American Airlines (AAL Quick QuoteAAL - Free Report) reported $13.91 billion in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 10.8%. EPS of -$0.40 for the same period compares to -$0.59 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.72% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.81 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being -$0.45, the EPS surprise was +10.62%.

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.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

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

• Operating cost per ASM excluding net special items and fuel - Total: 15.29 cents compared to the 15.21 cents average estimate based on four analysts.
• Total revenue per ASM - Total: 19.32 cents versus the four-analyst average estimate of 19.2 cents.
• Passenger load factor (percent) - Total: 81.3% versus 82.8% estimated by four analysts on average.
• Passenger revenue per ASM - Total: 17.35 cents versus the four-analyst average estimate of 17.49 cents.
• Available seat miles - Total: 72.01 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of 72.2 billion.
• Operating cost per ASM excluding net special items - Total: 19.36 cents versus 19.49 cents estimated by four analysts on average.
• Average aircraft fuel price including related taxes - Total: 2.75 $/gal compared to the 2.76 $/gal average estimate based on four analysts.
• Yield - Total: 21.34 cents versus 20.96 cents estimated by three analysts on average.
• Revenue passenger miles - Total: 58.55 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of 60.18 billion.
• Revenue- Passenger: $12.5 billion compared to the $12.63 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +9.7% year over year.
• Revenue- Other: $1.2 billion compared to the $1.05 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +23.9% year over year.
• Revenue- Cargo: $214 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $202.46 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +13.2%.

View all Key Company Metrics for American Airlines here>>>

Shares of American Airlines have returned +7.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +9.7% 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.