SkyWest (NASDAQ:SKYW) Issues Earnings Results

SkyWest (NASDAQ:SKYW) released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The transportation company reported $2.21 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.25 by ($0.04), FiscalAI reports. The business had revenue of $1.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $993.12 million. SkyWest had a net margin of 10.92% and a return on equity of 17.14%. The business’s revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.34 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from SkyWest’s conference call:

• SkyWest reported Q4 GAAP net income of $91 million and full-year net income of $428 million, converting 15% production growth into a 31% increase in pre-tax income while generating $982 million EBITDA, >$400 million free cash flow and reducing debt by about $1 billion in the last three years.
• Management announced multiyear extensions for 40 E175s with United and 13 E175s with Delta, has 69 E175s on firm order (25 allocated to majors) and expects its E175 fleet to approach ~300 aircraft by end of 2028, with no major E175 expirations until late 2028.
• SkyWest continues to face elevated maintenance/MRO challenges and expects 2026 maintenance expense roughly in line with 2025 as it invests to return parked aircraft to service, and disclosed a ~$7 million Q4 hit from the government shutdown.
• For 2026 the company now targets mid-single-digit block hour growth, EPS in the mid‑$11s, about 9 E175 deliveries, and ~$600–625 million of CapEx, while warning of sharper seasonality with Q1 flat-to-down vs Q4.

SkyWest Price Performance

Shares of SkyWest stock opened at $101.53 on Friday. SkyWest has a 52-week low of $74.70 and a 52-week high of $135.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a fifty day moving average of $101.27 and a 200-day moving average of $104.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.71.

More SkyWest News

Here are the key news stories impacting SkyWest this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Contract extensions, fleet plans and block-hour growth imply continued demand and revenue upside as SkyWest executes on partner relationships and capacity expansion. SkyWest outlines mid-single-digit block hour growth and $600M–$625M CapEx for 2026 amid contract extensions and robust fleet plans
• Positive Sentiment: Top-line beat: Q4 revenue of $1.02B exceeded consensus (~$993M) and grew ~8.5% year-over-year, supporting the case for resilient demand. SkyWest, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Annual 2025 Profit
• Neutral Sentiment: Capital spending guidance of $600M–$625M signals investment in growth and fleet renewal but will increase near-term cash needs and execution risk. SkyWest outlines mid-single-digit block hour growth and $600M–$625M CapEx for 2026 amid contract extensions and robust fleet plans
• Negative Sentiment: EPS missed slightly at $2.21 vs. $2.25 consensus and declined from $2.34 a year ago, a near-term earnings headwind that pressured investor sentiment. SkyWest (SKYW) Q4 Earnings Lag Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Shares fell after the print despite the revenue beat, reflecting investor disappointment with the EPS miss, trimmed outlook and near-term operational disruptions. SkyWest shares fall 3% despite topping Q4 expectations
• Negative Sentiment: Company flagged a $7M pre-tax reduction in Q4 pre-tax income from FAA-mandated flight cancellations during the U.S. government shutdown and faces scrutiny after trimming some forecasts — a risk to near-term momentum. SkyWest’s Growth Story Faces Test Amid Shutdown, Trimmed Forecasts

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on SKYW shares. Cantor Fitzgerald set a $122.00 price objective on shares of SkyWest in a research report on Monday. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of SkyWest in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Zacks Research lowered shares of SkyWest from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of SkyWest in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $112.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of SkyWest from $132.00 to $122.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, SkyWest currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $123.83.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Meredith Siegfried Madden sold 4,725 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.54, for a total transaction of $503,401.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 25,362 shares in the company, valued at $2,702,067.48. This represents a 15.70% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 2.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On SkyWest

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its position in SkyWest by 1.5% during the third quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 548,682 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $55,208,000 after buying an additional 7,862 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in shares of SkyWest by 90.6% in the 3rd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 351,149 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $35,333,000 after acquiring an additional 166,926 shares in the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its position in SkyWest by 13.6% during the 3rd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 290,014 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $29,181,000 after acquiring an additional 34,763 shares during the period. Public Sector Pension Investment Board boosted its stake in SkyWest by 6.7% during the second quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 156,631 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $16,128,000 after acquiring an additional 9,862 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS Group AG boosted its stake in SkyWest by 52.3% during the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 151,650 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $15,259,000 after acquiring an additional 52,108 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.30% of the company’s stock.

SkyWest Company Profile

SkyWest, Inc (NASDAQ: SKYW) is a regional airline holding company that provides air transportation services through its primary subsidiary, SkyWest Airlines. The company operates flights under capacity purchase agreements with major carriers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. By specializing in regional connectivity, SkyWest links smaller communities to larger hubs using a fleet of regional jets and turboprop aircraft.

Headquartered in St. George, Utah, SkyWest oversees all aspects of its airline operations, including flight scheduling, crew training and aircraft maintenance.