Southwest Airlines’ Profits Fall Over 40% While Stock Gains More Than Any Other Airline In 2025

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) ended 2025 in what many would refer to as an investor’s paradox. Profits have declined sharply, and yet shares are trading at the highest relative returns of any major US airline. Through the first nine months of 2025, Southwest’s profits fell around 42% versus 2024, all while the stock gained roughly 24% year-to-date, narrowly beating out both Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) and United Airlines (NYSE: UAL).