LUV
Southwest Airlines CompanyStock · IndustrialsS&P 500 Equal Weight 0.2% · S&P 500 0.04% · US Stock Market 0.03% · Russell 1000 0.03% · Russell 3000 0.03%$40.98+1.59%
as of market close, Sep 18, 2026
☾ AH $40.99 +0.02%
Southwest Airlines Company returns by year
Through September 18, 2026
Southwest Airlines Company returns by year (1981–2026)#
Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return). Every year has a direct link you can bookmark or share.
| Year | Start price | End price | Path | Dividend | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $41.33 | $40.98 | +1.3% | +0.5% | |
| 2025 | $33.62 | $41.33 | +2.7% | +25.6% | |
| 2024 | $28.88 | $33.62 | +2.7% | +19.1% | |
| 2023 | $33.67 | $28.88 | +2.4% | -11.8% | |
| 2022 | $42.84 | $33.67 | +0.0% | -21.4% | |
| 2021 | $46.61 | $42.84 | +0.0% | -8.1% | |
| 2020 | $53.98 | $46.61 | +0.3% | -13.3% | |
| 2019 | $46.48 | $53.98 | +1.6% | +17.7% | |
| 2018 | $65.45 | $46.48 | +0.8% | -28.2% | |
| 2017 | $49.84 | $65.45 | +1.1% | +32.4% | |
| 2016 | $43.06 | $49.84 | +1.1% | +16.8% | |
| 2015 | $42.32 | $43.06 | +0.7% | +2.4% | |
| 2014 | $18.84 | $42.32 | +1.7% | +126.3% | |
| 2013 | $10.24 | $18.84 | +1.6% | +85.6% | |
| 2012 | $8.56 | $10.24 | +0.5% | +20.1% | |
| 2011 | $12.98 | $8.56 | +0.1% | -33.9% | |
| 2010 | $11.43 | $12.98 | +0.2% | +13.7% | |
| 2009 | $8.62 | $11.43 | +0.3% | +32.9% | |
| 2008 | $12.2 | $8.62 | +0.1% | -29.2% | |
| 2007 | $15.32 | $12.2 | +0.1% | -20.3% | |
| 2006 | $16.43 | $15.32 | +0.1% | -6.7% | |
| 2005 | $16.28 | $16.43 | +0.1% | +1.0% | |
| 2004 | $16.14 | $16.28 | +0.1% | +1.0% | |
| 2003 | $13.9 | $16.14 | +0.1% | +16.2% | |
| 2002 | $18.48 | $13.9 | +0.1% | -24.7% | |
| 2001 | $22.35 | $18.48 | +0.1% | -17.3% | |
| 2000 | $10.75 | $22.35 | +0.2% | +108.1% | |
| 1999 | $10.08 | $10.75 | +0.1% | +6.7% | |
| 1998 | $7.3 | $10.08 | +0.2% | +38.4% | |
| 1997 | $4.35 | $7.3 | +0.3% | +68.2% | |
| 1996 | $4.54 | $4.35 | +0.2% | -4.2% | |
| 1995 | $3.31 | $4.54 | +0.2% | +37.5% | |
| 1994 | $7.38 | $3.31 | +0.0% | -55.2% | |
| 1993 | $3.88 | $7.38 | +0.0% | +90.0% | |
| 1992 | $2.25 | $3.88 | +0.0% | +72.9% | |
| 1991 | $1.15 | $2.25 | +0.0% | +95.0% | |
| 1990 | $1.05 | $1.15 | +0.0% | +9.4% | |
| 1989 | $0.89 | $1.05 | +0.0% | +18.5% | |
| 1988 | $0.59 | $0.89 | +0.0% | +51.4% | |
| 1987 | $0.91 | $0.59 | +0.0% | -35.2% | |
| 1986 | $1.18 | $0.91 | +0.0% | -23.3% | |
| 1985 | $0.97 | $1.18 | +0.0% | +22.2% | |
| 1984 | $1.19 | $0.97 | +0.0% | -19.1% | |
| 1983 | $0.94 | $1.19 | +0.0% | +27.7% | |
| 1982 | $0.51 | $0.94 | +0.0% | +84.4% | |
| 1981 | $0.51 | $0.51 | +0.0% | +0.2% |
- Annualized
- +12.6%
- 1981–2026
- Average year
- +17.6%
- 45 full years
- Best year
- +126.3%
- 2014
- Worst year
- -55.2%
- 1994
- Positive years
- 29/45
- 64% up
Annualized (CAGR)
+12.6%
1981–2026
Average year
+17.6%
45 full years
Best year
+126.3%
2014
Worst year
-55.2%
1994
Positive years
29/45
64% up
Total return by period#
Annual
-100%-50%0%50%100%
1981+0.24%'81
1982+84%
1983+28%
1984-19%
1985+22%'85
1986-23%
1987-35%
1988+51%
1989+19%'89
1990+9.4%
1991+95%
1992+73%
1993+90%'93
1994-55%
1995+37%
1996-4.2%
1997+68%'97
1998+38%
1999+6.7%
2000+108%
2001-17%'01
2002-25%
2003+16%
2004+0.99%
2005+1.0%'05
2006-6.7%
2007-20%
2008-29%
2009+33%'09
2010+14%
2011-34%
2012+20%
2013+86%'13
2014+126%
2015+2.4%
2016+17%
2017+32%'17
2018-28%
2019+18%
2020-13%
2021-8.1%'21
2022-21%
2023-12%
2024+19%
2025+26%'25
2026+0.48%
Methodology#
Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from LUV's split- and dividend-adjusted closes. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.
FAQ#
- What is Southwest Airlines Company's average annual return?
- Since 1981, Southwest Airlines Company (LUV) has returned about 12.6% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 17.6%.
- What were Southwest Airlines Company's best and worst years?
- Over 1981–2026, the best year was 2014 (+126.3%) and the worst was 1994 (-55.2%).
- How often is Southwest Airlines Company up in a year?
- 29 of the 45 full years since 1981 were positive — about 64% of the time.
More on Southwest Airlines Company
Annual returns for: S&P 500 · S&P 500 Equal Weight · US Stock Market · Nasdaq-100