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.
If You Invested $1000 in SkyWest a Decade Ago, This is How Much It'd Be Worth Now
Read MoreHide Full Article
How much a stock's price changes over time is a significant driver for most investors. Not only can price performance impact your portfolio, but it can help you compare investment results across sectors and industries as well.
Another factor that can influence investors is FOMO, or the fear of missing out, especially with tech giants and popular consumer-facing stocks.
What if you'd invested in SkyWest (SKYW - Free Report) ten years ago? It may not have been easy to hold on to SKYW for all that time, but if you did, how much would your investment be worth today?
SkyWest's Business In-Depth
With that in mind, let's take a look at SkyWest's main business drivers.
SkyWest, founded in 1972, is based in St. George, UT and operates as a regional airline in the United States through its subsidiary SkyWest Airlines. SkyWest is also the holding company of an aircraft leasing company. In January 2019, SkyWest completed the sale of its erstwhile subsidiary, ExpressJet Airlines, to United Airlines joint venture — ManaAir LLC.
SkyWest Airlines offers high-quality regional service to airports located primarily in the Midwestern and Western United States as well as Mexico and Canada. The carrier primarily operates from Chicago (O’Hare), Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle airports.
Offering scheduled regional airline service under code-share agreements (a deal between airlines allowing them to use each other’s codes on flights among other things) with its airline partners, forms the basis of the company’s operating model. On a daily basis, SkyWest is responsible for operating more than 2,100 flights to multiple destinations in North America.
SkyWest provides regional operations to its major airline partners under long-term, fixed-fee, code-share agreements. The company has codeshare agreements with key airline players like Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United and Alaska Airlines.
The fixed-fee agreement with these companies obligate the respective major airline partner to refund the amount of fuel costs SkyWest incurs under those agreements.
Under the prorate agreements with Delta, United Airlines, and American Airlines, SkyWest is liable to cover the costs including fuel expenses of operating the concerned flights. Going by historical evidence, these multiple agreements consisting of a mix of fixed-fee and prorate flying arrangements should bolster the company’s operating results.
In 2024, 96.7% of the company's operating revenues of $3.41 billion came from flying agreements. The rest came from airport customer services and others. As of December 31, 2024, SKYW had a total of 492 aircraft in scheduled service or under contract (which includes 262 E175s, 36 CRJ900s, 119 CRJ700s and 75 CRJ200s in its fleet).
Bottom Line
Anyone can invest, but building a successful investment portfolio takes a combination of a few things: research, patience, and a little bit of risk. So, if you had invested in SkyWest a decade ago, you're probably feeling pretty good about your investment today.
A $1000 investment made in August 2015 would be worth $7,225.73, or a 622.57% gain, as of August 25, 2025, according to our calculations. Investors should note that this return excludes dividends but includes price increases.
The S&P 500 rose 228.12% and the price of gold increased 184.52% over the same time frame in comparison.
Going forward, analysts are expecting more upside for SKYW.
Shares of SKYW have gained 59.4% in the past year, marginally underperforming the 59.9% uptick of the industry it belongs to. SKYW's shareholder-friendly approach boosts investor confidence. SkyWest's fleet-modernization efforts are commendable. SKYW has fleet-related agreements with other airline heavyweights like United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines. By 2028-end, SKYW is scheduled to have nearly 300 E175 aircraft. Low fuel costs also support its bottom line. The positive sentiment surrounding the stock is evident from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings has been raised in the past 90 days. We believe that the positives surrounding SKYW stock outweigh the concerns of higher operating expenses and share price volatility. We therefore encourage investors to add SKYW stock to their portfolios now.
The stock is up 6.04% over the past four weeks, and no earnings estimate has gone lower in the past two months, compared to 3 higher, for fiscal 2025. The consensus estimate has moved up as well.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
If You Invested $1000 in SkyWest a Decade Ago, This is How Much It'd Be Worth Now
How much a stock's price changes over time is a significant driver for most investors. Not only can price performance impact your portfolio, but it can help you compare investment results across sectors and industries as well.
Another factor that can influence investors is FOMO, or the fear of missing out, especially with tech giants and popular consumer-facing stocks.
What if you'd invested in SkyWest (SKYW - Free Report) ten years ago? It may not have been easy to hold on to SKYW for all that time, but if you did, how much would your investment be worth today?
SkyWest's Business In-Depth
With that in mind, let's take a look at SkyWest's main business drivers.
SkyWest, founded in 1972, is based in St. George, UT and operates as a regional airline in the United States through its subsidiary SkyWest Airlines.
SkyWest is also the holding company of an aircraft leasing company. In January 2019, SkyWest completed the sale of its erstwhile subsidiary, ExpressJet Airlines, to United Airlines joint venture — ManaAir LLC.
SkyWest Airlines offers high-quality regional service to airports located primarily in the Midwestern and Western United States as well as Mexico and Canada. The carrier primarily operates from Chicago (O’Hare), Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle airports.
Offering scheduled regional airline service under code-share agreements (a deal between airlines allowing them to use each other’s codes on flights among other things) with its airline partners, forms the basis of the company’s operating model. On a daily basis, SkyWest is responsible for operating more than 2,100 flights to multiple destinations in North America.
SkyWest provides regional operations to its major airline partners under long-term, fixed-fee, code-share agreements. The company has codeshare agreements with key airline players like Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United and Alaska Airlines.
The fixed-fee agreement with these companies obligate the respective major airline partner to refund the amount of fuel costs SkyWest incurs under those agreements.
Under the prorate agreements with Delta, United Airlines, and American Airlines, SkyWest is liable to cover the costs including fuel expenses of operating the concerned flights. Going by historical evidence, these multiple agreements consisting of a mix of fixed-fee and prorate flying arrangements should bolster the company’s operating results.
In 2024, 96.7% of the company's operating revenues of $3.41 billion came from flying agreements. The rest came from airport customer services and others. As of December 31, 2024, SKYW had a total of 492 aircraft in scheduled service or under contract (which includes 262 E175s, 36 CRJ900s, 119 CRJ700s and 75 CRJ200s in its fleet).
Bottom Line
Anyone can invest, but building a successful investment portfolio takes a combination of a few things: research, patience, and a little bit of risk. So, if you had invested in SkyWest a decade ago, you're probably feeling pretty good about your investment today.
A $1000 investment made in August 2015 would be worth $7,225.73, or a 622.57% gain, as of August 25, 2025, according to our calculations. Investors should note that this return excludes dividends but includes price increases.
The S&P 500 rose 228.12% and the price of gold increased 184.52% over the same time frame in comparison.
Going forward, analysts are expecting more upside for SKYW.
Shares of SKYW have gained 59.4% in the past year, marginally underperforming the 59.9% uptick of the industry it belongs to. SKYW's shareholder-friendly approach boosts investor confidence. SkyWest's fleet-modernization efforts are commendable. SKYW has fleet-related agreements with other airline heavyweights like United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines. By 2028-end, SKYW is scheduled to have nearly 300 E175 aircraft. Low fuel costs also support its bottom line. The positive sentiment surrounding the stock is evident from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings has been raised in the past 90 days. We believe that the positives surrounding SKYW stock outweigh the concerns of higher operating expenses and share price volatility. We therefore encourage investors to add SKYW stock to their portfolios now.
The stock is up 6.04% over the past four weeks, and no earnings estimate has gone lower in the past two months, compared to 3 higher, for fiscal 2025. The consensus estimate has moved up as well.