Best Rising Stocks To Buy Right Now

Best Rising Stocks To Buy Right Now: Southwest Airlines Co (LUV)

Southwest Airlines Co., incorporated on March 9, 1967, operates Southwest Airlines, a passenger airline, which provides scheduled air transportation in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, the Company was serving 72 cities in 37 states throughout the United States. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company added addition services in two new states and three new cities: Charleston, South Carolina; Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Newark, New Jersey. Southwest provides point-to-point. On May 2, 2011, the Company acquired AirTran Holdings, Inc. (AirTran).

AirTran's route system provides hub-and-spoke, rather than point-to-point, service, with approximately half of AirTran's flights originating or terminating at its hub in Atlanta, Georgia. AirTran also serves a range of markets with non-stop service from bases of operation in Baltimore, Maryland; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Orlando, Florida. As of December 31, 2011, AirTran was serv ing 68 United States and near-international destinations, including San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cancun, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Nassau, The Bahamas; Oranjestad, Aruba; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Bermuda. As of January 31, 2012, AirTran served 65 destinations. During 2011, approximately 71% of Southwest's customers flew non-stop, and Southwest's average aircraft trip stage length was 664 miles with an average duration of approximately 1.8 hours.

As of December 31, 2011, Southwest offered 25 weekday roundtrips from Dallas Love Field to Houston Hobby, 13 weekday roundtrips from Phoenix to Las Vegas, 13 weekday roundtrips from Burbank to Oakland, and 12 weekday roundtrips from Los Angeles International to Oakland. Southwest offers connecting service opportunities from over 60 Southwest cities to different Volaris airports in Mexico including Aguascalien! tes, Guadalajara, Mexico City (MEX), Mexico City-Toluca (TLC), Morelia, and Zacatecas. The Company' s International Connect portal conducts two separate transac! tions: one with Southwest's reservation system and one with Volaris's reservation system.

Southwest bundles fares into three categories: Wanna Get Away, Anytime, and Business Select. Wanna Get Away fares are lowest fares. Business Select fares are refundable and changeable, and funds may be applied toward future travel on Southwest. Business Select fares also include additional perks, such as priority boarding, a frequent flyer point multiplier, priority security and ticket counter access in select airports, and one complimentary adult beverage coupon for the day of travel. The Company's Internet Website, southwest.com, is the avenue for Southwest Customers to purchase tickets online. During 2011, southwest.com accounted for approximately 78% of all Southwest bookings. During 2011, approximately 84% of Southwest's Passenger revenues came through its Website, including revenues from SWABIZ, the Company's business travel reservation Web page.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  Delta Air Lines (DAL) is leading the pack after reporting traffic figures for the past month; its shares are down 5.5%. American Airlines (AAL) also is off 5%, and United Continental Holdings (UAL) is off 6.4%. Domestically-oriented airlines fared better, but shares also are in the red: JetBlue Airways (JBLU)  and Alaska Holdings (ALK) are each down roughly 2%, while Southwest Airlines (LUV) is down nearly 1%.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  We believe both United Continental and JetBlue have fleet inefficiencies that contribute to poor margins for both airlines. If United Continental acquired JetBlue's 60 E-190s (and the 24 on order), in a transaction like the one Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) announced in 2012 when Southwest Airlines agreed to sublease its 88 B717s to D! elta Air ! Lines, we believe both companies would benefit. This would also represent no incremental capacity to United Continental, by our math…

• [By Jesse Solomon]

  Southwest (LUV)and Delta Airlines (DAL) have both climbed over 40%, and Under Armour (UA) has risen around 35%.

  In the loser category, Coach (COH) has taken the worst with an almost 40% decline, while Whole Foods (WFM) has dropped over 30%. Staples (SPLS), Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), Best Buy (BBY), and Amazon (AMZN, Tech30) aren't far behind in the unglamorous contest for the biggest loser.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-rising-stocks-to-buy-right-now-4.html