Berkshire Hathaway Picks a Massive $2 Billion Stake in Delta Air Lines

Aditya Raghunath4 minute read
Reviewed by: Thomas Richmond
Last updated May 20, 2026

Key Stats for Delta Air Lines Stock

  • Price change for Delta Air Lines stock in the last month: -5%
  • $DAL Share Price as of May. 19: $68
  • 52-Week High: $76
  • $DAL Stock Price Target: $80

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What Happened?

Delta Air Lines (DAL) stock jumped after a regulatory filing revealed that Berkshire Hathaway has built a stake worth more than $2.6 billion in the airline.

  • That makes Delta Berkshire’s 14th-largest holding at the end of March.
  • The news is significant because it marks Berkshire’s return to the airline sector for the first time since Warren Buffett famously sold all of its airline holdings during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
  • At the time, Buffett said the pandemic had fundamentally changed travel behavior.
  • Selling was painful — Berkshire had held stakes worth more than $4 billion across Delta, United, American, and Southwest.
  • Six years later, the firm is back, and Delta Air Lines stock is the chosen vehicle.
DAL Revenue, EBIT, and Free Cash Flow Estimates in Billion USD (TIKR)

The investment comes at an interesting moment for Delta.

  • The airline just reported Q1 2026 results that beat expectations, with revenue growing nearly 10% to a record $14.2 billion.
  • Earnings came in at $0.64 per share.
  • Free cash flow hit $1.2 billion in just the first quarter alone.

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What the Market Is Telling Us About Delta Air Lines Stock

Delta Air Lines stock had already been under pressure heading into this news.

  • Jet fuel prices have roughly doubled due to the conflict in the Middle East, adding more than $2 billion in fuel costs for the upcoming quarter.
  • Management pulled full-year guidance as a result, choosing not to commit to numbers in such a volatile environment.

But Berkshire’s $2.6 billion bet suggests someone inside one of the world’s most respected investment firms sees long-term value that the market may be discounting.

  • Delta’s fundamentals back that up.
  • Corporate travel is hitting quarterly records.
  • Premium and loyalty revenue grew mid-teens in Q1.
  • The American Express partnership generated over $2 billion in remuneration, up 10% year-over-year.

CEO Ed Bastian made the bull case clearly on the earnings call. Higher fuel prices historically force weaker airlines to rationalize, consolidate, or exit.

Delta, with investment-grade credit, a refinery that offsets some fuel costs, and the industry’s strongest brand, is built to come out ahead.

DAL Stock Valuation Model (TIKR)

Delta Air Lines stock is down roughly 12% from its 52-week high.

Berkshire is buying at these levels. That alone is worth paying attention to. For investors looking at beaten-down names with durable competitive advantages, Delta Air Lines stock may be worth a closer look.

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Disclaimer:

Please note that the articles on TIKR are not intended to serve as investment or financial advice from TIKR or our content team, nor are they recommendations to buy or sell any stocks. We create our content based on TIKR Terminal’s investment data and analysts’ estimates. Our analysis might not include recent company news or important updates. TIKR has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading, and happy investing!

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