Stock Market Today, Feb. 19: American Airlines Falls as Rising Fuel Costs Test 2026 Earnings Outlook

MrDecoder · 2026-02-20T12:53:40+00:00

American Airlines Group (AAL) saw shares drop 5.32% to $13.35 amid rising crude oil prices affecting airline margins. With a market cap of $9.3B, traders noted increased volume. Investors are cautious ahead of the company’s 10-K filing and a safety vote, questioning whether earnings targets can be met.

MrDecoder

2026-02-20 12:53:40

Abstract generation in progress

Expand

NASDAQ: AAL

American Airlines Group

Today’s Change

(-5.32%) $-0.75

Current Price

$13.35

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$9.3B

Day’s Range

$13.28 - $13.94

52wk Range

$8.50 - $16.50

Volume

64M

Avg Vol

55M

Gross Margin

19.17%

American Airlines Group (AAL 5.32%), a provider of scheduled air transportation services for passengers and cargo, closed Thursday at $13.35, down 5.32%. Shares declined as higher crude oil prices pressured airline margins, with investors watching the company’s 10‑K filing and an upcoming safety-related vote.

The company’s trading volume reached 63.5 million shares, which is nearly 15% above compared with its three-month average of 55.3 million shares. American Airlines Group went public in 2005 and has fallen 31% since its IPO.

How the markets moved today

S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) slipped 0.29% to finish Thursday’s session at 6,862, while the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) declined 0.31% to close at 22,683. Among airlines, industry peers Delta Air Lines (DAL 5.19%) closed at $67.44 (-5.16%) and United Airlines (UAL 5.88%) finished at $110.05 (-5.88%), reflecting sector pressure from higher fuel costs.

What this means for investors

Crude oil hovering near six-month highs pressured airline stocks Thursday, driving a broad selloff across the sector. This pressure comes as American Airlines targets $1.70 to $2.70 in adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2026. The company posted record revenue last quarter but missed earnings expectations, leaving less room for error if fuel expenses keep rising.

Since jet fuel is one of an airline’s highest operating costs, even modest increases in crude prices can quickly erode margins. The company’s 10-K filing and an upcoming safety-related vote added to the cautious tone, keeping regulatory and operational risks in view during a volatile session. Investors will closely watch whether American Airlines can protect margins and still deliver on its 2026 earnings target.

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.

1 Likes