Southwest Airlines Co (LUV): Today's Featured Transportation Laggard

Southwest Airlines (LUV) pushed the Transportation industry lower today making it today's featured Transportation laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.4%. By the end of trading, Southwest Airlines fell 24 cents (-2.6%) to $8.94 on average volume. Throughout the day, 11.3 million shares of Southwest Airlines exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 10.1 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $8.89-$9.14 after having opened the day at $9.06 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $9.18. Other company's within the Transportation industry that declined today were: Radiant Logistics (RLGT), down 15.8%, Arkansas Best Corporation (ABFS), down 10.4%, TOP Ships (TOPS), down 7.9%, and Ultrapetrol Bahamas (ULTR), down 7%.

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Southwest Airlines Co. engages in the operation of a passenger airline that provides scheduled air transportation in the United States. Southwest Airlines has a market cap of $6.83 billion and is part of the services sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 20.9, above the average transportation industry P/E ratio of 20.4 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 7.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are eight analysts that rate Southwest Airlines a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and six rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Southwest Airlines as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, increase in net income, growth in earnings per share and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full Southwest Airlines Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Genco Shipping & Trading (GNK), up 43.5%, Excel Maritime Carriers (EXM), up 15.5%, Old Dominion Freight Lines (ODFL), up 12.9%, and Diana Shipping (DSX), up 8.4%, were all gainers within the transportation industry with CH Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) being today's featured transportation industry leader.

• Use our transportation section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the transportation industry could consider iShares Dow Jones Transportation (IYT) while those bearish on the transportation industry could consider ProShares UltraShort Industrials (SIJ).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Southwest Airlines Co click any of the following:

• Southwest Airlines Co Stock Price

• Southwest Airlines Co Analyst Ratings

• Southwest Airlines Co Key Stats & Profile

• Southwest Airlines Co Earnings

• Southwest Airlines Co Ratio Comparison

• Southwest Airlines Co Growth Rates

• Southwest Airlines Co Balance Sheet

• Southwest Airlines Co Cash Flow

• Southwest Airlines Co Income Statement