5 Best Airline Stocks To Buy Now

2. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) operates as a passenger airline company and provides air transportation services in the United States and internationally. As of December 31, 2021, the company operates a fleet of 728 Boeing 737 aircraft. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV)  is among the airline giants in the United States and one of the world’s largest low-cost carriers, which makes it rank high among the best airline stocks to buy now.

On May 2, Citi analyst Stephen Trent raised his price target on Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) to $53 from $48 and reiterated a Neutral rating on the shares. The analyst noted the company’s solid earnings for the first quarter of 2022 and strong Q2 guidance while telling investors that he sees Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) well-positioned to sustain profitability in 2022 and beyond.

Hedge funds are raising their stakes in Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV). Insider Monkey found 45 hedge funds bullish on Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) at the close of Q1 2022. The total value of these funds’ stakes in the company came in at $1.08 billion. This is compared to 38 positions in the previous quarter with stakes worth $682.03 million. The hedge fund sentiment for the stock is positive.

In the first quarter of 2022, PAR Capital Management upped its prior stakes in Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) by 73%. As of March 31, the fund’s stakes in the company are valued at $158.21 million, which covers 3.78% of its 13F portfolio.