FMP

FMP

JetBlue Airways Corporation's Financial Performance Analysis

  • JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:JBLU) reported an EPS of -$0.48, missing estimates and leading to a share price decline.
  • The company's revenue was $2.24 billion, slightly above expectations but showed a year-over-year decrease.
  • Operational challenges are evident with a lower load factor and increased operating expenses, alongside a negative P/E ratio and high debt-to-equity ratio.

JetBlue Airways Corporation, listed on NASDAQ as JBLU, is a major American low-cost airline. It operates numerous flights across the United States and internationally. Despite its extensive network, JetBlue faces stiff competition from other low-cost carriers like Southwest Airlines and major airlines such as Delta and American Airlines.

On January 27, 2026, JetBlue reported an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.48, slightly missing the estimated EPS of -$0.45. This announcement led to a decline in its share price by over 5%, as highlighted by the larger-than-anticipated loss for the fourth quarter. The reported loss of $0.48 per share was greater than Wall Street's consensus estimate of a $0.45 loss per share.

JetBlue's revenue for the quarter was $2.24 billion, which exceeded analyst expectations of $2.22 billion. However, this figure represents a decrease from the $2.28 billion reported in the same quarter the previous year. The company's operational metrics showed weaker demand, with a load factor of 81.5%, falling short of the expected 83%.

The airline's available seat miles were 15.88 billion, below the anticipated 16.02 billion, and revenue passenger miles were 12.94 billion, missing the forecast of 13.29 billion. Additionally, JetBlue's capacity saw a year-over-year decline of 1.6%. Operating expenses rose significantly, with costs per available seat mile (CASM) reported at 14.76 cents, higher than the expected 14.49 cents.

JetBlue's financial challenges are further highlighted by its negative price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of -2.90 and a high debt-to-equity ratio of 4.15. The company's current ratio of 0.82 suggests potential liquidity concerns, as it may struggle to cover short-term liabilities with its short-term assets. These factors underscore the financial difficulties JetBlue is currently facing.