Southwest Airlines UBS lifts price target, shares trade near yearly high

UBS raises its price target for Southwest Airlines to 61 dollars and reiterates a Buy rating, while Jefferies sticks with Hold and a lower target. The mixed analyst picture shapes expectations for the NYSE-listed carrier.

By Anna Wagner, Analysts & Consensus desk. Reviewed prior to publication on 2026-06-23, 20:42.

Southwest Airlines (US8447411088) sits in focus today with fresh analyst commentary on its NYSE-listed shares. UBS has raised its price target materially, while Jefferies keeps a more cautious stance, sharpening the current consensus picture for the airline stock. Marketscreener summary of the UBS note

What UBS is signaling

UBS now sets its price target for Southwest Airlines at 61 dollars, up from 53 dollars previously, and maintains a Buy rating on the NYSE-listed carrier. Investing.com report on the UBS update The note highlights earnings expectations that stand meaningfully above market consensus for the coming quarters.

For the second quarter, UBS projects earnings per share of 0.55 dollars, compared with a consensus estimate of 0.45 dollars, and for the third quarter, the bank expects 1.06 dollars versus a consensus of 0.56 dollars. Investing.com report on the UBS update For full-year 2026, UBS models 3.30 dollars earnings per share against a consensus near 2.67 dollars, indicating a clearly more optimistic earnings trajectory.

Jefferies and the wider consensus

Jefferies recently lifted its price target on Southwest Airlines to 44 dollars from 37 dollars but maintained a Hold rating, citing network optimization and increased frequencies in favorable markets. Investing.com coverage of Jefferies’ stance This places Jefferies notably below the new UBS target and underlines the dispersion of views on the stock.

According to a compiled analyst overview, 17 analysts currently cover Southwest Airlines with a consensus rating of Hold, reflecting a mix of Buy and Sell recommendations. Public.com consensus snapshot for LUV The average target price sits around the mid-40 dollar range, implying limited upside from recent trading levels and highlighting the contrast with UBS’s 61 dollar target.

The business behind the stock

Southwest Airlines operates a large point-to-point network with a focus on domestic U.S. routes, using an all-Boeing 737 fleet to simplify operations and maintenance. Southwest Airlines company information The carrier positions itself as a low-fare airline with no-frills service but emphasizes customer-friendly policies such as two free checked bags and no change fees.

Where the stock trades today

The Southwest Airlines shares (US8447411088) trade on the NYSE under the ticker LUV and recently changed hands around 49.44 dollars as of 2026-06-23, 09:48 Eastern Time. Marketscreener real-time quote for Southwest Airlines The stock has gained about 17 percent since the start of the year, according to the same data source.

Southwest Airlines at a glance

• Company: Southwest Airlines Co.
• ISIN: US8447411088
• WKN: 862837
• Ticker: LUV
• Trading venue: NYSE
• Price (as of 2026-06-23, 09:48): 49.44 USD
• Market cap: 24.28 billion USD (as of 2026-06-23)
• Sector / industry: Airlines / Passenger transportation
• Index membership: S&P 500
• Next earnings date: not officially scheduled

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell securities, or a solicitation of any kind. Data and estimates are based on sources cited and may change over time.