Can American Airlines' Shares Clear the 'Hedge' and Beat on Oil?

American Airlines (AAL) will report earnings next week and the U.S. air carrier could finally shoot past competitors like Delta (DAL) and Southwest (LUV) -- each of which saw shares soar after reporting earnings. Both Delta and Southwest hedge their fuel prices, and each has outperformed American Airlines' shares for the last 12 months, but the company that hasn't hedged fuel -- American -- could score a big beat next week when it reports without the added cost of financial strategy. With the airline sector off to a hot start in 2015, investors may want to board American.