Delta Cuts 2026 Profit Outlook by Nearly 24% as Fuel Costs Surge

๐Ÿ“‰ Delta Air Lines (DAL) lowered its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance from $6.50โ€“$7.50 to $5.10โ€“$5.60, representing a nearly 24% reduction at the midpoint.

โ›ฝ Third-quarter fuel expenses surged 62% to $4.1 billion. Delta estimates its full-year fuel bill will increase by approximately $6 billion, putting significant pressure on profit margins.

๐Ÿ“Š Third-quarter adjusted EPS came in at $1.72, below market expectations. Adjusted revenue reached $17.59 billion, while the adjusted operating margin declined from 11.1% to 9.4%.

โœˆ๏ธ Travel demand remains resilient, with premium revenue rising 18% and fourth-quarter revenue projected to grow approximately 20%. However, fuel costs are increasing faster than the airline can offset through higher fares, keeping profitability across the airline industry under pressure.

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