Delta’s fourth-quarter profit beats estimates thanks to cheaper fuel and strong travel demand

Delta Air Lines‘ fourth quarter profits topped Wall Street’s expectations, as lower fuel prices and strong travel — particularly for high-priced premium tickets — demanded lifted the Atlanta-based carrier’s results.

Before the market opened on Tuesday, Delta reported per-share adjusted earnings of $1.70, compared with analysts’ expectations of $1.40 a share and a more than 30% increase from a year earlier.

Delta shares were up close to 2% in premarket trading after it reported results.

Delta reported net income of $1.1 billion, up 8% from the fourth quarter of 2018. Revenues in the three months ended Dec. 31 rose 6% from a year earlier to $11.44 billion, slightly above analysts’ estimates.

Delta benefited from cheaper fuel and the unwinding of its minority stake in Brazilian carrier Gol, the result of Delta’s new stake in Gol’s larger South American competitor Latam.

Here’s how Delta did in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared with what Wall Street expected:

• Adjusted earnings per share: $1.70 versus $1.40 expected.
• Revenue: $11.44 billion versus $11.35 billion expected.

Delta said it expects unit revenues to be flat to up 2% in the first quarter of 2020, and flat margins. The airline reiterated its 2020 guidance of earnings per share of $6.75 to $7.75.