Southwest Airlines (LUV) Stock Buyback History
TTM buyback yield 16.30% · Shareholder yield (TTM) 16.30%.
TTM buyback yield
16.30%
Shareholder yield (TTM)
16.30%
5Y share count change
-1.2%
TTM buyback spend
$3.05B
SBC coverage (TTM)
N/A
YoY change in spend
+920.0%
5Y CAGR of spend
+41.4%
Peak year (2025)
$2.55B
Cumulative spend
$16.39B
TTM metrics calculated from the four most recent reported quarters, ending (reported ).
Key takeaways
- Southwest Airlines (LUV) repurchased about $3.05B of stock over the trailing twelve months.
- Diluted share count is down 1.2% over the last ~5 fiscal years — buybacks are net-shrinking the share base.
- Cash buyback spend has compounded at +41.4% per year over the latest 5-year window.
Buyback context per fiscal year
Annual repurchases alongside stock-based compensation, diluted share count and the year-over-year change — useful for SBC-coverage and dilution-offset reading at a glance.
| Year | Buybacks | SBC | Net | Shares (dil.) | YoY shares | Buyback yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.55B | $0.00 | $2.55B | 0.56B | -13.2% | 11.96% |
| 2024 | $250.00M | $0.00 | $250.00M | 0.64B | 0.5% | 1.25% |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.64B | -0.3% | — |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $84.00M | −$84.00M | 0.64B | 5.4% | — |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $58.00M | −$58.00M | 0.61B | 7.8% | — |
| 2020 | $451.00M | $0.00 | $451.00M | 0.56B | 4.8% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | $2.00B | $55.00M | $1.95B | 0.54B | -6.1% | 7.06% |
| 2018 | $2.00B | $46.00M | $1.95B | 0.57B | -4.8% | 7.68% |
| 2017 | $1.60B | $37.00M | $1.56B | 0.60B | -4.7% | 4.13% |
| 2016 | $1.75B | $33.00M | $1.72B | 0.63B | -5.4% | 5.69% |
| 2015 | $1.18B | $29.00M | $1.15B | 0.67B | -3.9% | 4.23% |
| 2014 | $955.00M | $21.00M | $934.00M | 0.70B | -3.1% | 3.33% |
| 2013 | $540.00M | $18.00M | $522.00M | 0.72B | -5.2% | 4.10% |
| 2012 | $400.00M | $16.00M | $384.00M | 0.76B | -2.3% | 5.31% |
| 2011 | $225.00M | $0.00 | $225.00M | 0.78B | 3.7% | 3.41% |
| 2010 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.75B | 0.8% | — |
| 2009 | $0.00 | $12.00M | −$12.00M | 0.74B | 0.3% | — |
| 2008 | $54.00M | $18.00M | $36.00M | 0.74B | -3.8% | 0.85% |
| 2007 | $1.00B | $80.00M | $921.00M | 0.77B | -6.1% | 11.19% |
| 2006 | $800.00M | $80.00M | $720.00M | 0.82B | 1.4% | 6.69% |
| 2005 | $55.00M | $0.00 | $55.00M | 0.81B | -2.1% | 0.42% |
| 2004 | $246.00M | $0.00 | $246.00M | 0.82B | 1.9% | 1.94% |
| 2003 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.81B | -19.5% | — |
| 2002 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 1.00B | 23.8% | — |
| 2001 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.81B | 2.4% | — |
| 2000 | $108.67M | $0.00 | $108.67M | 0.79B | -1.6% | — |
| 1999 | $90.50M | $0.00 | $90.50M | 0.81B | 1.5% | — |
| 1998 | $100.00M | $0.00 | $100.00M | 0.79B | 3.5% | — |
| 1997 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.77B | -1.7% | — |
| 1996 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.78B | — | — |
| 1995 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1994 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1993 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1992 | $100.00K | $0.00 | $100.00K | — | — | — |
| 1991 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1990 | $25.60M | $0.00 | $25.60M | — | — | — |
| 1989 | $10.00M | $0.00 | $10.00M | — | — | — |
Cash buyback spend (USD) — annual & quarterly history
Trailing-twelve-month and per-period cash repurchases for Southwest Airlines (LUV) from the consolidated cash flow statement (line: common stock repurchased), in USD as filed.
Cash buyback spend over time for Southwest Airlines (LUV)
Per-period cash repurchases
Cash buyback spend annual + quarterly history for Southwest Airlines (LUV)
| Fiscal year | Period ended | Reported | Buyback Spend | YoY | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.55B | +920.0% | +$2.30B | ||
| 2024 | $250.00M | — | +$250.00M | ||
| 2023 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2022 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2021 | $0 | -100.0% | -$451.00M | ||
| 2020 | $451.00M | -77.5% | -$1.55B | ||
| 2019 | $2.00B | 0.0% | $0 | ||
| 2018 | $2.00B | +25.0% | +$400.00M | ||
| 2017 | $1.60B | -8.6% | -$150.00M | ||
| 2016 | $1.75B | +48.3% | +$570.00M | ||
| 2015 | $1.18B | +23.6% | +$225.00M | ||
| 2014 | $955.00M | +76.9% | +$415.00M | ||
| 2013 | $540.00M | +35.0% | +$140.00M | ||
| 2012 | $400.00M | +77.8% | +$175.00M | ||
| 2011 | $225.00M | — | +$225.00M | ||
| 2010 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2009 | $0 | -100.0% | -$54.00M | ||
| 2008 | $54.00M | -94.6% | -$947.00M | ||
| 2007 | $1.00B | +25.1% | +$201.00M | ||
| 2006 | $800.00M | +1354.5% | +$745.00M | ||
| 2005 | $55.00M | -77.6% | -$191.00M | ||
| 2004 | $246.00M | — | +$246.00M | ||
| 2003 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2002 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2001 | $0 | -100.0% | -$108.67M | ||
| 2000 | $108.67M | +20.1% | +$18.17M | ||
| 1999 | $90.50M | -9.5% | -$9.50M | ||
| 1998 | $100.00M | — | +$100.00M | ||
| 1997 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1996 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1995 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1994 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1993 | $0 | -100.0% | -$100,000 | ||
| 1992 | $100,000 | — | +$100,000 | ||
| 1991 | $0 | -100.0% | -$25.60M | ||
| 1990 | $25.60M | +156.0% | +$15.60M | ||
| 1989 | $10.00M | — | — |
2025's annual buyback spend for Southwest Airlines (LUV) came in at $2.55B – surged 920.0% year-over-year.
Across 2020–2025 (5 years), Southwest Airlines buyback spend produced a CAGR of +41.4% – sustaining 2 straight years of year-over-year growth.
The dataset's maximum buyback spend sits at $2.55B (2025); the minimum reading of $0 dates to 1991.
Within Industrials, Southwest Airlines (LUV) ranks 5th among 8 peers we track. The peer median for buyback spend is $2.27B.
Southwest Airlines Buyback Spend 2025: $2.55B
Southwest Airlines buyback spend in 2025 was $2.55B, surged 920.0% from 2024. This figure represents the highest annual value in the available history.
Southwest Airlines Buyback Spend 2024: $250.00M
Southwest Airlines buyback spend in 2024 was $250.00M.
Southwest Airlines Buyback Spend 2023: $0
Southwest Airlines buyback spend in 2023 was $0.
Southwest Airlines Buyback Spend 2022: $0
Southwest Airlines buyback spend in 2022 was $0.
Southwest Airlines Buyback Spend 2021: $0
Southwest Airlines buyback spend in 2021 was $0.
See more financial history for Southwest Airlines (LUV).
Sector peers by buyback spend
Companies in the same sector as Southwest Airlines, ranked by their latest buyback spend.
| Company | Buyback Spend | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| GE Aerospace (GE) | $7.55B | Industrials |
| Caterpillar (CAT) | $5.19B | Industrials |
| Honeywell International (HON) | $3.80B | Industrials |
| Union Pacific (UNP) | $2.68B | Industrials |
| Eaton Corporation (ETN) | $1.86B | Industrials |
| Deere & Company (DE) | $1.14B | Industrials |
| RTX (RTX) | $50.00M | Industrials |
| Boeing (BA) | $0 | Industrials |
Share count history
Diluted weighted-average shares drive the EPS denominator and per-share capital-return maths. A falling diluted share count means buybacks are outpacing dilution from stock-based compensation and option exercises.
Diluted vs basic shares (annual)
Year-over-year change in diluted shares
Green is fewer shares vs the prior fiscal year (net repurchase); red is growth (dilution). The earliest year shown has no prior year to compare.
Dividend & buyback yield over time
Stacked annual yields — buyback yield (TTM cash repurchases ÷ market cap) plus dividend yield from the same fiscal-year-end key-metrics period — show how total cash return per dollar of equity has evolved.
Buybacks vs stock-based compensation
Annual cash repurchases set against stock-based compensation. Coverage above 1× means buybacks fully offset the equity dilution from SBC. TTM coverage: N/A.
Capital allocation mix
How Southwest Airlines splits cash returned to shareholders between dividends and buybacks, plus the headroom on free cash flow that's still available for additional repurchases.
Buybacks vs dividends (share of cash returned)
Buyback capacity (TTM)
Free cash flow minus dividends paid versus actual TTM repurchases — the headroom bar shows how much of post-dividend FCF is still being deployed elsewhere.
Headroom $0.00 (TTM FCF − TTM dividends, clamped at zero).
Data & methodology
Where do buyback, dividend and compensation figures come from?
Cash buyback spend (common stock repurchased), dividends paid and stock-based compensation come from Southwest Airlines's consolidated cash flow statements — quarterly 10-Q and annual 10-K SEC filings, in USD as reported.
How are diluted shares and yields calculated?
Diluted weighted-average share counts come from the income statement (EPS denominator). Trailing twelve-month (TTM) aggregates sum the four most recent reported quarters. Buyback and dividend yields divide TTM cash flows by market capitalisation at the latest quarter-end.
How is buyback capacity defined?
Capacity compares TTM repurchases to free cash flow after dividends: operating cash flow minus capital expenditure, minus dividends paid, versus actual buybacks over the same trailing window.
Is this investment advice?
No. Figures are for informational and educational use only. Past buybacks and dividends do not predict future returns.
Frequently asked questions
Does Southwest Airlines buy back its own stock?
Yes, Southwest Airlines (LUV) has repurchased shares in recent periods. See the history table and charts on this page for amounts and trends.
How much does Southwest Airlines spend on share buybacks?
Trailing twelve months (TTM) buyback spend is about $3.05B (sum of the last four quarterly cash-flow periods in our data). Figures are illustrative; verify in filings.
What is Southwest Airlines's buyback yield?
TTM buyback yield is about 16.30% (TTM buyback spend divided by market cap at the latest quarter-end in our data).
What is Southwest Airlines's shareholder yield?
Shareholder yield combines dividend yield and buyback yield. For the latest period we show approximately 16.30% combined (TTM-based where available).
Is Southwest Airlines diluting shareholders?
Compare stock-based compensation (SBC) to buybacks in the chart above. Net effect varies by year; see annual buyback vs SBC bars and the history table.
How has Southwest Airlines's share count changed?
Diluted weighted average shares changed by about -1.2% over roughly five fiscal years (annual income statement data).
What is Southwest Airlines's buyback spend?
Latest reported buyback spend for Southwest Airlines (LUV) is $3.05B (period ending March 31, 2026).
How has Southwest Airlines buyback spend changed year-over-year?
Southwest Airlines (LUV) buyback spend changed +920.0% year-over-year on the latest annual filing.
What is the long-term growth rate of Southwest Airlines buyback spend?
Southwest Airlines (LUV) buyback spend compound annual growth rate is +41.4% over the most recent 5 years available.
When did Southwest Airlines buyback spend hit its highest annual value?
Southwest Airlines buyback spend reached its highest annual value of $2.55B in 2025.
What was Southwest Airlines buyback spend in 2024?
Southwest Airlines (LUV) buyback spend in 2024 was $250.00M.
What was Southwest Airlines buyback spend in 2025?
Southwest Airlines (LUV) buyback spend in 2025 was $2.55B.
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