For the quarter ended March 2026, Alaska Air Group (ALK Quick QuoteALK - Free Report) reported revenue of $3.3 billion, up 5.2% over the same period last year. EPS came in at -$1.68, compared to -$0.77 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.27 billion, representing a surprise of +0.99%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -4.44%, with the consensus EPS estimate being -$1.61.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Alaska Air performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Passenger Load Factor: 80.2% versus 83.2% estimated by five analysts on average.
• Total revenue per ASM (RASM): 15.3 cents versus the four-analyst average estimate of 15.08 cents.
• Available seat miles (ASM): 21.57 billion compared to the 21.63 billion average estimate based on four analysts.
• Revenue passenger miles (RPM): 17.3 billion versus 18.08 billion estimated by four analysts on average.
• ASMs per fuel gallon: 80.70 Gal compared to the 76.19 Gal average estimate based on three analysts.
• Fuel gallons: 267.00 Mgal compared to the 286.89 Mgal average estimate based on three analysts.
• Operating expenses per ASM, excluding fuel and special items: 12.37 cents compared to the 11.82 cents average estimate based on three analysts.
• Passenger Yield: 16.88 cents versus 15.98 cents estimated by three analysts on average.
• Average full-time equivalent employees (FTEs): 31,465 versus 35,034 estimated by two analysts on average.
• Total Passenger Revenue: $2.92 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $2.92 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +4%.
• Revenue- Loyalty program other revenue: $227 million compared to the $219.93 million average estimate based on four analysts.
• Revenue- Cargo and other: $153 million versus $134.14 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +25.4% change.

View all Key Company Metrics for Alaska Air here>>>

Shares of Alaska Air have returned +23% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +6.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.