting in a CASMex guidance well ahead of Street estimates.

According to Insider Monkey’s second quarter database, 25 funds reported owning stakes in Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ:ALGT), compared to 24 in the preceding quarter. Ric Dillon’s Diamond Hill Capital is the largest position holder in the company, with 501,312 shares worth $56.7 million. 

In addition to Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV), and American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL), Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ:ALGT) is one of the premier airline stocks to monitor in order to benefit from the rebound in the sector. 

Diamond Hill Capital made the following comment about Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ:ALGT) in its Q3 2022 investor letter:

“Bottom contributors in Q3 included Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ:ALGT) and ESAB Corporation. Shares of low-cost airline Allegiant Travel were weak as higher fuel and labor costs pressured profitability and recession fears weighed on market sentiment. We continue to like Allegiant’s focus on leisure travel — which should continue bouncing back — and view shares as trading at a substantial discount to our estimate of intrinsic value.”

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best Airline Stocks To Buy Now

Suggested articles:

Disclosure: None. 11 Best Airline Stocks To Buy Now is originally published on Insider Monkey.

AI, Tariffs, Nuclear Power: One Undervalued Stock Connects ALL the Dots (Before It Explodes!)

Artificial intelligence is the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime. The time to invest in groundbreaking AI is now, and this stock is a steal!

AI is eating the world—and the machines behind it are ravenous.

Each ChatGPT query, each model update, each robotic breakthrough consumes massive amounts of energy. In fact, AI is already pushing global power grids to the brink.

Wall Street is pouring hundreds of billions into artificial intelligence—training smarter chatbots, automating industries, and building the digital future. But there’s one urgent question few are asking:

Where will all of that energy come from?

AI is the most electricity-hungry technology ever invented. Each data center powering large language models like ChatGPT consumes as much energy as a small city. And it’s about to get worse.

Even Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, issued a stark warning:

“The future of AI depends on an energy breakthrough.”

Elon Musk was even more blunt:

“AI will run out of electricity by next year.”

As the world chases faster, smarter machines, a hidden crisis is emerging behind the scenes. Power grids are strained. Electricity prices are rising. Utilities are scrambling to expand capacity.

And that’s where the real opportunity lies…

One little-known company—almost entirely overlooked by most AI investors—could be the ultimate backdoor play. It’s not a chipmaker. It’s not a cloud platform. But it might be the most important AI stock in the US owns critical energy infrastructure assets positioned to feed the coming AI energy spike.

As demand from AI data centers explodes, this company is gearing up to profit from the most valuable commodity in the digital age: electricity.

The “Toll Booth” Operator of the AI Energy Boom

  • It owns critical nuclear energy infrastructure assets, positioning it at the heart of America’s next-generation power strategy.
  • It’s one of the only global companies capable of executing large-scale, complex EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) projects across oil, gas, renewable fuels, and industrial infrastructure.
  • It plays a pivotal role in U.S. LNG exportation—a sector about to explode under President Trump’s renewed “America First” energy doctrine.

Trump has made it clear: Europe and U.S. allies must buy American LNG.

And our company sits in the toll booth—collecting fees on every drop exported.

But that’s not all…

As Trump’s proposed tariffs push American manufacturers to bring their operations back home, this company will be first in line to rebuild, retrofit, and reengineer those facilities.

AI. Energy. Tariffs. Onshoring. This One Company Ties It All Together.

While the world is distracted by flashy AI tickers, a few smart investors are quietly scooping up shares of the one company powering it all from behind the scenes.

AI needs energy. Energy needs infrastructure.

And infrastructure needs a builder with experience, scale, and execution.

This company has its finger in every pie—and Wall Street is just starting to notice.

Wall Street is noticing this company also because it is quietly riding all of these tailwinds—without the sky-high valuation.

While most energy and utility firms are buried under mountains of debt and coughing up hefty interest payments just to appease bondholders…

This company is completely debt-free.

In fact, it’s sitting on a war chest of cash—equal to nearly one-third of its entire market cap.

It also owns a huge equity stake in another red-hot AI play, giving investors indirect exposure to multiple AI growth engines without paying a premium.

And here’s what the smart money has started whispering…

The Hedge Fund Secret That’s Starting to Leak Out

This stock is so off-the-radar, so absurdly undervalued, that some of the most secretive hedge fund managers in the world have begun pitching it at closed-door investment summits.

They’re sharing it quietly, away from the cameras, to rooms full of ultra-wealthy clients.

Why? Because excluding cash and investments, this company is trading at less than 7 times earnings.

And that’s for a business tied to:

  • The AI infrastructure supercycle
  • The onshoring boom driven by Trump-era tariffs
  • A surge in U.S. LNG exports
  • And a unique footprint in nuclear energy—the future of clean, reliable power

You simply won’t find another AI and energy stock this cheap… with this much upside.

This isn’t a hype stock. It’s not riding on hope.

It’s delivering real cash flows, owns critical infrastructure, and holds stakes in other major growth stories.

This is your chance to get in before the rockets take off!

Disruption is the New Name of the Game: Let’s face it, complacency breeds stagnation.

AI is the ultimate disruptor, and it’s shaking the foundations of traditional industries.

The companies that embrace AI will thrive, while the dinosaurs clinging to outdated methods will be left in the dust.

As an investor, you want to be on the side of the winners, and AI is the winning ticket.

The Talent Pool is Overflowing: The world’s brightest minds are flocking to AI.

From computer scientists to mathematicians, the next generation of innovators is pouring its energy into this field.

This influx of talent guarantees a constant stream of groundbreaking ideas and rapid advancements.

By investing in AI, you’re essentially backing the future.

The future is powered by artificial intelligence, and the time to invest is NOW.

Don’t be a spectator in this technological revolution.

Dive into the AI gold rush and watch your portfolio soar alongside the brightest minds of our generation.

This isn’t just about making money – it’s about being part of the future.

So, buckle up and get ready for the ride of your investment life!

Act Now and Unlock a Potential 100+% Return within 12 to 24 months.

We’re now offering month-to-month subscriptions with no commitments.

For a ridiculously low price of just $9.99 per month, you can unlock our in-depth investment research and exclusive insights – that’s less than a single fast food meal!

Space is Limited! Only 1000 spots are available for this exclusive offer. Don’t let this chance slip away – subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter today and unlock the potential for a life-changing investment.

Here’s what to do next:

1. Head over to our website and subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter for just $9.99.

2. Enjoy a month of ad-free browsing, exclusive access to our in-depth report on the Trump tariff and nuclear energy company as well as the revolutionary AI-robotics company, and the upcoming issues of our Premium Readership Newsletter.

3. Sit back, relax, and know that you’re backed by our ironclad 30-day money-back guarantee.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Subscribe now and take control of your AI investment future!


No worries about auto-renewals! Our 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee applies whether you’re joining us for the first time or renewing your subscription a month later!

A New Dawn is Coming to U.S. Stocks

I work for one of the largest independent financial publishers in the world – representing over 1 million people in 148 countries.

We’re independently funding today’s broadcast to address something on the mind of every investor in America right now…

Should I put my money in Artificial Intelligence?

Here to answer that for us… and give away his No. 1 free AI recommendation… is 50-year Wall Street titan, Marc Chaikin.

Marc’s been a trader, stockbroker, and analyst. He was the head of the options department at a major brokerage firm and is a sought-after expert for CNBC, Fox Business, Barron’s, and Yahoo! Finance…

But what Marc’s most known for is his award-winning stock-rating system. Which determines whether a stock could shoot sky-high in the next three to six months… or come crashing down.

That’s why Marc’s work appears in every Bloomberg and Reuters terminal on the planet…

And is still used by hundreds of banks, hedge funds, and brokerages to track the billions of dollars flowing in and out of stocks each day.

He’s used this system to survive nine bear markets… create three new indices for the Nasdaq… and even predict the brutal bear market of 2022, 90 days in advance.

Click to continue reading…