Capital Research Global Investors Sells 268,013 Shares of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL)

Capital Research Global Investors lowered its holdings in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL - Free Report) by 29.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 631,987 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 268,013 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors owned approximately 0.10% of Delta Air Lines worth $38,235,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Capital World Investors lifted its position in Delta Air Lines by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 15,180,467 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $918,419,000 after purchasing an additional 46,101 shares during the last quarter. Covalis Capital LLP bought a new stake in shares of Delta Air Lines during the 4th quarter worth $944,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in Delta Air Lines by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 11,090,209 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $670,994,000 after acquiring an additional 92,208 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in Delta Air Lines by 15.5% in the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 745,971 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $45,131,000 after acquiring an additional 100,289 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP raised its position in Delta Air Lines by 22.3% during the fourth quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 11,471 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $694,000 after purchasing an additional 2,094 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 69.93% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP William C. Carroll sold 6,783 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.94, for a total transaction of $447,271.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 10,016 shares of the company's stock, valued at $660,455.04. This trade represents a 40.38 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Rahul D. Samant sold 17,970 shares of Delta Air Lines stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.08, for a total value of $1,241,367.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 35,889 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,479,212.12. The trade was a 33.36 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 62,776 shares of company stock valued at $4,155,951 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.96% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. TD Cowen increased their price objective on Delta Air Lines from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Delta Air Lines from $65.00 to $56.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $80.00 to $72.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "hold" rating and set a $46.00 target price (down previously from $85.00) on shares of Delta Air Lines in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Delta Air Lines from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Delta Air Lines presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $61.06.

Delta Air Lines Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of Delta Air Lines stock traded down $0.38 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $41.64. 7,190,385 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,240,796. The company has a market cap of $27.19 billion, a PE ratio of 7.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.23. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $47.30 and a 200-day moving average of $57.01. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a 12 month low of $34.74 and a 12 month high of $69.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.37.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 9th. The transportation company reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.84 by ($0.38). Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 30.41% and a net margin of 5.61%. The company had revenue of $12.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $13.85 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.45 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 7.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Delta Air Lines Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 13th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 13th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.44%. Delta Air Lines's dividend payout ratio is presently 10.64%.

About Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Sao Paulo, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo.