8 Best Airline Stocks to Buy Heading into 2026

2. SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYW)

Analysts’ Upside Potential as of November 20: 40.5%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 34 

SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYW) is among the Best Airline stocks. It provides airline services in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Furthermore, it leases airplanes to competent users to generate revenue.

As of November 20, SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYW) is a consensus Buy with all the analysts covering it having a Buy or equivalent rating. With a consensus 1-year median price target of $130, the stock has a 41% upside potential.

On analyst activity, Thomas Fitzgerald CFA, a TD Cowen analyst, raised his price target to $132.00 from $124 on October 31, 2025. He maintained a buy rating on SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYW).

SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYW) announced Q3 sales of $1.05 billion on October 31, surpassing the consensus projection of $1.03 billion, and EPS of $2.81, beating estimates of $2.56, according to TheFly. As per CEO Chip Childs, the business is still implementing a balanced capital deployment strategy while generating revenue through the flexibility of its CRJ fleet, which is anticipated to generate long-term value for customers, workers, and investors. Furthermore, he noted a growing need for travel and the operational resilience of the summer months.

During the earnings call, management explained that the revenue and profitability gains were fueled by strong demand for regional flying, improved operational efficiency, and increased prorate and charter revenues. So far this year, SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYW) has completed more than 185 days with 100% controlled completion, demonstrating excellent performance. CFO Robert Simmons reported pretax income of $157 million, which was supported by $27 million in share repurchases, strong cash flow generation, and effective cost management.

Looking ahead, SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYW) projected mid-$10 per share EPS in 2025 and mid-to-high single-digit EPS growth in 2026, primarily due to continued fleet flexibility, new E175 deliveries, and consistent block hour expansion.