Copa Holdings (CPA) October Traffic Up, Load Factor Down

CPA SAVE AFLYY ICAGY

Copa Holdings, S.A. (CPA - Free Report) reported traffic figures for October. Traffic, measured in revenue passenger miles (RPMs), was 1.75 billion, up 2.7% from the year-ago figure.

On a year-over-year basis, consolidated capacity (or available seat miles/ASMs) increased 6.2% to 2.14 billion. However, load factor (% of seats filled by passengers) contracted 280 basis points (bps) to 82% in the month as traffic growth was outstripped by capacity expansion.

 

In the first 10 months of 2018, the carrier generated RPMs of 17.95 billion (up 8.5% year over year) and ASMs of 21.51 billion (up 8.4%). Load factor registered a rise of 10 bps year over year to 83.4% during the period.

The company recently released third-quarter 2018 financial results posting lower-than-expected earnings. Moreover, the bottom line plunged significantly year over year. Quarterly revenues, though increased more than 2% year over year, fell shy of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Results were hurt by high fuel prices and weakening Brazilian and Argentinian currencies. (Read more: Copa Holdings Q3 Earnings & Revenues Miss on Cost Woes)

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Copa Holdings carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the airline space are Air France-KLM SA (AFLYY - Free Report) , International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (ICAGY - Free Report) and Spirit Airlines, Inc. (SAVE - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shares of Air France-KLM and Spirit Airlines have surged more than 33% and 43%, respectively, in the past six months. Meanwhile the International Consolidated Airlines stock has gained more than 6% in a month.

Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies

It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%.

And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.

See Them Free>>

Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.

This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.

Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>