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.
JetBlue Gears Up for Q3 Earnings: What's in Store for the Stock?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
JBLU is set to report Q3 earnings on Oct. 27 amid elevated fuel costs & persistent operating pressures.
JetBlue expects Q3 fuel prices of $3.49 per gallon and CASM ex-fuel growth of 2.5-4.5% year over year.
JetBlue's $8.48B debt burden and operational disruptions may further weigh on its Q3 profitability.
JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU - Free Report) is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 27, before the market opens.
The airline exits the September-end quarter amid elevated fuel costs, continued non-fuel expense pressure and operational challenges. Although demand remained resilient, higher fuel prices, labor and maintenance expenses and air-traffic-control constraints are likely to have weighed on profitability.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBLU’s third-quarter 2026 loss per share has widened in the past 60 days to 52 cents from 41 cents. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBLU’s third-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $2.82 billion, indicating 21.54% growth year over year.
JBLU has a discouraging earnings surprise history, having outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the preceding four quarters, and missing twice in the remaining two, with the average miss being 4.26%.
JetBlue Airways Corporation Price and EPS Surprise
Factors Likely to Have Influenced JBLU’s Q3 Performance
Elevated Fuel Costs: Higher fuel expenses are likely to have remained a major headwind for JetBlue. The company had expected an average third-quarter fuel price of $3.49 per gallon. Management noted that it had recaptured nearly 50% of higher fuel costs and expected further progress, suggesting that fuel inflation had still not been fully offset during the quarter.
Non-Fuel Cost Pressure: Rising operating expenses are also likely to have hurt the bottom line. JetBlue had guided for third-quarter CASM ex-fuel growth of 2.5-4.5% year over year. Labor, maintenance and other operating expenses are likely to have remained important cost pressures as the airline continues investing in its operations and JetForward initiatives. The company's filings also highlight increased maintenance costs associated with fleet age and higher salaries, wages and benefits as ongoing risks.
Operational Challenges: Operational disruptions may have further pressured results. Management described July as operationally challenging because of weather, air-traffic-control staffing constraints and other disruptions. The company's third-quarter outlook had assumed completion factors would return to historical levels during the balance of the quarter, leaving execution dependent on improved operating conditions.
High Interest Burden: JetBlue’s sizable debt load continues to constrain earnings. As of June 30, 2026, the company had about $8.48 billion of debt and finance lease obligations, while its full-year outlook contemplated approximately $590 million of interest expense. The elevated financing burden is likely to have remained a drag on the bottom line.
What Our Model Says About JBLU
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for JetBlue this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here.
JetBlue has an Earnings ESP of -6.22% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
JBLU's Q2 Highlights
JetBlue Airways reported a second-quarter 2026 loss of 66 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 70 cents. The result marked a 5.7% earnings surprise, though the loss widened from a year ago.
Operating revenues of $2.7 billion beat the consensus estimate by 0.1% and rose 14.5% year over year. Strong demand and commercial execution lifted revenue per available seat mile, or RASM, 10.9%.
Stocks to Consider
Here are a few stocks from the broader Zacks Transportation sector that investors may consider, as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
ODFL is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 earnings on Oct. 28. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 0.63% over the past 60 days. The company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, with the average beat being 6.71%.
Kirby Corporation (KEX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.87% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. KEX is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 earnings on Oct. 28.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 0.51% to $1.96 per share over the past 60 days. KEX’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the preceding four quarters and met the mark on the other occasion. The average beat is 2.86%.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
JetBlue Gears Up for Q3 Earnings: What's in Store for the Stock?
Key Takeaways
JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU - Free Report) is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 27, before the market opens.
The airline exits the September-end quarter amid elevated fuel costs, continued non-fuel expense pressure and operational challenges. Although demand remained resilient, higher fuel prices, labor and maintenance expenses and air-traffic-control constraints are likely to have weighed on profitability.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBLU’s third-quarter 2026 loss per share has widened in the past 60 days to 52 cents from 41 cents. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBLU’s third-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $2.82 billion, indicating 21.54% growth year over year.
JBLU has a discouraging earnings surprise history, having outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the preceding four quarters, and missing twice in the remaining two, with the average miss being 4.26%.
JetBlue Airways Corporation Price and EPS Surprise
JetBlue Airways Corporation price-eps-surprise | JetBlue Airways Corporation Quote
Factors Likely to Have Influenced JBLU’s Q3 Performance
Elevated Fuel Costs: Higher fuel expenses are likely to have remained a major headwind for JetBlue. The company had expected an average third-quarter fuel price of $3.49 per gallon. Management noted that it had recaptured nearly 50% of higher fuel costs and expected further progress, suggesting that fuel inflation had still not been fully offset during the quarter.
Non-Fuel Cost Pressure: Rising operating expenses are also likely to have hurt the bottom line. JetBlue had guided for third-quarter CASM ex-fuel growth of 2.5-4.5% year over year. Labor, maintenance and other operating expenses are likely to have remained important cost pressures as the airline continues investing in its operations and JetForward initiatives. The company's filings also highlight increased maintenance costs associated with fleet age and higher salaries, wages and benefits as ongoing risks.
Operational Challenges: Operational disruptions may have further pressured results. Management described July as operationally challenging because of weather, air-traffic-control staffing constraints and other disruptions. The company's third-quarter outlook had assumed completion factors would return to historical levels during the balance of the quarter, leaving execution dependent on improved operating conditions.
High Interest Burden: JetBlue’s sizable debt load continues to constrain earnings. As of June 30, 2026, the company had about $8.48 billion of debt and finance lease obligations, while its full-year outlook contemplated approximately $590 million of interest expense. The elevated financing burden is likely to have remained a drag on the bottom line.
What Our Model Says About JBLU
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for JetBlue this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here.
JetBlue has an Earnings ESP of -6.22% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
JBLU's Q2 Highlights
JetBlue Airways reported a second-quarter 2026 loss of 66 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 70 cents. The result marked a 5.7% earnings surprise, though the loss widened from a year ago.
Operating revenues of $2.7 billion beat the consensus estimate by 0.1% and rose 14.5% year over year. Strong demand and commercial execution lifted revenue per available seat mile, or RASM, 10.9%.
Stocks to Consider
Here are a few stocks from the broader Zacks Transportation sector that investors may consider, as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.25% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
ODFL is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 earnings on Oct. 28. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 0.63% over the past 60 days. The company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, with the average beat being 6.71%.
Kirby Corporation (KEX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.87% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. KEX is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 earnings on Oct. 28.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 0.51% to $1.96 per share over the past 60 days. KEX’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the preceding four quarters and met the mark on the other occasion. The average beat is 2.86%.