Southwest Airlines stock holds on to profit guidance

Southwest Airlines stock keeps the market's attention on its third-quarter profit goal after the carrier said it could still meet EPS guidance despite higher fuel costs. The company has also said autumn revenues are running ahead of expectations, a combination that matters for the USD 23.81 billion airline group (ISIN US8447411088).

Guidance stays in view

According to Robinhood, Southwest Airlines said it expects to meet its Q3 profit goal despite higher fuel costs, and the same report says Southwest could still hit its EPS guidance for Q3. The article was published on September 20, 2026.

That gives investors one clear contrast: higher fuel bills on one side, autumn revenue running ahead of expectations on the other. According to NewsBreak, Southwest has already reduced its planned 2026 capacity growth roughly in half because of higher fuel prices, from about 2 percent to 3 percent to a lower pace.

Price and setup

The shares last traded at USD 31.62 on the NYSE, down 0.8 percent on September 19, 2026, with a market capitalization of USD 16.85 billion and a 52-week range of USD 23.82 to USD 33.68. For a U.S. airline, that leaves the stock close enough to its yearly high that fuel costs and guidance delivery remain the main short-term drivers.

What matters next

Southwest Airlines remains a guidance story first. If the carrier keeps its third-quarter EPS target intact while revenue trends stay ahead of expectations, the next read-through will come from the margin line rather than from capacity alone.

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