Honestly, if you're looking at the delta air lines stock price today, you’re probably seeing a whole lot of green on your screen and wondering why everyone was panicking just forty-eight hours ago. It’s been a wild week for DAL. After the closing bell on Thursday, January 15, 2026, the stock sat at $71.34, staging a massive 4.16% recovery in a single session. This came right after a bumpy Tuesday where the market basically threw a tantrum over some "conservative" guidance.
Markets are weird like that.
Delta actually beat earnings expectations for the final quarter of 2025. They turned in an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.55, which was a few cents higher than what Wall Street analysts were betting on. But because the revenue of $14.61 billion was a hair under the $14.72 billion target, and because CEO Ed Bastian was a bit cautious about 2026 uncertainties like the lagging travel return from China, investors sold off. They pushed the price down to around $68.49 by Wednesday. Now, we're seeing the "buy the dip" crowd rush back in.
Why delta air lines stock price today is bouncing back
The reality is that Delta is transforming into something that doesn't really look like an airline anymore. Most people still think of DAL as a company that sells seats on planes. That's part of it, sure. But if you dig into the numbers from this week's report, you’ll see they are becoming a premium lifestyle brand that just happens to own a fleet of jets.
Think about this: Premium ticket revenue rose 9% in the last quarter, while main cabin (standard coach) revenue actually fell by 7%.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Tractor Supply Company Survey Actually Matters for Your Next Visit
Wealthy travelers aren't stopping. They want the big seats, the better food, and the lounge access. Delta is leanng into this so hard that Bastian basically said they aren't adding any new seats to the "main cabin" this year. Every bit of growth is going toward the front of the plane. This matters for the delta air lines stock price today because premium seats have much higher margins. It’s the difference between fighting for scraps in a price war with budget carriers and running a high-end club.
The Boeing 787-10 factor
Another thing that caught people off guard this week was the order for 30 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners. It’s a huge bet on international travel. While some were worried about the capital expenditure, smart money sees this as a long-term efficiency play. These planes are fuel-sipping monsters compared to the older widebodies they'll replace. Plus, they have options for 30 more.
What the analysts are actually saying
Wall Street is surprisingly united on this one, even if the price action has been choppy. Out of about 22 analysts tracking the stock, 18 still have a "Buy" or "Strong Buy" rating.
- The Bull Case: Analysts like Atul Maheswari at UBS are looking at a price target of $90.00. They see the Amex partnership—which brings in billions in high-margin loyalty revenue—as a safety net that other airlines just don't have.
- The Bear Case: There’s always a skeptic. Some targets sit as low as $59.00, mostly citing the risk of rising labor costs and the possibility that the "premium" consumer eventually gets tired of spending.
- The Consensus: The median target is hovering around $82.00, which suggests about an 18% upside from where we are right now.
Breaking down the 2026 outlook
Delta issued guidance for 2026 EPS between $6.50 and $7.50. That’s a 20% growth target at the midpoint. You’d think the market would love a 20% growth forecast, right?
🔗 Read more: Why the Elon Musk Doge Treasury Block Injunction is Shaking Up Washington
Well, traders are spoiled. They wanted more.
There's also the "government shutdown hangover." The 43-day U.S. government shutdown late last year took a $200 million pre-tax bite out of their Q4 results. Investors are still a bit jumpy about how that might affect travel patterns in the first quarter of 2026. However, Delta is already seeing bookings for March up by 5% to 7% compared to last year. People are still flying.
Is it still undervalued?
If you're into the nitty-gritty valuation models, some Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analyses suggest the "fair value" of Delta could be north of $140.00. Now, take that with a grain of salt. Airlines are notoriously capital-intensive and prone to external shocks like fuel spikes or geopolitical messiness. But at a forward P/E ratio of roughly 9.3x, Delta is trading at a massive discount compared to the broader S&P 500.
It's sort of the "Blue Chip" of the skies.
💡 You might also like: Why Saying Sorry We Are Closed on Friday is Actually Good for Your Business
Practical steps for watching DAL
If you're trying to play the delta air lines stock price today, don't just stare at the daily candle. You've got to watch the macro stuff.
- Monitor Jet Fuel Prices: Even with a premium pivot, fuel is still a massive chunk of their expenses.
- Watch the Amex Reports: If American Express shows a dip in travel and entertainment spending, Delta will feel it.
- Check the "Yield": Look at whether they are actually filling those premium seats or if they're having to discount them to keep the planes full.
The stock has doubled since the 2021 lows, and they’ve been aggressive about paying down debt—retiring $3 billion in high-interest debt just last year. They even hiked the dividend by 25% in mid-2025. This isn't the same shaky Delta from a decade ago. It’s a cash-flow machine that's currently navigating a bit of post-earnings turbulence.
Start by setting a price alert around the $68 support level. If it retests that and holds, it might be the entry point people were looking for earlier this week. Conversely, if it breaks the $73.16 all-time high set back on January 5, we could be looking at a completely new leg up.
Keep an eye on the February profit-sharing announcement too. Delta is set to payout $1.3 billion to its employees. A happy workforce usually means better operational performance, which, in the long run, is what keeps that stock price climbing.