Air ETFs, Stocks Set To Gain On Upbeat Spring Travel Trend

A record number of Americans are expected to fly this spring encouraged by low fares, abundant air service and a healthy economy. Employment gains, higher consumer confidence, surging household net worth will also contribute to the growth in demand for air travel.

This is especially true as the report from the U.S. airlines group, Airlines for America (A4A), shows that air travel is expected to reach an all-time high between Mar 1 and Apr 30. About 158.2 million passengers (2.59 million per day) will fly over this two-month period, up 4.3% from last year. In order to accommodate 106,000 additional daily passengers, U.S. airlines will likely increase the number of seats by 129,000 per day across their networks (see: all the industrials ETFs here).

Huge travel demand should boost revenues and profitability of the airlines, thereby leading to skyrocketing share prices. Investors shouldn’t miss this opportunity and could tap this trend through ETFs and stocks that stand to profit big time from the upbeat spring travel trend.

U.S. Global Jets ETF (KL:JETS)

This fund provides exposure to the global airline industry, including airline operators and manufacturers from all over the world, by tracking the U.S. Global Jets Index. In total, the product holds 34 securities that are heavily concentrated on the top four firms with at least 12% allocation each. Other firms hold less than 4.3% share. The fund has gathered $76.5 million in its asset base while seeing a moderate trading volume of nearly 35,000 shares a day. It charges investors 60 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy) with a High risk outlook (read: Looking to Buy the Dips? 5 ETF & Stock Picks).

iShares Dow Jones Transportation Average Fund IYT

While this ETF provides exposure to the broad transportation sector by tracking the Dow Jones Transportation Average Index, airlines account for 17% of the portfolio. The fund holds a small basket of 20 stocks with heavy concentration and dominance in the top firm. It has accumulated $621.1 million in its asset base while seeing a good trading volume of around 286,000 shares a day. It charges 43 bps in fees and expenses and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold) with a High risk outlook.

SPDR S&P Transportation (NYSE:XTN) ETF XTN

This fund also targets the broader transport sector and follows the S&P Transportation Select Industry Index. Holding 42 stocks in its basket with AUM of $157 million, it is well spread out across various components with none holding more than 3% of the assets. About 32% of the portfolio is dominated by trucking while airlines takes 26% share. The fund charges 35 bps in fees per year from investors and trades in a light volume of nearly 27,000 shares a day. XTN has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a High risk outlook (read: Strong Q4 Earnings Lift Transport ETFs Higher).

LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (NYSE:LTM)

This Chile-based company offers domestic and international passenger and cargo air services primarily in Chile, the United States, the South Pacific, Europe and Latin America. It saw positive earnings estimate of 3 cents for this year over the past 30 days with expected growth of 100%. The stock has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of A. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

SkyWest Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYW)

This Utah-based company operates one of the larger regional airlines in the United States. It saw solid earnings estimate of 18 cents for this year over the past 60 days, with expected growth of 9.06%. The stock has a Zacks Rank #2 and VGM Score of B.

AZUL SA (NYSE:AZUL)

This Brazil-based company is a holding company for the providers of airline passenger and cargo services. It saw solid earnings estimate revision of 22 cents for this year over the past month with an expected growth of 42.77%. The stock has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of B.

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