Alaska Air Group stock falls under fresh Strong Sell call

Published on 09/19/2026 at 20:11 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Alaska Air Group stock trades around USD 40 with weak technical signals as of September 18, 2026. A new Strong Sell rating and recent quarterly loss keep risks in focus for investors ahead of the October 22, 2026 earnings date.

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Alaska Air Group stock (ISIN US0116591092) is trading near USD 40 on the New York Stock Exchange as of September 18, 2026, while a fresh downgrade to Strong Sell and a recent quarterly loss underline the mixed picture for investors.

New Strong Sell rating adds pressure

According to MarketBeat on September 19, 2026, research platform Wall Street Zen has lowered its view on Alaska Air Group from sell to strong sell, even as the broader analyst consensus on the stock remains Moderate Buy with a consensus price target of USD 60.12.

In the same overview, MarketBeat reports that Alaska Air Group shares opened at USD 40.53 on September 18, 2026, up about 1.3 percent on the day, putting the stock well below the consensus target of USD 60.12 and implying upside of roughly 48 percent if analysts' expectations were met.

Recent quarterly figures show loss but revenue growth

As MarketBeat summarizes, Alaska Air Group last reported quarterly earnings for the period ended in the third quarter of 2026, posting a loss of USD 0.92 per share compared with the prior year’s profit of USD 1.42 per share in the same quarter, a swing of USD 2.34 per share year over year.

In that quarter, revenue reached USD 4.07 billion, rising 9.7 percent versus the same quarter a year earlier but coming in slightly below analysts' expectations of USD 4.09 billion, according to MarketBeat.

Based on this latest report, Alaska Air Group recorded a negative net margin of 1.19 percent and a negative return on equity of 3.11 percent, showing that profitability remains under pressure even with revenue growth, as outlined by MarketBeat.

Guidance and expectations ahead of next earnings date

According to MarketBeat, Alaska Air Group has issued guidance for the third quarter of 2026 in a range of USD 0.00 to USD 1.00 in earnings per share, highlighting the uncertainty around profitability in the near term.

Analysts as a group currently forecast a full-year loss of USD 1.74 per share for Alaska Air Group in fiscal year 2026, indicating that the company is expected to remain in the red for the year despite the improvement compared with the latest quarterly loss of USD 0.92 per share, per MarketBeat.

Looking ahead, the next key date for investors is the upcoming earnings release expected on October 22, 2026, when Alaska Air Group is projected to report earnings of USD 0.48 per share for the quarter ending September 2026, according to Zacks.

Technical signals and market valuation

Technical trading systems currently highlight weak sentiment in Alaska Air Group stock, with a mid-channel oscillation pattern and a present price signal around USD 40.54, as described by StockTradersDaily in its multi-timeframe analysis dated September 18, 2026.

As of mid-September 2026, Alaska Air Group's market capitalization stands at about USD 4.45 billion, based on a share price near USD 39.91 and data as of September 15, 2026, according to CompaniesMarketCap, which also notes that this represents a decrease of 25.42 percent in market cap for 2026 compared with the prior year.

Stock price level and investor view

On the New York Stock Exchange, Alaska Air Group stock most recently opened at USD 40.53 on September 18, 2026, with the price trading around the USD 40 mark and sitting well below the consensus analyst price target of USD 60.12, highlighting both the perceived upside and the caution expressed by the new Strong Sell call.