What is Southwest Airlines Company's average annual return?

Since 1981, Southwest Airlines Company (LUV) has returned about 12.8% 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.

LUV

Southwest Airlines CompanyStock · Consumer DiscretionaryS&P 500 0.0%

$45.07+$0.36 (+0.81%)as of market close, Jul 24, 2026

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LUV returns by year

Southwest Airlines Company has returned +12.8% annually (CAGR) since 1981. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for Southwest Airlines Company (LUV) below, through July 24, 2026 — the most recent year is year-to-date.

Annualized (CAGR)

+12.8%

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

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).

Southwest Airlines Company annual returns by year
Year	Start price	End price	Dividend	Total return
2026YTD	$41.33	$45.07	+0.5%	+9.5%
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	+1.0%	+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	$12.20	$8.62	+0.1%	-29.2%
2007	$15.32	$12.20	+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	$13.90	$16.14	+0.1%	+16.2%
2002	$18.48	$13.90	+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	$7.30	$10.08	+0.2%	+38.4%
1997	$4.35	$7.30	+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%	+0.3%

Total return by period

-100%-50%+0%+50%+100%

'81'85'89'93'97'01'05'09'13'17'21'25

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. See also the periodic table of returns. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.

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FAQ

What is Southwest Airlines Company's average annual return?: Since 1981, Southwest Airlines Company (LUV) has returned about 12.8% 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.