All charts and data below are CPI-U inflation-adjusted and with dividends reinvested. (Why?)

Total Real Returns

LUV: Total Real Return Chart (Dividends Reinvested, Inflation Adjusted)

LUV real return snapshot: after CPI-U inflation, LUV returned +22.06% over the past year and −7.27% YTD, with dividends reinvested. Since Jan. 21, 1972, LUV is down −99.98% in real purchasing-power return, or −14.21%/yr, and is currently −100.00% below its real total-return high on Aug. 3, 1978.

Data ending Wed Sep. 16, 2026

Growth of $10,000

Fri 1972-01-21💬 to Wed 2026-09-16 Overall
Return 		Exponential
Trendline
LUV × 		−99.98%
−14.21%/yr 		−8.73%/yr
R2=0.140
Southwest Airlines Company NYSE Common Stock

Growth of $10,000 Summary

Fri 1972-01-21💬 to Wed 2026-09-16 Start
Value 		End
Value
LUV × 		$10,000.00
1972-01-21 		$2.30
2026-09-16

This Year’s Performance

through 2026-09-16

  YTD YoY
LUV × 		−7.27% +22.06%

Drawdowns

  Current
Drawdown 		Worst
Drawdown
LUV × 		−100.00%
on 2026-09-16
from 1978-08-03 peak 		−100.00%
on 1980-02-22
from 1978-08-03 peak

Rolling Returns

Period ending Wed 2026-09-16 1 yr 2 yr 3 yr 5 yr 10 yr
LUV × 		+22.06% +34.12%
+15.81%/yr 		+28.82%
+8.81%/yr 		−29.09%
−6.65%/yr 		−12.92%
−1.37%/yr

Annual Returns

Year LUV
2026 (YTD) −7.27%
2025 +22.35%
2024 +15.78%
2023 −14.67%
2022 −26.18%
2021 −14.13%
2020 −14.49%
2019 +15.09%
2018 −29.56%
2017 +29.66%
2016 +14.43%
2015 +1.69%
2014 +124.61%
2013 +82.84%
2012 +18.04%
2011 −35.82%
2010 +12.07%
2009 +29.42%
2008 −29.29%
2007 −23.39%
2006 −8.93%
2005 −2.29%
2004 −2.18%
2003 +14.12%
2002 −26.44%
2001 −18.51%
2000 +101.34%
1999 +3.95%
1998 +36.21%
1997 +65.38%
1996 −7.05%
1995 +34.75%
1994 −56.29%
1993 +85.21%
1992 +68.45%
1991 +89.92%
1990 +3.67%
1989 +13.91%
1988 +46.09%
1987 −37.48%
1986 −23.64%
1985 +18.25%
1984 −21.70%
1983 +23.61%
1982 +79.00%
1981 −7.22%
1980 −100.00%
1979 +2.95%
1978 −26.60%
1977 +56.22%
1976 +90.72%
1975 +180.54%
1974 −10.98%
1973 −8.02%
1972 −3.28%