Why Has JetBlue (JBLU) Risen 10.5% Following Its Most Recent Earnings Announcement?

JetBlue Airways: Recent Stock Performance and Earnings Overview

In the past month, JetBlue Airways (JBLU) shares have climbed approximately 10.5%, outpacing the S&P 500 index during the same period.

As the next earnings announcement approaches, investors are questioning whether this upward momentum will persist or if a correction is on the horizon. Before examining recent analyst and investor sentiment, let’s review the company’s latest financial results to understand the main factors at play.

Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results

JetBlue posted a net loss of $0.49 per share for the fourth quarter of 2025, which was larger than the anticipated $0.45 per share loss. For comparison, the company reported a $0.21 per share loss in the same quarter last year.

Total operating revenue reached $2.24 billion, surpassing expectations by 1.2%, but reflecting a 1.5% decrease from the prior year. Passenger revenue, which made up 91.5% of the total, fell 2.2% year over year to $2.05 billion, despite robust demand for premium seats. Other revenue streams increased by 7.9% to $191 million.

Revenue per available seat mile (RASM) edged up 0.2% to 14.13 cents. However, passenger revenue per available seat mile slipped 0.6% to 12.93 cents. The average ticket price remained unchanged at $211.23, while yield per passenger mile dipped 0.3%.

Overall traffic, measured in revenue passenger miles, declined 2.5%. Capacity, based on available seat miles, dropped 1.6%. The load factor, or the percentage of seats filled, decreased by 0.7 percentage points to 81.5%, as the reduction in traffic outpaced the cut in capacity. Operating expenses rose 3.7% to $2.34 billion, with salary and benefits costs up 5.5% and maintenance expenses increasing 4.1%.

The average fuel price per gallon, including taxes, was $2.51—an increase of 1.6%. Operating cost per available seat mile (CASM) grew 5.4%, and excluding fuel, CASM rose 6.7% to 11.49 cents.

JetBlue’s Guidance for 2026

Looking ahead to the first quarter of 2026, JetBlue expects capacity to rise between 0.5% and 3.5% compared to the same period in 2025. CASM, excluding fuel and special items, is projected to increase by 3.5% to 5.5%. Capital expenditures are estimated at around $200 million. RASM is anticipated to be flat or up as much as 4% year over year. The average fuel cost per gallon is expected to range from $2.27 to $2.42.

For the full year 2026, capital expenditures are forecasted at approximately $900 million, with interest expenses around $580 million. CASM, excluding fuel and special items, is expected to rise 1% to 3%. Capacity is projected to grow between 2.5% and 4.5%, while RASM is anticipated to increase by 2% to 5% compared to 2025.

Trends in Analyst Estimates

Since the latest earnings report, analyst estimates for JetBlue have generally moved lower. The consensus estimate has declined by 15.39% as a result of these revisions.

VGM Score Breakdown

JetBlue currently holds a Growth Score of F, indicating weak growth prospects. However, its Momentum Score stands at C, and its Value Score is also C, placing it in the middle range for value-focused investors.

Overall, JetBlue’s composite VGM Score is F. For investors not committed to a single strategy, this overall score is particularly relevant.

Stock Outlook

Analyst estimates for JetBlue have been trending downward, and the extent of these changes suggests a negative outlook. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), and a neutral performance is expected in the coming months.

Industry Comparison: Alaska Air Group

JetBlue is part of the Zacks Transportation – Airline industry. Another notable company in this sector, Alaska Air Group (ALK), has seen its shares rise 3.7% over the past month. It has been over a month since Alaska Air reported its results for the quarter ending December 2025.

Alaska Air’s revenue for the most recent quarter was $3.63 billion, a 2.8% increase year over year. Earnings per share came in at $0.43, down from $0.97 in the prior year.

For the current quarter, Alaska Air is expected to post a loss of $0.81 per share, representing a 5.2% decline year over year. Over the past 30 days, the consensus estimate has decreased by 4%.

Alaska Air holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and has a VGM Score of B, reflecting a stronger overall profile compared to JetBlue.

Discover Zacks’ Top 10 Stocks for 2026

There’s still time to access Zacks’ top 10 stock picks for 2026, curated by Director of Research Sheraz Mian. This portfolio has delivered remarkable and consistent results.

Since its inception in 2012 through November 2025, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks have achieved a cumulative return of +2,530.8%, far exceeding the S&P 500’s +570.3% gain.

Sheraz Mian has carefully selected the top 10 stocks from a pool of 4,400 companies covered by Zacks Rank for 2026. Be among the first to explore these high-potential picks.

Additional Resources

Looking for more investment ideas? Download Zacks’ 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days for free.