SkyWest Q4 EPS Misses Estimates While Analysts Forecast 26.5% Upside

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SkyWest's analysts see a 26.5% upside based on the mean price target, driven by consensus upward revisions to earnings forecasts. In Q4, SkyWest missed EPS estimates on higher operating costs and weaker passenger load factors despite revenue growth.

1. Analysts Project 26.5% Upside

A recent survey of 14 Wall Street analysts yields a mean price target that implies a 26.47% upside for SkyWest shares. While historical accuracy of price‐target averages has been mixed, this consensus is notable because 11 of those analysts have raised their 2026 earnings estimates for SkyWest over the past three months. The upward revisions total $0.65 per share on a weighted basis, reflecting improving airline contract renewals and better-than-expected regional fleet utilization. Investors tracking analyst sentiment may view the strong degree of upward estimate revisions as a leading indicator of share performance.

2. Q4 Results Underperform Expectations

SkyWest reported its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results with revenue of $1.15 billion, up 4.3% year-over-year, but adjusted earnings per share of $0.78 fell short of the $0.85 consensus forecast. Increased fuel expenses, which rose 18% sequentially, and a decline in load factor from 82.5% to 79.8% weighed on margins. Operating expenses excluding fuel grew 6% year-over-year as crew and maintenance costs climbed. Management attributed the EPS miss to the timing of service expansions and said full-year 2026 capacity will grow by approximately 3.5%.

3. Attractive Valuation at Eight Times Earnings

SkyWest currently trades at roughly eight times the consensus 2026 adjusted earnings estimate, positioning it below the five-year average multiple of 10.2. The regional carrier operates under long-term capacity purchase agreements with major network airlines, providing predictable cash flows and an expected return on invested capital above 15%. With a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio near 1.8x and free cash flow of $310 million last year, management has signaled plans to resume share buybacks and maintain its quarterly dividend, reinforcing its capital allocation discipline.

Sources

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