JetBlue Airways Corp. Faces Stock Plunge and CEO Retirement

Shares of JetBlue Airways Corp. experienced a significant blow on Tuesday, following an analyst's recommendation to sell the stock. In addition, the air carrier made an announcement regarding the retirement of its long-time chief executive due to health reasons.

Analysis of Stock Performance

A closer look at the stock's JBLU, -10.69% chart indicates that the downgrade may have played a major role in the sell-off. Surprisingly, the shares initially gained when news about the CEO retirement broke.

Analyst's Rating

BofA Securities' Andrew Didora downgraded his rating on the stock from neutral to underperform. This change in rating comes after a five-month period of maintaining a neutral stance. Didora also lowered his price target from $6 to $3. Consequently, his new target suggests a potential 42% decrease from the current levels. Didora's bearish view sets him apart as the most pessimistic among the 14 analysts surveyed by FactSet who cover JetBlue Airways Corp.

Stock Performance

The stock plummeted by 10.6% during midday trading, marking the largest one-day drop since its 11.4% decline on June 13, 2022.

Interestingly, this sell-off comes right after a three-day winning streak, during which the stock surged by 16.8%. On Monday, JetBlue's stock rose by 3.2% due to the airline not being affected by the issues surrounding Boeing Co.'s BA, -0.90% 737 Max 9 planes. JetBlue operates exclusively with aircraft from Airbus EADSY, -0.74% AIR, -0.06%.

Outlook for the Airline Industry

Didora expressed his expectation for challenging times ahead in the domestic airline industry. He cited increasing domestic supply, cost inflation, and a decline in travel demand as factors that will likely exert pressure on growth and costs in 2024.

JetBlue's Earnings Affected by Manufacturing Issues

CEO Announces Retirement

In a recent development, JetBlue disclosed that Chief Executive Robert Hayes will retire from his position on Feb. 12 after serving for nine years. Hayes cited the immense pressure and challenges associated with the role as the primary reasons for his decision. Upon the advice of his doctor and after discussions with his wife, he has decided to prioritize his health and well-being. The airline has subsequently appointed Joanna Geraghty, the current chief operating officer, as Hayes' successor.

Positive Outlook and Strong Performance

Despite these developments, JetBlue remains optimistic about its performance. The airline reported that the demand in December was "healthy" and that its operational performance during the busy holiday schedule remained "strong." Consequently, JetBlue expects its fourth-quarter results to be at the "better end" of the guidance ranges issued in early December. Previously, the company had narrowed its loss expectations and forecasted a lesser decline in revenue than initially projected.

Stock Performance

While JetBlue's stock has rallied 13.8% in the past three months, it has experienced a significant decline of 29.5% over the past year. In comparison, the U.S. Global Jets ETF JETS has seen a 1.7% gain over the same period, while the S&P 500 index SPX has rallied by 22.1%.