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Southwest Airlines Company Financial Analysis

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Southwest Airlines Company Financial Analysis
Southwest Airlines Company

Financial Analysis

Five Year Financial Overview

Southwest Airlines Co. | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | Revenues | Not Available | $15,658.00 M | $12,104.00 M | $10,350.00 M | $11,023.00 M | Stock Price | Not Available | $8.56 | $12.98 | $11.43 | $8.62 | Profit Margin | Not Available | 1.14% | 3.79% | .96% | 1.61% | Net Income | | $178.00 M | $459.00 M | $99.00 M | $178.00 M | Employees | Not Available | 45,392 | 34,901 | 34,726 | 35,499 |
(source www.hoovers.com)

Over the past five years, Southwest Airlines has showed to be growing at a steady pace, with the exception of the economic crisis in 2009. As you could perceive in 2008 the company’s profit margin was 1.61%, in 2009 .96%, then in 2010 it when to a whopping 3.79%. Southwest Airlines continues to grow stronger year after year. Even with the economic crisis, Southwest continue to hire more and more employees. From 2008 Southwest had 35,499 employees. To 2011 it has 45,392 employees.

Current Marketing Situation:
Market Description
Southwest Airlines Company (NYSE: LUV) is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The company began service in 1971. Southwest is unique in the airline industry in that its entire fleet is made up of Boeing 737s. Southwest Airlines reports increase in annual profits; this is the company’s 40th consecutive year of profitability. Southwest Airlines has accomplished so greatly in the year of 2012 by being recognized with numerous awards and recognitions, most notably being named customer service champions by JD Powers, included in the 2012 customer service hall of fame by MSN Money, and named one of America's Top 500 companies by Barrons. Also the company has returned $422 million to Shareholders through repurchasing $400 million of common stock (approximately 46 million shares) and distributing $22 million in dividends. Southwest airlines is carefully designs it image as “the only LOW-FARE, easy to fly, getting its customers



References: Abenes, F, B. Marketing Study Of SOUTHWEST AIRLINES.  Cite this as: YouSigma. (2008). "Southwest Airlines Marketing Strategies." From http://www.yousigma.com. Competitive Review Targeted Segment | Customer Needs | Corresponding Features/Benefits | Business man/women | One day trips | Having multiple flights thought-out the day | Price sensitive people | Lowest possible fare | Southwest nabs many people who driven before | Family oriented | Easy to fly | Friendly services | Time sensitive people | In and out on a airplane | No assigned seating | As the southwest airlines continue their success. Many competitors try to follow and/or refine their product and practices to Southwest’s strategies. However, fail in doing so. The top three competitor for Southwest are: JetBlue, Delta Airlines, and AMR Crop.

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