American Airlines (AAL -0.25%) shares surged 12.7% on Thursday, July 10, to close at $12.94, riding the tailwind of a broader airline sector rally related to positive results and guidance for Delta Air Lines (DAL 0.84%). The stock moved within a trading range of $12.13 to $13.18 throughout the session, as investors digested positive news from competitors.
The impressive gain came on a day when the S&P 500 rose 0.27% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.43%. American's performance was in line with its direct competitors. Delta surged 12% after reporting strong Q2 adjusted earnings of $2.10 per share on $15.5 billion revenue, reinstating full-year guidance and raising its dividend. United Airlines (UAL 1.04%) jumped even more dramatically, gaining 14.3% as it benefited from Delta's outlook and analyst upgrades.
Trading volume for American Airlines reached 144.6 million shares, significantly above its 50-day average of 58 million, signaling heightened investor interest. The stock currently sits above its 50-day moving average of $11.24 but remains below its 200-day moving average of $13.24.
The substantial rally suggests investors may be anticipating similar positive results when American reports its own quarterly earnings, despite mixed analyst sentiment ranging from Goldman Sachs' "sell" rating with an $8 target to TD Cowen's more optimistic $13 target.
