5 Best Airline Stocks To Invest In Right Now

5 Best Airline Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK)

Alaska Air Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines, Inc. and Horizon Air Industries, Inc., operates as an airline company serving destinations in the western United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company provides passenger air services; and freight and mail services primarily to and within the state of Alaska and on the West Coast. As of December 31, 2009, it operated a fleet of 110 jet aircraft; and Horizon Air Industries operated a fleet of 18 jets and 40 turboprop aircraft. The company was founded in 1932 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Sure that gain is huge, both on its own terms and relative to its competitors. Delta has outgained nearly all its peers, as Southwest Airlines (LUV) has gained 82% in 2013, Alaska Air (ALK) has risen 68% and United Continental (UAL) is up 61%. Spirit Airlines (SAVE), with a 144% rise, was one of the few airlines to trump Delta.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Dividends are in with airlines, as Alaska Air (ALK), Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) have all increased theirs so far this year. Cowen’s Helane Becker and Conor Cunningham ponder whether American Airlines (AAL) or United Continental (UAL) will return capital to shareholders first:

  AFP/Getty Images

  Over the last two weeks three airlines (Alaska Air Group, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines) announced significant share repurchase authorizations and in two cases (Delta and Southwest) announced an increase to their dividend. Alaska raised their dividend earlier this year. These companies have led the industry in returning capital to shareholders as all three have sound balance sheets, manageable CAPEX plans and increasing profits. The next airlines to return capital to shareholders will likely be United and American. United continues to have PRASM issues which has led to a lagging stock pr! ice and potentially pushing out of returning capital to shareholders. United’s management continues to point to the end of 2014 as an announcement date. American is also likely to announce its plans for returning capital to shareholders year-end 2014…It will be interesting to see who announces their plans first: United or American. United has more invested in the annou ncement as they are several years ahead of American in the merger process but probably several years behind in execution.

  Shares of United Continental have gained 2.2% to $41.40 at 11:28 a.m. today, while American Airlines has risen 1.1% to $38.94, Delta Air Lines has advanced 1.7% to $38.50, Southwest Airlines has jumped 2.1% to $25.12 and Alaska Air Group is up 1.7% at $97.23.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/5-best-airline-stocks-to-invest-in-right-now.html