Delta Air Lines (DAL -2.0%) is known for being one of the top airlines in the world, with a fleet of more than 1,200 aircraft and a partner network that serves over 700 destinations in more than 130 countries and territories around the world. The company is also a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, an aviation industry network that facilitates codeshare connections and other services with partner airlines.
The story of Delta Air Lines goes back to the year 1925 and the first-ever aerial crop dusting company called Huff Daland Dusters, Inc. The company operated a crop duster that was intended to stop the spread of boll weevils in cotton fields. The company's general manager, C.E. Woolman, and a group of investors decided to buy out the business. It was then named Delta Air Service in 1928. Woolman would later become the company's first CEO. By 1929, Delta Air Service was supporting passenger operations, with its first route going from Dallas to Jackson, Mississippi, and its routes quickly expanded.
However, its passenger operations stopped in 1930 when another airplane snagged Delta's airmail contract and bought out its assets. Woolman and other investors were persistent, however, and by the end of 1930, they had bought back Delta Air Service's crop-dusting operations, renaming the business once more to Delta Air Corporation. By the mid-1930s, Delta Air Corporation had secured another airmail contract and was doing business as Delta Air Lines, a name it finally formally switched to in 1945. Delta Air Lines initiated regular freight transport operations in 1946 and, a few years later, launched various discounted passenger fare routes.
By the early 1950s, Delta had acquired trunk carrier Chicago and Southern Airlines, which enabled it to launch its inaugural international routes. In the mid-1960s, Delta Air Lines was an early adopter of computer technology for reservation systems and launched Deltamatic reservations services using IBM's (IBM -0.36%) high-speed data processing system, the IBM 7070. Delta has made multiple acquisitions throughout its history, including Northeast Airlines in 1972, Western Airlines in 1987, most of Pan Am's trans-Atlantic routes in 1991, and Northwest Airlines in 2008.
Delta Air Lines has faced its share of highs and lows through the years, even before the COVID-19 pandemic brought travel to a screeching halt. Headwinds in the airline industry in the early 2000s, sky-high jet fuel prices, and increased competition from low-fare operators led the company to accumulate almost $20 billion in debt and almost $8 billion in losses between 2001 and 2005. In September 2005, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection but exited these proceedings in April 2007. As part of its exit, shares were then relisted on the New York Stock Exchange.
If you're interested in learning how to buy Delta stock, whether or not the company looks like a solid investment, whether or not it pays a dividend, its stock split history, and alternative ways to invest in the company rather than directly buying shares, keep reading.
Stock
How to invest
How to buy Delta Air Lines stock
You can buy shares of Delta Air Lines through any brokerage account. Because Delta Air Lines is publicly traded, buying shares of the company is fairly straightforward. Let's take a look at the key steps you need to take to buy Delta Air Lines stock.
- Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Should I invest?
Should I invest in Delta Air Lines?
Whether or not you want to invest in Delta Air Lines will depend on numerous factors, including your risk tolerance, investing style, and the general industries and sectors that you gravitate toward. Delta Air Lines has the qualities of both a value stock and a dividend stock, so investors who are looking for an established business in the global airline industry might find a lot to like about this business.
The airline industry has always been a cyclical one, and that's a fact that investors in any airline stock -- even a leader like Delta -- should understand before putting cash into this space. It's no secret that the 2020s have brought their fair share of headwinds even for the most well-hedged of travel businesses, but Delta is one of the big names that is steadily growing again as the industry has boomed back to growth.
The law of supply and demand heavily dominates the airline industry, and Delta is no less affected by this reality than any other airline. It benefits from pricing power, but when supply is greater than demand, its top and bottom lines will suffer.
Delta is one of the oldest operating airlines in the U.S. and the world, and currently controls a roughly 27% share of the total industry revenue of the international airlines industry. In the U.S., Delta controls a roughly 18% domestic market share. Almost all of Delta's revenue comes from passengers through ticket sales and related services, but it also makes money from cargo transport services, by which it carries cargo on regular passenger aircraft both domestically and abroad.
Delta even maintains control over a notable part of its fuel supply chain through its wholly owned subsidiary, Monroe Energy. Its refinery operations have the capacity to refine around 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The company derives some revenue from third-party refinery sales, as well.
Is Delta Air Lines profitable?
Yes, Delta Air Lines is profitable. The company reported net income of $2.1 billion in the second quarter of its fiscal 2025.
Dividends
Does Delta Air Lines pay a dividend?
Delta Air Lines pays a dividend. The company temporarily suspended its dividend during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but initiated its payout again in 2023. That yield was approximately 1.3% in July 2025, about the same as the average stock trading on the S&P 500. While Delta has generally paid a modest dividend stretching back through its history, it had steadily raised the payout before suspending it during the pandemic.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages and disadvantages of investing in Delta Air Lines stock
Investing in Delta Air Lines stock could present upsides and downsides for long-term investors. You should weigh these factors carefully before you decide to put cash to work.
On the positive side, Delta is a major player in the airline industry with a well-established brand and a significant market share. Like other airlines, Delta generates revenue from various sources, including premium cabin tickets and loyalty programs, but it also benefits from lucrative partnerships with companies like American Express (AXP -0.72%).
Delta has been actively reducing its debt, which is improving its financial flexibility. Despite some fluctuations, demand for air travel, particularly in premium cabins and on international routes, remains strong.
Now for some cons for investors to consider. The airline industry is highly cyclical, meaning Delta's performance is closely tied to the overall economic cycle. During economic downturns, travel demand typically declines, hurting airline revenues and profits. Fuel price volatility, which is influenced by global events and geopolitical instability, further adds to the cyclicality.
Delta carries a substantial amount of debt, which can be a concern during periods of economic uncertainty or rising interest rates. Despite having a banner year in 2024, the company's revenue growth has been relatively slow in recent reports as concerns about the economy have prevailed. However, strength in its premium and first-class ticket categories, as well as continued business travel, has helped offset some of those headwinds.
ETFs
ETFs with exposure to Delta Air Lines
If you don't want to buy whole shares of Delta Air Lines, there are other ways to gain exposure to this company without purchasing the individual stock. One option can be to purchase an exchange-traded fund (ETF), which can allow you to put your capital into numerous stocks across various sectors at one time. Some ETFs are structured to track the returns of a particular index or sector, while others are designed to exceed that performance.
ETFs that offer exposure to Delta Air Lines include iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV -0.29%), SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY -0.31%), U.S. Global Jets ETF (JETS -1.74%), SPDR S&P Transportation ETF (XTN -1.8%), Invesco S&P 500 GARP ETF (SPGP -0.85%), and Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF (RGI -1.04%).
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)
Stock splits
Will Delta Air Lines stock split?
Delta Air Lines has split its stock a few times in its company history. These splits include a 2-for-1 split in December 1981 and a 2-for-1 split in November 1998. Usually, a company decides to split its shares when the price of the stock has become so elevated that it becomes unattainable for the average investor.
A stock split will increase the number of shares outstanding and lower the cost per share, but it doesn't at all change the underlying value of the company. As of mid-2025, Delta hadn't made any announcements of a pending or expected stock split. And considering Delta hasn't traded above $100 a share since it was relisted nearly 20 years ago, a stock split doesn't seem likely either.
Related investing topics
The bottom line on Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines has adjusted and persisted through the last few years despite cyclicality and ongoing macro headwinds. The company remains profitable and is steadily expanding revenue, while its cash position looks to be in good shape.
While it takes a certain level of risk appetite to invest in the airline industry, whether you want to buy individual shares of Delta Air Lines stock or own it through an ETF, becoming part-owner of this airline industry behemoth could turn out to be a good move five to 10 years down the line.
FAQ
Investing in Delta Air Lines FAQ
Is Delta Air Lines a good investment?
Delta Air Lines has faced challenges throughout its history, including recent years, but the business has risen above these hurdles and is growing its financials steadily. The stock may be a solid investment choice for those who don't mind the cyclicality of the airline industry.
How to buy Delta Air Lines stock
You can buy Delta Air Lines in whole or fractional shares through your preferred brokerage.
Can you invest in an airline?
Numerous airlines are publicly traded, including Delta Air Lines.
Is Delta Air Lines a public company?
Delta Air Lines is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
What is the highest Delta stock has ever been?
The highest closing price for Delta stock was $68.69 on Feb. 4, 2025.
Who are the largest shareholders of Delta Air Lines?
The largest shareholders of Delta Air Lines are primarily institutional investors, with Vanguard Group and BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) being the two largest.
