Delta (DAL) Reports Impressive February Traffic Figures

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) has recently reported traffic figures for February 2018. Consolidated traffic, measured in revenue passenger miles (RPMs), came in at 14.69 billion, up 3.8% year over year.

Consolidated capacity (or available seat miles/ASMs) climbed 3.4% to 18.03 billion on a year-over-year basis. Consolidated load factor or percentage of seats filled by passengers inched up 40 basis points to 81.5% owing to traffic growth exceeding capacity expansion.

Additionally, the carrier recorded an 87.8% on-time performance and a 99.9% completion factor (mainline) for the month. Approximately 13 million passengers flew on Delta flights in the month.

In the first two months of the year, Delta generated consolidated RPMs of 30.33 billion (up 1.8% year over year) and ASMs of 37.65 billion (up 2.6% year over year). Notably, load factor was 80.6% compared with 81.1% recorded last February.

For the first quarter of 2018, this Atlanta, GA-based company anticipates capacity to be up approximately 3% on a year-over-year basis. On the unit revenue front, the airline is expected to continue performing well. Notably, the carrier estimates total unit revenues (excluding refinery sales) to increase in the band of 2.5-4.5% (on a year-over-year basis).

Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks

Delta carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other top-ranked stocks in the airline space include International Consolidated Airlines Group (LON:ICAG) SA (OTC:ICAGY) , Deutsche Lufthansa (DE:LHAG) AG (OTC:DLAKY) and Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) . While International Consolidated Airlines sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Deutsche Lufthansa and Southwest Airlines carry a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shares of International Consolidated Airlines, Deutsche Lufthansa and Southwest Airlines have rallied more than 10%, 28% and 13%, respectively, in the last six months.

The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All

Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.

See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>