Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL – Get Rating) and LATAM Airlines Group (OTCMKTS:LTMAQ – Get Rating) are both transportation companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability and risk.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of current ratings for Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Delta Air Lines | 0 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 2.87 |
| LATAM Airlines Group | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Delta Air Lines currently has a consensus price target of $52.47, indicating a potential upside of 73.39%. Given Delta Air Lines’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Delta Air Lines is more favorable than LATAM Airlines Group.
Risk & Volatility
Delta Air Lines has a beta of 1.05, suggesting that its stock price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, LATAM Airlines Group has a beta of 1.72, suggesting that its stock price is 72% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
63.2% of Delta Air Lines shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 46.8% of LATAM Airlines Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.6% of Delta Air Lines shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 7.8% of LATAM Airlines Group shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Profitability
This table compares Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Delta Air Lines | 1.47% | -41.80% | -1.53% |
| LATAM Airlines Group | -77.14% | N/A | -32.53% |
Valuation and Earnings
This…
