Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Delta (DAL) Reports Q3 Earnings: What Key Metrics Have to Say

Read MoreHide Full Article

For the quarter ended September 2026, Delta Air Lines (DAL - Free Report) reported revenue of $17.59 billion, up 5.5% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.72, compared to $1.71 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -0.89% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $17.74 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.80, the EPS surprise was -4.44%.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

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 Delta performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • Passenger load factor: 86% versus the four-analyst average estimate of 86.1%.
  • Revenue passenger miles: 68.13 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of 68.64 billion.
  • CASM - Ex: 14.03 cents versus the three-analyst average estimate of 13.85 cents.
  • Average price per fuel gallon, adjusted: $3.61 versus $3.47 estimated by three analysts on average.
  • Available seat miles: 79.29 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of 79.74 billion.
  • TRASM, adjusted: 22.18 cents compared to the 22.21 cents average estimate based on three analysts.
  • Passenger revenue per available seat mile: 19.59 cents versus 19.57 cents estimated by three analysts on average.
  • Total revenue per available seat mile: 25.46 cents versus the two-analyst average estimate of 23.35 cents.
  • Passenger mile yield: 22.8 cents versus the two-analyst average estimate of 23.03 cents.
  • Operating Revenues- Passenger: $15.53 billion compared to the $15.66 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +15% year over year.
  • Operating Revenues- Cargo: $301 million versus $257.28 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +29.2% change.
  • Operating Revenues- Other: $4.35 billion compared to the $3.64 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +48.3% year over year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Delta here>>>

Shares of Delta have returned +5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.

Published in