Delta Shares Rise 5.79% on U.S. Antitrust Immunity Revocation Decision

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) shares climbed 5.79% to $56.60 on Tuesday as investors reacted to a U.S. Department of Justice decision supporting the revocation of antitrust immunity for Delta’s joint venture with Grupo Aeroméxico [1]. This move, which had been in place since 2016, previously required Delta to adhere to strict Department of Transportation conditions. Now, with the immunity lifted, Delta can maintain its roughly 20% stake in Aeroméxico while engaging in more flexible codeshare operations, avoiding the complexities of the joint venture structure [1].

The change follows concerns over adjustments to airport slot and cargo operations at Mexico City’s main airport, which are tied to regulatory shifts in Mexico rather than Delta’s own performance [1]. Analysts suggest this shift could position Delta to benefit from greater operational freedom, enabling the airline to explore new partnerships across Latin America through its SkyTeam alliance while avoiding political entanglements in U.S.-Mexico aviation disputes [1].

Delta’s stock has already demonstrated strong performance, with a 46.63% gain over the past year and 99.39% over five years, far outpacing the S&P 500’s 19.89% and 89.55% returns, respectively [1]. The stock currently trades at a trailing P/E of 8.23 and a forward P/E of 9.27, suggesting undervaluation relative to earnings potential [1]. Delta’s trailing twelve-month revenue stands at $61.92 billion, with a profit margin of 7.24%, reflecting solid operational efficiency [1].

The company holds $3.33 billion in cash and has a debt-to-equity ratio of 128.33%, a level considered manageable for its capital-intensive industry [1]. With a return on equity of 30.07%, Delta significantly outperforms industry averages. Analysts have set price targets ranging from $31.00 to $90.00, with an average target of $65.87, signaling potential upside for investors [1].

The October 9, 2025, earnings report will be a key event for Delta as it could offer updated insights into how the regulatory shift and route optimization strategies influence the company’s profitability and market share [1].

Source: [1] US Policy Shift Provides Tailwind for Delta Airlines Stock (DAL) (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/689b536add35cc24e8f4c5d8/)