We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Here's Why Investors Should Retain Copa Holdings Stock Now
Read MoreHide Full Article
Copa Holdings (CPA - Free Report) is benefiting from robust air travel demand, boosting its prospects. Fleet expansion and a shareholder-friendly approach are encouraging. However, the company is grappling with increased operating expenses.
Factors Favoring CPA
The uptick in air travel demand is boosting Copa Holdings’ prospects. In the third quarter of 2024, consolidated capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), increased by 9.5% year over year. Passenger traffic for the quarter, measured in terms of revenue passenger miles (RPMs), increased by 7.6% compared to the third quarter of 2023.
CPA reported an 86.2% load factor (% of seats filled by passengers) in the third quarter of 2024. For full-year 2025, the company currently anticipates increasing its capacity by approximately 7% to 9% compared to 2024, with unit costs, excluding fuel (Ex-Fuel CASM), projected to be around 5.8 cents.
Copa Holdings’ fleet expansion and modernization initiatives are commendable. In the third quarter of 2024, CPA took delivery of one Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, ending the quarter with a consolidated fleet of 110 aircraft — 67 Boeing 737-800s, 32 Boeing 737 MAX 9s, 9 Boeing 737-700s, 1 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 1 Boeing 737-800 freighter.
The company’s commitment to rewarding its shareholders through dividends is noteworthy. The company will make its third dividend payment of $1.61 per share on Dec. 13, 2024, to all its shareholders on record as of Dec. 2, 2024. These initiatives not only bolster investors’ confidence but also positively impact earnings per share.
Moreover, CPA exited the third quarter of 2024 with a current ratio (a measure of liquidity) of 1.09. A current ratio of greater than 1 is always desirable as it indicates that the company is well-positioned to meet its short-term obligations.
CPA: Key Risks to Watch
The surge in operating expenses is adversely impacting the company’s bottom line due to elevated maintenance, materials and repairs costs. In the third quarter of 2024, operating costs increased by 2.8% year over year.
In the third quarter of 2024, maintenance, materials and repairs expenses increased by 18.1% year over year. Passenger servicing costs surged by 13.3%. Labor costs comprising wages, salaries, benefits and other employees' expenses increased by 8.7% year over year.
Copa Holdings is currently mired in the above headwinds, which have led to its unimpressive price performance. CPA shares have plunged 7.4% over the past year against the industry’s 42.9% growth.
Some better-ranked stocks from the Zacks Transportation sector are Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD - Free Report) and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM - Free Report) .
Expeditors International of Washington currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and has an impressive earnings surprise history. The company's earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters (missed the mark in the remaining quarter), delivering an average surprise of 4.75%. Shares of EXPD have risen 0.5% so far this year.
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has an impressive earnings surprise history. The company's earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters (missed the mark in the remaining quarter), delivering an average surprise of 12.62%.
Shares of ZIM have surged 168.2% so far this year. The Red Sea crisis-induced high freight rates, a focus on niche markets and a shareholder-friendly approach bode well for ZIM.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Here's Why Investors Should Retain Copa Holdings Stock Now
Copa Holdings (CPA - Free Report) is benefiting from robust air travel demand, boosting its prospects. Fleet expansion and a shareholder-friendly approach are encouraging. However, the company is grappling with increased operating expenses.
Factors Favoring CPA
The uptick in air travel demand is boosting Copa Holdings’ prospects. In the third quarter of 2024, consolidated capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), increased by 9.5% year over year. Passenger traffic for the quarter, measured in terms of revenue passenger miles (RPMs), increased by 7.6% compared to the third quarter of 2023.
CPA reported an 86.2% load factor (% of seats filled by passengers) in the third quarter of 2024. For full-year 2025, the company currently anticipates increasing its capacity by approximately 7% to 9% compared to 2024, with unit costs, excluding fuel (Ex-Fuel CASM), projected to be around 5.8 cents.
Copa Holdings’ fleet expansion and modernization initiatives are commendable. In the third quarter of 2024, CPA took delivery of one Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, ending the quarter with a consolidated fleet of 110 aircraft — 67 Boeing 737-800s, 32 Boeing 737 MAX 9s, 9 Boeing 737-700s, 1 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 1 Boeing 737-800 freighter.
The company’s commitment to rewarding its shareholders through dividends is noteworthy. The company will make its third dividend payment of $1.61 per share on Dec. 13, 2024, to all its shareholders on record as of Dec. 2, 2024. These initiatives not only bolster investors’ confidence but also positively impact earnings per share.
Moreover, CPA exited the third quarter of 2024 with a current ratio (a measure of liquidity) of 1.09. A current ratio of greater than 1 is always desirable as it indicates that the company is well-positioned to meet its short-term obligations.
CPA: Key Risks to Watch
The surge in operating expenses is adversely impacting the company’s bottom line due to elevated maintenance, materials and repairs costs. In the third quarter of 2024, operating costs increased by 2.8% year over year.
In the third quarter of 2024, maintenance, materials and repairs expenses increased by 18.1% year over year. Passenger servicing costs surged by 13.3%. Labor costs comprising wages, salaries, benefits and other employees' expenses increased by 8.7% year over year.
Copa Holdings is currently mired in the above headwinds, which have led to its unimpressive price performance. CPA shares have plunged 7.4% over the past year against the industry’s 42.9% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CPA’s Zacks Rank
CPA currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Stocks to Consider
Some better-ranked stocks from the Zacks Transportation sector are Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD - Free Report) and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM - Free Report) .
Expeditors International of Washington currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and has an impressive earnings surprise history. The company's earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters (missed the mark in the remaining quarter), delivering an average surprise of 4.75%. Shares of EXPD have risen 0.5% so far this year.
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has an impressive earnings surprise history. The company's earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters (missed the mark in the remaining quarter), delivering an average surprise of 12.62%.
Shares of ZIM have surged 168.2% so far this year. The Red Sea crisis-induced high freight rates, a focus on niche markets and a shareholder-friendly approach bode well for ZIM.