JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU - Free Report) posted mixed traffic numbers for January 2019. In spite of traffic increasing on the back of strong demand for air travel, load factor (percentage of seats filled by passengers) declined as traffic growth was outweighed by capacity expansion.
Traffic (measured in revenue passenger miles or RPMs) improved 7.9% year over year to 4.09 billion. On a year-over-year basis, capacity (or available seat miles/ASMs) rose 9.9% to 5.09 billion.
However, load factor contracted 150 basis points (bps) to 80.4%, which seems to have dented investors’ sentiments. Consequently, the stock slipped 2% at the close of business on Feb 12.
The Long Island City, NY-based low-cost carrier registered a completion factor (system wide) of 96% in the month with 69.4% flights on schedule.
Q1 RASM View Intact
JetBlue maintains projection for operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM) in the first quarter of 2019. The metric is expected to either decline 2% or increase up to 1% in the first quarter.
Additionally, the carrier expects capacity to expand between 7.5% and 9.5%. Consolidated operating cost per available seat mile, excluding fuel, is expected to increase in the range of 1.5-3.5% in the first quarter. Meanwhile, first-quarter fuel cost, net of hedges, is projected to be $2.01 per gallon.
Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider
JetBlue currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation Sector may consider Azul S.A. (AZUL - Free Report) , Frontline Ltd. (FRO - Free Report) and Air Lease Corporation (AL - 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 Azul and Frontline have improved 64.7% and 17.1% in the past six months, respectively. Meanwhile, Air Lease outpaced the consensus mark for earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, the average being 22.8%.
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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.
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JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU - Free Report) posted mixed traffic numbers for January 2019. In spite of traffic increasing on the back of strong demand for air travel, load factor (percentage of seats filled by passengers) declined as traffic growth was outweighed by capacity expansion.
Traffic (measured in revenue passenger miles or RPMs) improved 7.9% year over year to 4.09 billion. On a year-over-year basis, capacity (or available seat miles/ASMs) rose 9.9% to 5.09 billion.
However, load factor contracted 150 basis points (bps) to 80.4%, which seems to have dented investors’ sentiments. Consequently, the stock slipped 2% at the close of business on Feb 12.
The Long Island City, NY-based low-cost carrier registered a completion factor (system wide) of 96% in the month with 69.4% flights on schedule.
Q1 RASM View Intact
JetBlue maintains projection for operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM) in the first quarter of 2019. The metric is expected to either decline 2% or increase up to 1% in the first quarter.
Additionally, the carrier expects capacity to expand between 7.5% and 9.5%. Consolidated operating cost per available seat mile, excluding fuel, is expected to increase in the range of 1.5-3.5% in the first quarter. Meanwhile, first-quarter fuel cost, net of hedges, is projected to be $2.01 per gallon.
Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider
JetBlue currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation Sector may consider Azul S.A. (AZUL - Free Report) , Frontline Ltd. (FRO - Free Report) and Air Lease Corporation (AL - 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 Azul and Frontline have improved 64.7% and 17.1% in the past six months, respectively. Meanwhile, Air Lease outpaced the consensus mark for earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, the average being 22.8%.
3 Medical Stocks to Buy Now
The greatest discovery in this century of biology is now at the flashpoint between theory and realization. Billions of dollars in research have poured into it. Companies are already generating revenue, and cures for a variety of deadly diseases are in the pipeline.
So are big potential profits for early investors. Zacks has released an updated Special Report that explains this breakthrough and names the best 3 stocks to ride it.
See them today for 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 >>
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