2024

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 Neither the author, Tim Fries, nor this website, The Tokenist, provide financial advice. Please consult our&nbsp;<a href="https://tokenist.com/terms-of-service/" style="text-decoration:underline;color:#3c7b7b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="deco-link">website policy</a>&nbsp;prior to making financial decisions.
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<p class="has-drop-cap">Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) has recently provided an <a href="https://www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com/~/media/Files/S/Southwest-IR/20241205-investor-update-vf.pdf" target="_blank" aria-label="optimistic update for investors (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" class="deco-link">optimistic update for investors</a>, revising its guidance for the fourth quarter of 2024. The airline now anticipates its revenue per available seat mile (RASM) to increase by 5.5% to 7.0%, a significant improvement from the previous forecast of 3.5% to 5.5%. <br><br>This upward revision is attributed to strong holiday bookings and positive revenue trends that align with the company’s “Southwest. Even Better.” initiative. Additionally, the airline projects its economic fuel costs per gallon to range between $2.35 and $2.45, slightly higher than the prior estimate. Despite these increased costs, unit revenues are expected to rise by the same percentage as RASM, while capacity is projected to decrease by approximately 4%.</p> 
<h3 id="southwest-targets-strategic-financial-moves-and-fleet-adjustments">Southwest Targets Strategic Financial Moves and Fleet Adjustments</h3> 
<p>In a move to bolster shareholder value, Southwest Airlines has announced a <a href="https://tokenist.com/investing/what-is-a-stock-buyback/" rel="dofollow" class="deco-link">$750 million stock buyback program</a> set to commence in the first quarter of 2025. <br><br>This initiative follows a $250 million accelerated share repurchase that began in October 2024. As part of a broader $2.5 billion repurchase program authorized in September 2024, the company still has $1.5 billion available for future buybacks. <br><br>Southwest’s strategic initiatives also include optimizing its network, adjusting capacity, and enhancing marketing efforts. The airline plans to retire 40 aircraft in 2024, including 36 Boeing 737-700s and four Boeing 737-800s, while expecting around 20 deliveries of Boeing 737-8 aircraft. These fleet changes are part of a strategy to optimize fleet value through aircraft sales and sale-leasebacks, with initial transactions anticipated by early 2025.</p> 
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<h3 id="southwest-airlines-stocks-hits-52-week-high-as-firm-targets-long-term-growth">Southwest Airlines Stocks Hits 52-week High as Firm Targets Long-Term Growth</h3> 
<p>Southwest Airlines’ stock has demonstrated notable performance in recent trading sessions. The stock opened at $35.46 and reached a new 52-week high of $36.105 on December 5, 2024. This marks a significant increase from its previous close of $34.15, showcasing an upward trend. <br><br>Over the past month, the stock has risen steadily from $31.26 on November 7, 2024, to its current price of $35.51 (at the time of writing). Key metrics for the stock include a dividend rate of $0.72, a <a href="https://tokenist.com/investing/what-is-dividend-investing/" rel="dofollow" class="deco-link">dividend yield of 2.11%</a>, and a <a href="https://tokenist.com/investing/p-e-ratio/" class="deco-link">forward P/E ratio</a> of 22.60. The company’s market capitalization stands at $21.30 billion, with a debt to equity ratio of 87.36%.</p> 
<p>Investors are advised to keep an eye on the potential impact of the $750 million stock buyback program on share prices. Additionally, Southwest’s ability to sustain its revised guidance amidst market fluctuations will be crucial. The progress of fleet strategy transactions and their influence on the airline’s financial health will also be of interest. <br><br>The “Southwest. Even Better.” plan remains a focal point for evaluating the company’s long-term growth prospects. Furthermore, monitoring economic fuel costs and their effect on operating expenses will be essential for assessing future performance.</p> <iframe src="https://tokenist.substack.com/embed" width="100%" height="320" style="border:1px solid #EEE; background:white;" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> 
<p><em>Disclaimer: The author does not hold or have a position in any securities discussed in the article.</em></p> 
<h3 id="br"><br></h3> 
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://tokenist.com/750m-stock-buyback-announced-as-southwest-targets-long-term-growth/">$750M Stock Buyback Announced as Southwest Targets Long-Term Growth</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://tokenist.com">Tokenist</a>.</p>

$750M Stock Buyback Announced as Southwest Targets Long-Term Growth

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