Delta Airlines is among the first to report earnings in 2024
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) is headed to the earnings confessional, with results for the fourth quarter due out before the open on Friday, Jan. 12. The security is today pacing for a third-straight daily gain, last seen up 0.7% at $41.94, as it bounces off a recent pullback to the 40-day moving average, after reaching its highest level since September in December. Over the last 12 months, DAL added more than 14%.
The airline stock doesn't have the best track record when it comes to post-earnings reactions, though. DAL finished five of the past eight next-day sessions lower, including a 2.3% drop in October. The shares averaged a move of 3% during the past two years, regardless of direction, but the options pits are pricing in a larger-than-usual swing of 6.1% this time.
Options bulls have been overwhelmingly confident of late, per DAL's 50-day call/put volume ratio of 3.91 over at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) that ranks higher than all but 4% of readings from the past year.
Options look like a good way to go when weighing in on Delta Airlines stock, since its elevated Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) of 97 out of 100 means it tends to exceed volatility expectations.