Delta Air Lines misses Q3 estimates and slashes 2026 profit outlook on elevated fuel prices
What happened
Delta Air Lines reported Q3 results Friday morning that missed Wall Street estimates: EPS of $1.72 versus $1.77 expected, on revenue of $17.6 billion versus $17.7 billion expected, per IBD MarketSurge. The carrier also slashed its 2026 profit outlook, citing elevated fuel prices. Shares tumbled nearly 2% premarket. The report lands with crude still elevated after this week's U.S.-Iran shipping escalation, and with the 10-year Treasury yield back up to 5.26%.
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Who’s affected
- Delta Air Lines (DAL): -2% premarket; EPS $1.72 vs $1.77 consensus, revenue $17.6B vs $17.7B; 2026 outlook cut on fuel costs.
- United (UAL), American (AAL), Southwest (LUV), Alaska (ALK): fuel-cost squeeze applies sector-wide; Delta's cut likely pressures the whole group.
- Refiners/crude (XLE, CVX, XOM): elevated crude (~$91.40 WTI) is the mechanism; any Iran-de-escalation move would reverse the pressure.
Sources