LUV vs. R: Southwest Airlines vs. Ryder System Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R) 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 Ryder System (R) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but LUV is classified in Passenger Airlines while R is classified in Ground Transportation.

Company profile comparison for Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R)
Profile Item	LUV	R
Name	Southwest Airlines Co.	Ryder System 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	10.18 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1980	January 2, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LUV

GSPC

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

Calendar-year total returns for Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R)
Metric	LUV	R
Total Return (1Y)	44.35%	66.06%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	28.08%	43.22%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-0.31%	29.10%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LUV

GSPC

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

Loading price history…

Distribution of monthly total returns for Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R)
Metric	LUV	R
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	44.46%	32.86%
Beta (5Y)	1.19	1.05
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-55.39%	-27.39%
Avg. Volume (3M)	5.76M	294.17K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

LUV and R are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R)
Metric	LUV	R
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.90	1.88
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.51	3.07

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 13.94% and Ryder System (R) at 17.20% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

LUV

Transportation industry group

13.94%

Max: 45.08%
Q3: 22.02%
LUV: 13.94%
Median: 13.94%
Q1: 2.89%
Min: -10.45%

R

Transportation industry group

17.20%

Max: 45.08%
Q3: 22.02%
R: 17.20%
Median: 13.94%
Q1: 2.89%
Min: -10.45%

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 3.34% and Ryder System (R) at 3.98% 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%

R

Transportation industry group

3.98%

Max: 50.36%
Q3: 21.18%
Median: 5.58%
R: 3.98%
Q1: 1.55%
Min: -11.37%

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Ryder System (R) at 9.50% 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%

R

Transportation industry group

9.50%

Max: 59.18%
Q3: 29.30%
Median: 11.50%
R: 9.50%
Q1: 4.62%
Min: -8.91%

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R)
Metric	LUV	R
ROE (TTM)	13.94%	17.20%
ROA (TTM)	3.05%	4.01%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.34%	3.98%
Operating Margin (TTM)	4.49%	9.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)	22.14%	19.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 2.11% and Ryder System (R) at -0.17% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 3.95% and Ryder System (R) at 7.96% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R)
Metric	LUV	R
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.11%	-0.17%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.63%	0.60%
EPS Growth (YoY)	3.95%	7.96%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-3.16%	-11.18%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 0.47 and Ryder System (R) at 0.67 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

LUV

Transportation industry group

0.47

Max: 2.58
Q3: 1.62
Median: 1.16
Q1: 0.78
LUV: 0.47
Min: 0.22

R

Transportation industry group

0.67

Max: 2.58
Q3: 1.62
Median: 1.16
Q1: 0.78
R: 0.67
Min: 0.22

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 0.94 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ryder System (R) at 2.75 uses more debt funding than most peers.

LUV

Transportation industry group

0.94

Max: 2.75
Q3: 1.37
LUV: 0.94
Median: 0.78
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

R

Transportation industry group

2.75

R: 2.75
Max: 2.75
Q3: 1.37
Median: 0.78
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R)
Metric	LUV	R
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.47	0.67
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.94	2.75
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.21	2.84

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 1.62% and Ryder System (R) at 1.38% 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%

R

Transportation industry group

1.38%

Max: 4.68%
Q3: 1.99%
R: 1.38%
Median: 0.74%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 35.12% and Ryder System (R) at 28.48% 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%

R

Transportation industry group

28.48%

Max: 100.89%
Q3: 41.68%
R: 28.48%
Median: 20.43%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R)
Metric	LUV	R
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.62%	1.38%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	35.12%	28.48%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 21.68 and Ryder System (R) at 20.29 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

R

Transportation industry group

20.29

Max: 46.76
Q3: 30.87
Median: 20.58
R: 20.29
Q1: 10.44
Min: 0.00

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 0.69 and Ryder System (R) at 0.78 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

LUV

Transportation industry group

0.69

Max: 4.35
Q3: 2.07
Median: 0.93
LUV: 0.69
Q1: 0.53
Min: 0.04

R

Transportation industry group

0.78

Max: 4.35
Q3: 2.07
Median: 0.93
R: 0.78
Q1: 0.53
Min: 0.04

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 2.97 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Ryder System (R) at 3.42 carries an above-peer premium to book — R is pricier on assets.

LUV

Transportation industry group

2.97

Max: 6.29
Q3: 3.39
LUV: 2.97
Median: 1.90
Q1: 1.03
Min: -2.07

R

Transportation industry group

3.42

Max: 6.29
R: 3.42
Q3: 3.39
Median: 1.90
Q1: 1.03
Min: -2.07

Southwest Airlines (LUV) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Ryder System (R)
Metric	LUV	R
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.68	20.29
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.69	0.78
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.97	3.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-2.82%	15.08%