Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) Upgraded at Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report published on Sunday morning.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on ALK. UBS Group dropped their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $60.00 to $53.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 23rd. Raymond James Financial reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $71.00 target price on shares of Alaska Air Group in a report on Friday, December 19th. Weiss Ratings raised Alaska Air Group from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research report on Monday, March 9th. TD Cowen cut their price target on Alaska Air Group from $63.00 to $54.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 9th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $69.00 to $51.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Alaska Air Group presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $64.82.

Alaska Air Group Trading Up 7.4%

Shares of ALK opened at $36.72 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.21, a PEG ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 0.50 and a quick ratio of 0.46. Alaska Air Group has a 1-year low of $33.03 and a 1-year high of $65.88. The company has a 50-day moving average of $48.02 and a 200 day moving average of $47.90.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.11 by $0.32. Alaska Air Group had a net margin of 0.70% and a return on equity of 7.22%. The business had revenue of $3.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.64 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.97 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Alaska Air Group has set its Q1 2026 guidance at -1.500–0.500 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 3.500-6.500 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Alaska Air Group will post 6.03 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Alaska Air Group

In related news, EVP Kyle B. Levine sold 2,945 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.02, for a total value of $176,758.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 20,977 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,259,039.54. The trade was a 12.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrew R. Harrison sold 14,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.81, for a total value of $794,745.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 20,195 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,106,887.95. This represents a 41.79% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 56,945 shares of company stock valued at $3,204,569 over the last ninety days. 0.92% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Brighton Jones LLC grew its stake in Alaska Air Group by 2,046.4% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 96,932 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $6,276,000 after purchasing an additional 92,416 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 60.2% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 6,423 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $316,000 after buying an additional 2,414 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 81.7% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 340,258 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $16,747,000 after buying an additional 152,953 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Alaska Air Group in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,318,000. Finally, MAI Capital Management grew its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 80.5% in the 2nd quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 628 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. 81.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Alaska Air Group

Here are the key news stories impacting Alaska Air Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: BMO initiated coverage with an Outperform and a $50 price target, highlighting ALK’s earnings expansion potential and reinforcing upside expectations. BMO Highlights ALK
• Positive Sentiment: Alaska unveiled a new International Business Class product as it expands nonstop service to Europe and Asia, a clear strategic move to capture higher-yield premium long?haul traffic and support future revenue mix improvement. Alaska unveils International Business Class
• Neutral Sentiment: The company scheduled a webcast for Q1 2026 results (date/time provided), which gives investors a timely forum for management to clarify guidance and the drivers of near-term weakness. Earnings webcast announced
• Neutral Sentiment: Alaska named Lindsay?Rae McIntyre as Chief People Officer, a leadership hire aimed at supporting growth and operations as the airline expands internationally. This is organizationally positive but unlikely to move near-term results materially. CPO appointment
• Negative Sentiment: Alaska warned higher jet fuel costs (linked to Middle East oil price moves) will worsen its Q1 adjusted loss by at least $0.70 per share and cut its Q1 outlook, pressuring near?term earnings. WSJ: Fuel costs to exacerbate losses
• Negative Sentiment: Operational disruptions — including Puerto Vallarta unrest and Hawaii storms — plus rising fuel pushed management to signal a bigger first?quarter loss, increasing short?term revenue and margin risk. MSN: Signals bigger Q1 loss
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks summarized Alaska’s bearish Q1 view citing higher fuel and operational issues that widen expected losses despite steady revenues, reinforcing downside risk to near?term EPS. Zacks: Bearish Q1 view

Alaska Air Group Company Profile

Alaska Air Group is a publicly traded holding company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, that operates two main airlines—Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Through these carriers, the company offers scheduled passenger and cargo services across a network spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its core business activities include domestic and international air transportation, loyalty program management under the Mileage Plan brand, and ancillary revenue streams such as baggage fees, in-flight sales and code-share partnerships with other global airlines.

The roots of Alaska Air Group trace back to the foundation of its flagship carrier, Alaska Airlines, in 1932.