Thanks for signing up for DividendStocks.com! It's the daily newsletter built for dividend and income investors. Before we can begin sending your daily updates, there’s one quick step left. Please confirm your subscription using the link below so our emails reach your inbox. Click Here to Confirm Your Subscription to DividendStocks.com Here’s a small glimpse of what you’ll get access to: Dividend Stock Ideas — Each newsletter features dividend stocks with high yields, sustainable payouts, and strong growth potential. Ex-Dividend Stocks — Want to capture upcoming dividend payouts? Find out which stocks are going ex-dividend this week. Market News and Events — Stay in the loop on the latest developments impacting popular dividend names like AT&T, Exxon Mobil, IBM, Procter & Gamble, and Verizon. Bonus: As a thank-you for confirming, you’ll also receive a free PDF copy of Automatic Income, our popular guide to building wealth through dividend investing. Let’s get your dividend journey started! Discover Top Income-Generating Stocks Here See you in your inbox soon, The DividendStocks.com Team P.S. Don’t miss out click here to verify your subscription and secure your daily dividend insights and your free investing guide!
Special Report Delta Hit Turbulence in Q4—Now Comes the OpportunityAuthored by Thomas Hughes. Originally Published: 1/14/2026. 
At a Glance - Delta shares dropped after the company reported Q4 earnings, despite posting a record free cash flow and providing strong full-year guidance, creating a potential buying opportunity.
- The airline is reducing debt, expanding its premium fleet, and positioning for long-term margin growth supported by favorable macro trends.
- Analysts remain bullish with 100% Buy ratings, citing strong fundamentals and upside potential to new highs in 2026.
Delta Air Lines' (NYSE: DAL) stock fell after its Q4 fiscal 2025 earnings release, presenting a buying opportunity. The decline was driven by guidance that many analysts viewed as cautious—yet it still calls for sustained growth, acceleration and margin improvement, which underpin robust capital returns. Delta is performing strongly, delivering record results—including solid free cash flow—and projecting continued momentum. The cautious guidance and the volatility it sparked are near-term turbulence; the uptrend that began in 2025 remains intact, and fresh highs are likely in 2026. Delta’s Record Quarter Drives Record Cash Flow and Debt Reduction While President Trump's official salary is $400,000 per year... his tax returns reveal he's been collecting up to $250,000 PER MONTH from one hidden source. Until recently, most Americans couldn't touch the type of investment that makes up this investment. But thanks to Executive Order 14330, that just changed. If you love investing in disruptive new companies... Discover how to invest in the fund Trump uses to collect this income >> Delta Air Lines reported a strong quarter. Its 1.2% revenue increase outperformed estimates by about 200 basis points and was complemented by margin strength. The company noted softness in domestic markets—partly tied to the government shutdown—as expected, which was offset by strength across international, consumer, loyalty and business segments that are expected to support growth in 2026. The margin picture is mixed: higher costs and softer fares pressured earnings relative to analyst expectations, but Delta maintained operational quality. Adjusted EPS of $1.55 met the company's forecast, matched last year's result and supports continued balance sheet improvement and dividend payments. Guidance is constructive, though more cautious than some analysts hoped. The company forecasts 5% to 7% revenue growth in Q1 2026 with expanding margins, and it sees full-year adjusted earnings rising about 20%. That outlook may be conservative given expected tailwinds—lower oil prices and supportive fiscal and monetary conditions—that should boost demand across segments, particularly Delta's higher-margin premium businesses. Delta Reduces Debt and Pays Investors: Distribution Increase is Expected Strong operating and free cash flow enabled Delta to pay down debt, reducing its leverage ratio to just over 2.0x and putting the company on track to hit long-term targets within a few quarters. The cash flow also supports dividend payments, with the dividend annualized at roughly a 1.05% yield as of mid-January, and bolsters the case for future distribution increases. Management appears poised to move the payout back toward its pre-COVID-19 level, which would roughly double distributions and add about 100 basis points to yield. Some analysts noted relatively tepid earnings growth in 2026, but that concern has been quickly put in context. The near-term pace partly reflects increased investment and the purchase of Dreamliner aircraft, a fleet modernization that should catalyze higher-margin services and stronger earnings in subsequent years. Among the 24 analysts tracked by MarketBeat, consensus remains Buy—100% rate the stock a Buy—and the price target trend points toward an above-consensus target and the potential for new stock-price highs. Delta Air Lines Stock Action at Turning Point Delta Air Lines' share price is consolidating in January and setting up for its next leg. It could correct, trade sideways, or resume an upward move; the bias favors higher prices given anticipated earnings growth, cash flow and capital returns. That said, a pullback to $65 or lower is possible before a rebound. For now, support appears near $67.50, roughly aligned with prior highs and potentially serving as a springboard to higher levels. 
|