Stocks pairs trading: DAL vs RHILet's delve into a side-by-side comparison of Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Robert Half International (RHI) based on their financial metrics and market performance, examining reasons for potentially going long on DAL and short on RHI.
Forward P/E Ratio: DAL's forward P/E of 6.41 is markedly lower than RHI’s forward P/E of 20.74, suggesting that DAL is undervalued relative to RHI. This lower valuation makes DAL a more attractive buy in terms of cost-to-earnings.
EPS Forecast for Next Year: DAL’s anticipated EPS for next year is $7.58, which is higher than RHI’s projected EPS of $4.06, indicating stronger near-term profitability.
Year-to-Date Performance: DAL has seen a significant increase of 24.09% year-to-date, compared with RHI's decline of 21.12% over the same period. This performance suggests stronger market confidence and more robust momentum in DAL.
Book Value Per Share: DAL’s book-to-share value of $17.28 is higher than RHI’s $15.10, which indicates a stronger asset base per share and potentially more intrinsic value in DAL’s stock.
Profit Margin Comparison: DAL operates with a profit margin of 8.48%, which is more favorable than RHI’s profit margin of 5.74%. This suggests that DAL is more effective at converting revenues into actual profit, a key indicator of operational efficiency.
Analyst Recommendations: The consensus recommendation for DAL stands at a more favorable 1.29 compared to RHI’s 3.64. This indicates more analyst confidence in DAL’s market position and future performance.
Decision:
Long on 1 DAL: This position is supported by DAL’s lower valuation, strong near-term earnings outlook, superior market performance, better financial health, and greater profitability metrics.
Short on 1 RHI: Its current higher valuation and recent poor market performance may not justify the risks in the short term.
