VLRS
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V.
Airlines, Airports & Air Services
Market Cap$898M
5Y Perf.+56.3%
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Stock Comparison
VLRS vs DAL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
DAL
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Airlines, Airports & Air Services
Market Cap$47.75B
5Y Perf.+190.0%
VLRS vs DAL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | VLRS | DAL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Airlines, Airports & Air Services | Airlines, Airports & Air Services |
| Market Cap | $898M | $47.75B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.04B | $63.36B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-104M | $5.01B |
| Gross Margin | 11.8% | 24.5% |
| Operating Margin | 4.5% | 9.2% |
| Forward P/E | — | 13.6x |
| Total Debt | $3.86B | $21.08B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $754M | $4.31B |
VLRS vs DAL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
VLRS
DAL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controladora Vuela … (VLRS) | 100 | 156.3 | +56.3% |
| Delta Air Lines, In… (DAL) | 100 | 290.0 | +190.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: VLRS vs DAL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: DAL leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
VLRS
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V.
The Income Pick
VLRS is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.64
- Lower volatility, beta 1.64, current ratio 0.73x
- Beta 1.64, current ratio 0.73x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
DAL
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
The Growth Play
DAL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 2.8%, EPS growth 43.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 7.8%
- 87.4% 10Y total return vs VLRS's -61.6%
- 2.8% revenue growth vs VLRS's -3.3%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | DAL | 2.8% revenue growth vs VLRS's -3.3% |
| Value | VLRS | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | DAL | 7.9% margin vs VLRS's -3.4% |
| Stability / Safety | VLRS | Beta 1.64 vs DAL's 1.93 |
| Dividends | DAL | 0.9% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | VLRS | +91.5% vs DAL's +63.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | DAL | 6.2% ROA vs VLRS's -1.8%, ROIC 12.0% vs 3.0% |
VLRS vs DAL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2024
VLRS vs DAL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLDALLAGGINGVLRS
VLRSControladora Vuela Co…
1leads
DALDelta Air Lines, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs VLRSMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
DAL4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
VLRS4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
DAL7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
DAL5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DAL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DAL is the larger business by revenue, generating $63.4B annually — 20.9x VLRS's $3.0B. DAL is the more profitable business, keeping 7.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VLRS's -3.4%.
| Metric | VLRSControladora Vuel… | DALDelta Air Lines, … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.0B | $63.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $642M | $8.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$104M | $5.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $388M | $3.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +11.8% | +24.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.5% | +9.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -3.4% | +7.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.8% | +6.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.6% | +2.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -91.0% | +44.2% |
DAL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
VLRS leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, VLRS's 5.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than DAL's 7.8x.
| Metric | VLRSControladora Vuel… | DALDelta Air Lines, … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $898M | $47.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.0B | $64.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -8.68x | 9.54x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 13.58x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.05x | 7.81x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.30x | 0.75x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.41x | 2.30x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 1.20x | 12.43x |
VLRS leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DAL leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DAL delivers a 24.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $24 in annual profit, vs $-38 for VLRS. DAL carries lower financial leverage with a 1.02x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to VLRS's 14.66x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DAL scores 6/9 vs VLRS's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | VLRSControladora Vuel… | DALDelta Air Lines, … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -38.0% | +24.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.8% | +6.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.0% | +12.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.5% | +11.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 14.66x | 1.02x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.1B | $16.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $754M | $4.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.9B | $21.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.50x | 9.69x |
DAL leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
DAL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in DAL five years ago would be worth $16,194 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,444 for VLRS. Over the past 12 months, VLRS leads with a +91.5% total return vs DAL's +63.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DAL at 29.7% vs VLRS's -13.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | VLRSControladora Vuel… | DALDelta Air Lines, … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -14.5% | +6.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +91.5% | +63.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -34.7% | +118.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -55.6% | +61.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -61.6% | +87.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -13.3% | +29.7% |
DAL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — VLRS and DAL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VLRS is the less volatile stock with a 1.64 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than DAL's 1.93 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. DAL currently trades 95.7% from its 52-week high vs VLRS's 72.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | VLRSControladora Vuel… | DALDelta Air Lines, … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.64x | 1.93x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $10.80 | $76.39 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.90 | $44.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +72.3% | +95.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.8 | 64.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 758K | 12.2M |
Evenly matched — VLRS and DAL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates VLRS as "Buy" and DAL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 46.3% upside for VLRS (target: $11) vs 12.8% for DAL (target: $82). DAL is the only dividend payer here at 0.92% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | VLRSControladora Vuel… | DALDelta Air Lines, … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $11.43 | $82.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 44 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.67 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
DAL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). VLRS leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallDelta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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VLRS vs DAL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is VLRS or DAL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Delta Air Lines, Inc.
(DAL) is the stronger pick with 2. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 3% for Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. (VLRS). Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) offers the better valuation at 9. 5x trailing P/E (13. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. (VLRS) a "Buy" — based on 17 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — VLRS or DAL?
Over the past 5 years, Delta Air Lines, Inc.
(DAL) delivered a total return of +61. 9%, compared to -55. 6% for Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. (VLRS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DAL returned +87. 4% versus VLRS's -61. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — VLRS or DAL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.
A. B. de C. V. (VLRS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 64β versus Delta Air Lines, Inc. 's 1. 93β — meaning DAL is approximately 18% more volatile than VLRS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 102% versus 15% for Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — VLRS or DAL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Delta Air Lines, Inc.
(DAL) is pulling ahead at 2. 8% versus -3. 3% for Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. (VLRS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Delta Air Lines, Inc. grew EPS 43. 7% year-over-year, compared to -181. 8% for Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V.. Over a 3-year CAGR, DAL leads at 7. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — VLRS or DAL?
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
(DAL) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 9% net margin versus -3. 4% for Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. — meaning it keeps 7. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DAL leads at 9. 2% versus 4. 4% for VLRS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VLRS leads at 27. 4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is VLRS or DAL more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VLRS: 46.
3% to $11. 43.
07Which pays a better dividend — VLRS or DAL?
In this comparison, DAL (0.
9% yield) pays a dividend. VLRS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is VLRS or DAL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Delta Air Lines, Inc.
(DAL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0. 9% yield). Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S. A. B. de C. V. (VLRS) carries a higher beta of 1. 64 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (DAL: +87. 4%, VLRS: -61. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between VLRS and DAL?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: VLRS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DAL is a mid-cap deep-value stock. DAL pays a dividend while VLRS does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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