DAL vs. LECO: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on August 19, 2025

Here’s a clear look at DAL and LECO, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Symbol	DAL	LECO
Company Name	Delta Air Lines, Inc.	Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry	Passenger Airlines	Machinery
Market Capitalization	38.80 billion USD	13.55 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NasdaqGS
Listing Date	May 3, 2007	April 7, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of DAL and LECO by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

DAL vs. LECO: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	DAL	LECO
5-Day Price Return	10.80%	1.72%
13-Week Price Return	16.19%	25.94%
26-Week Price Return	-12.51%	27.02%
52-Week Price Return	52.12%	30.69%
Month-to-Date Return	11.67%	0.80%
Year-to-Date Return	-1.79%	30.93%
10-Day Avg. Volume	7.91M	0.43M
3-Month Avg. Volume	11.14M	0.38M
3-Month Volatility	45.84%	28.28%
Beta	1.55	1.24

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

DAL

29.02%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 49.96%
Q3: 28.15%
Median: 15.41%
Q1: 8.29%
Min: -11.01%

In the upper quartile for the Passenger Airlines industry, DAL’s Return on Equity of 29.02% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

LECO

37.34%

Machinery Industry

Max: 34.68%
Q3: 19.06%
Median: 13.13%
Q1: 8.53%
Min: -4.87%

LECO’s Return on Equity of 37.34% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Machinery industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

DAL vs. LECO: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Passenger Airlines and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

DAL

7.24%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 17.65%
Q3: 8.90%
Median: 5.80%
Q1: 2.02%
Min: -3.12%

DAL’s Net Profit Margin of 7.24% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Passenger Airlines industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

LECO

12.27%

Machinery Industry

Max: 19.74%
Q3: 11.24%
Median: 8.13%
Q1: 5.38%
Min: -1.11%

A Net Profit Margin of 12.27% places LECO in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

DAL vs. LECO: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Passenger Airlines and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

DAL

9.30%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 22.47%
Q3: 12.33%
Median: 8.62%
Q1: 4.43%
Min: -2.88%

DAL’s Operating Profit Margin of 9.30% is around the midpoint for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

LECO

16.67%

Machinery Industry

Max: 26.63%
Q3: 16.15%
Median: 11.27%
Q1: 7.72%
Min: -4.91%

An Operating Profit Margin of 16.67% places LECO in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

DAL vs. LECO: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Passenger Airlines and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	DAL	LECO
Return on Equity (TTM)	29.02%	37.34%
Return on Assets (TTM)	5.85%	13.84%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	7.24%	12.27%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	9.30%	16.67%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	50.92%	36.51%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

DAL

0.38

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.94
Median: 0.76
Q1: 0.54
Min: 0.17

DAL’s Current Ratio of 0.38 falls into the lower quartile for the Passenger Airlines industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

LECO

1.68

Machinery Industry

Max: 3.83
Q3: 2.32
Median: 1.72
Q1: 1.28
Min: 0.78

LECO’s Current Ratio of 1.68 aligns with the median group of the Machinery industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

DAL vs. LECO: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Passenger Airlines and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

DAL

0.86

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 9.80
Q3: 4.82
Median: 1.30
Q1: 0.89
Min: 0.00

Falling into the lower quartile for the Passenger Airlines industry, DAL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.86 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.

LECO

0.91

Machinery Industry

Max: 1.49
Q3: 0.75
Median: 0.44
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.00

LECO’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Machinery industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.91. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.

DAL vs. LECO: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Passenger Airlines and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

DAL

5.37

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 22.60
Q3: 16.29
Median: 6.75
Q1: 1.94
Min: -8.55

DAL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.37 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

LECO

20.84

Machinery Industry

Max: 67.55
Q3: 33.79
Median: 13.87
Q1: 7.97
Min: -1.43

LECO’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 20.84 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Machinery industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

DAL vs. LECO: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Passenger Airlines and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	DAL	LECO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.38	1.68
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.25	1.08
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.86	0.91
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	5.37	20.84

Growth

Revenue Growth

DAL vs. LECO: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

DAL vs. LECO: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

DAL

1.02%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 6.71%
Q3: 3.95%
Median: 1.10%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

DAL’s Dividend Yield of 1.02% is consistent with its peers in the Passenger Airlines industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

LECO

1.24%

Machinery Industry

Max: 5.32%
Q3: 2.84%
Median: 1.87%
Q1: 1.09%
Min: 0.00%

LECO’s Dividend Yield of 1.24% is consistent with its peers in the Machinery industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

DAL vs. LECO: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Passenger Airlines and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

DAL

8.67%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 71.59%
Q3: 38.54%
Median: 8.16%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

DAL’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 8.67% is within the typical range for the Passenger Airlines industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

LECO

32.88%

Machinery Industry

Max: 202.17%
Q3: 98.65%
Median: 55.54%
Q1: 29.03%
Min: 0.00%

LECO’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 32.88% is within the typical range for the Machinery industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

DAL vs. LECO: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Passenger Airlines and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	DAL	LECO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.02%	1.24%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	8.67%	32.88%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

DAL

8.52

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 13.29
Q3: 11.94
Median: 8.78
Q1: 7.42
Min: 3.07

DAL’s P/E Ratio of 8.52 is within the middle range for the Passenger Airlines industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

LECO

26.58

Machinery Industry

Max: 53.66
Q3: 31.29
Median: 22.00
Q1: 16.18
Min: 7.00

LECO’s P/E Ratio of 26.58 is within the middle range for the Machinery industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

DAL vs. LECO: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Passenger Airlines and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

DAL

0.62

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 1.09
Q3: 0.74
Median: 0.61
Q1: 0.44
Min: 0.09

DAL’s P/S Ratio of 0.62 aligns with the market consensus for the Passenger Airlines industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

LECO

3.26

Machinery Industry

Max: 5.04
Q3: 2.72
Median: 1.67
Q1: 1.04
Min: 0.24

LECO’s P/S Ratio of 3.26 is in the upper echelon for the Machinery industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

DAL vs. LECO: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Passenger Airlines and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

DAL

1.84

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 3.44
Q3: 2.89
Median: 1.84
Q1: 1.22
Min: 0.56

DAL’s P/B Ratio of 1.84 is within the conventional range for the Passenger Airlines industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

LECO

8.39

Machinery Industry

Max: 7.23
Q3: 3.90
Median: 2.52
Q1: 1.47
Min: 0.49

At 8.39, LECO’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Machinery industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

DAL vs. LECO: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Passenger Airlines and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	DAL	LECO
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	8.52	26.58
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	0.62	3.26
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	1.84	8.39
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	16.01	26.47