SkyWest Inc

SkyWest Chief Financial Officer Robert J. Simmons sold 25,000 shares of the regional airline on July 29, a transaction valued at roughly $2.8 million. The sale represented 21% of his direct position and came one day after the chief executive also sold stock, with neither transaction involving options or tax obligations. Simmons retains 93,902 shares worth about $10.2 million, while the company recently authorized an additional $250 million for buybacks after reporting second-quarter revenue growth of 7% to $1.1 billion and a reduction in total debt to $2.3 billion.

SkyWest Chief Financial Officer Robert J. Simmons sold 25,000 shares of the regional airline on July 29 for approximately $2.8 million, according to an SEC filing. The sale, executed at a weighted average price of $110.49, reduced his direct holdings by 21% to 93,902 shares worth about $10.2 million. The transaction came one day after the chief executive also sold stock, with both disposals occurring shortly after the company reported second-quarter results that showed a 7% revenue increase to $1.1 billion but softer profit margins due to higher fuel costs. SkyWest, which has a market capitalization of roughly $4.3 billion and trailing twelve-month revenue of $4.2 billion, also authorized an additional $250 million for share buybacks.

SkyWest Inc reported a decline in second-quarter profit. Net income fell to $100.700 million, or $2.54 per share, from $120.269 million, or $2.91 per share, in the same period last year. Revenue rose 6.5% to $1.102 billion from $1.035 billion a year earlier.

Goldman Sachs raised its outlook on the airline industry, lifting its third-quarter and fourth-quarter 2026 net income forecast by 24% and 32% respectively, citing strong demand and a better competitive environment after Spirit ceased service in May. Analyst Catherine O’Brien raised price targets for several carriers, including Allegiant by 14% to $142, Alaska Air by 19% to $69, American Airlines by 50% to $15, Delta by 45% to $116, JetBlue by 28% to $4.50, Southwest by 17%, and United by 24% to $162. However, O’Brien downgraded SkyWest to Neutral from Buy and cut its price target by 14% to $108, warning that lower-than-expected industry capacity growth increases downside risk to SkyWest’s block hour production. She lowered her 2026 block hour growth forecast for SkyWest to 3.0% from 3.5% previously, and from 4.9% earlier this year, calling it a significant deceleration from recent years.

HSBC upgraded Adobe to Buy from Hold with a price target of $308, up from $282, arguing the market overestimates the adverse impact of AI-based design tools. DA Davidson upgraded Palantir to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $175, up from $165, noting the company has grown into its valuation as profits rose significantly and the stock's multiple contracted. Wolfe Research upgraded Chevron to Outperform from Peer Perform with a $210 price target, citing incremental production options that extend the free cash flow growth outlook beyond 2030. Needham upgraded Silicom to Buy from Hold with a $60 price target after the company announced material progress with a new AI inference customer, resulting in initial production orders. TD Securities upgraded BCE to Buy from Hold with an unchanged price target of C$37, calling the 13% selloff since early June unjustified and an attractive entry point. On the downgrade side, Goldman Sachs cut SkyWest to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $108, down from $126, citing downside risk to block hours. Susquehanna downgraded Greenbrier to Neutral from Positive with an unchanged price target of $52, pointing to a lack of visibility on improved builds and tariffs. Barclays downgraded Dana to Equal Weight from Overweight with a price target of $33, down from $41, believing the path to a higher valuation multiple will take time. DA Davidson downgraded AGNT Inc. to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $6.50, down from $10.25, as checks suggest core U.S. agent count trends resumed their downward trajectory midway through Q2. China Renaissance downgraded Trip.com to Hold from Buy with a $42 price target. Among new initiations, BMO Capital started Honeywell Aerospace with an Outperform rating and $276 price target, implying 21% upside. JPMorgan resumed coverage of On Holding with an Overweight rating and $51 price target, placing the shares on Positive Catalyst Watch. RBC Capital initiated NiSource with an Outperform rating and $52 price target, highlighting a rare combination of above-peer EPS growth and a favorable data center setup in Indiana. RBC Capital also initiated PSEG with a Sector Perform rating and $81 price target, noting the New Jersey regulatory overhang is potentially alleviating but wanting more clarity. KeyBanc initiated Waystar with an Overweight rating and $30 price target, seeing a large valuation disconnect given the company's high-margin growth story with large moats.

Wall Street analysts issued several notable rating changes on Thursday. HSBC upgraded Adobe to Buy and raised its price target to $308 from $282, while DA Davidson upgraded Palantir Technologies to Buy with a $175 target. Wolfe Research upgraded Chevron to Outperform with a $210 target. On the downgrade side, Barclays cut Dana to Equal Weight with a $32 target, and Goldman Sachs downgraded SkyWest to Neutral, trimming its target to $108 from $126. New coverage initiations included BMO Capital starting Honeywell Aerospace with an Outperform rating and a $276 target, and Daiwa initiating Space Exploration Technologies with a Neutral rating and a $175 target.

SkyWest has drawn increased investor attention but carries a Zacks Rank #4, or Sell, rating, suggesting it may underperform the broader market in the near term. The regional airline's shares have returned 9.8% over the past month, outpacing the S&P 500's 0.1% gain, while its industry, Zacks Transportation - Airline, rose 13.2%. Consensus earnings estimates for the current quarter, current fiscal year, and next fiscal year stand at $2.85, $10.95, and $11.78 per share, respectively, all unchanged over the last 30 days. SkyWest reported revenues of $1.01 billion in its most recent quarter, a 6.8% year-over-year increase, and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate on both revenue and earnings per share. The stock receives a Value Style Score of A, indicating it trades at a discount to peers.