Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) Beats Q3 EPS

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) revealed its earnings report for the third quarter of 2013 this morning before the market opened on Wall Street. The company showed earnings per share of $1.41 on revenue totaling $10.5 billion for the three months period. On Monday’s market shares in the air line traded down to finish the day at $24.69.

In the run up to the release of this earnings report analysts following Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) were looking for earnings per share of $1.35. Revenue for the same period was expected to come in at $10.5 billion. The same period of 2012 saw the company earn 90 cents per share. Revenue for that period came in at $9.9 billion.

Delta Air Lines Earnings

In terms of earnings, Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) has had strong year so far. The company has beaten expectations on both of the earnings reports that it released so far in 2013. Investors are pricing a certain amount of growth into the company’s shares, however, and that means it will have to perform in the quarters ahead.

This morning’s beat means that investors’ bets on the company have been justified so far. If the air line continues to perfrom as it has in 2013, investors should be pleased with the results.

Delta Performance

This morning’s earnings report is an important one for Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL). The release marks the first time that the company has released earnings since it became part of the S&P 500. Its induction into the index caused the biggest rise in the company’s stock so far this year. The addition of the company to the index means that many index funds are forced to purchase in, driving the price up.

Since the start of the year shares in Delta Ail Lines Inc. (NYSE:DAL) has more than doubled its stock price. The company is now trading at more than 12 times 2012 earnings, a high price for an airline, but investors seem bullish about prospects going forward.

Executives at Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) will host a conference call in order to discuss these results at 10 AM EST.