LUV vs. ODFL: Southwest Airlines vs. Old Dominion Freight Line Stock Comparison
How do Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but LUV is classified in Passenger Airlines while ODFL is classified in Ground Transportation.
| Profile Item | LUV | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Southwest Airlines Co. | Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Passenger Airlines | Ground Transportation |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Passenger Airlines | Cargo Ground Transportation |
| Market Capitalization | 21.76 billion USD | 33.98 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1980 | October 24, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LUV | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 44.35% | 22.71% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 28.08% | -3.43% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.31% | -0.10% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | LUV | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 44.46% | 38.79% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.19 | 1.14 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -55.39% | -45.18% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.76M | 1.83M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LUV | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.90 | 0.48 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.51 | 0.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 26.01% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 13.94% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ODFL.
LUV
Transportation industry group
13.94%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- LUV
- 13.94%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
26.01%
- Max
- 45.08%
- ODFL
- 26.01%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 3.34% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 20.08% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
LUV
Transportation industry group
3.34%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- Median
- 5.58%
- LUV
- 3.34%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
20.08%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- ODFL
- 20.08%
- Median
- 5.58%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 28.52% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 4.49% operates in the bottom quartile.
LUV
Transportation industry group
4.49%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- LUV
- 4.49%
- Min
- -8.91%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
28.52%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- ODFL
- 28.52%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | LUV | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 13.94% | 26.01% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.05% | 16.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 3.34% | 20.08% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 4.49% | 28.52% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 22.14% | 39.88% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 2.11% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at -5.48% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 3.95% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at -11.68% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | LUV | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.11% | -5.48% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.63% | -4.24% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 3.95% | -11.68% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -3.16% | -7.37% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 2.04 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 0.47 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
LUV
Transportation industry group
0.47
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- LUV
- 0.47
- Min
- 0.22
ODFL
Transportation industry group
2.04
- Max
- 2.58
- ODFL
- 2.04
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 0.00 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 0.94 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
LUV
Transportation industry group
0.94
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- LUV
- 0.94
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
ODFL
Transportation industry group
0.00
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- ODFL
- 0.00
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | LUV | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.47 | 2.04 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.94 | 0.00 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.21 | -0.24 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 1.62% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 0.67% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
LUV
Transportation industry group
1.62%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- LUV
- 1.62%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
0.67%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- Median
- 0.74%
- ODFL
- 0.67%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 35.12% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 20.65% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
LUV
Transportation industry group
35.12%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- LUV
- 35.12%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
20.65%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- ODFL
- 20.65%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | LUV | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.62% | 0.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 35.12% | 20.65% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 21.68 and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 29.61 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
LUV
Transportation industry group
21.68
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- LUV
- 21.68
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
ODFL
Transportation industry group
29.61
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- ODFL
- 29.61
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 0.69 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 5.87 clears its benchmark range — ODFL looks notably rich on sales.
LUV
Transportation industry group
0.69
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- LUV
- 0.69
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
ODFL
Transportation industry group
5.87
- ODFL
- 5.87
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 2.97 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 7.29 prices above its benchmark range — ODFL looks rich relative to book.
LUV
Transportation industry group
2.97
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- LUV
- 2.97
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
ODFL
Transportation industry group
7.29
- ODFL
- 7.29
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LUV | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.68 | 29.61 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.69 | 5.87 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.97 | 7.29 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -2.82% | 2.93% |