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benzinga Corporate Catalyst Impact 55/100 ● positive

Rothschild & Co Upgrades Southwest Airlines to Neutral, Raises Price Target to $40

Sep 18, 2026, 3:22 PM UTC · Primary ticker $LUV

Rothschild & Co upgraded Southwest Airlines (LUV) from Sell to Neutral and increased its price target from $35 to $40. This analyst action suggests a slightly improved outlook for the airline, potentially driven by recent operational or market developments.

Rothschild & Co's upgrade of Southwest Airlines (LUV) from 'Sell' to 'Neutral' and the increase in its price target from $35 to $40 indicates a more favorable view from the analyst firm. This change suggests that the previous negative sentiment has lessened, potentially due to improved operational performance, a more stable demand outlook, or a more attractive valuation. This is primarily a short-term positive for LUV, as analyst upgrades can sometimes trigger immediate buying interest. However, the 'Neutral' rating still implies that significant upside may be limited, and the long-term implications will depend on the company's ability to execute and broader industry trends. For traders, this presents an opportunity for a short-term bounce, but the key risk is that the upgrade might already be priced in or that the underlying fundamentals don't support sustained growth beyond the new price target.

$LUV positive Analyst upgrade and price target increase
Source: benzinga
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Not financial advice. AI-generated analysis for informational purposes only.