ROC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROIC %. Delta Air Lines's annualized return on capital (ROC %) for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 2.26%.
As of today (2026-06-24), Delta Air Lines's WACC % is 11.79%. Delta Air Lines's ROC % is 5.27% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
Delta Air Lines earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital. It will destroy value as it grows.
Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) ROC % Explanation
ROC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROIC %. The reason book values of debt and equity are used is because the book values are the capital the company received when issuing the debt or receiving the equity investments.
There are four key components to this definition. The first is the use of operating income or EBIT rather than net income in the numerator. The second is the tax adjustment to this operating income or EBIT, computed as a hypothetical tax based on an effective or marginal tax rate. The third is the use of book values for invested capital, rather than market values. The final is the timing difference; the capital invested is from the end of the prior year whereas the operating income or EBIT is the current year's number.
Why is ROC % important?
Because it costs money to raise capital. A firm that generates higher returns on investment than it costs the company to raise the capital needed for that investment is earning excess returns. A firm that expects to continue generating positive excess returns on new investments in the future will see its value increase as growth increases, whereas a firm that earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital will destroy value as it grows.
As of today, Delta Air Lines's WACC % is 11.79%. Delta Air Lines's ROC % is 5.27% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
Delta Air Lines earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital. It will destroy value as it grows.
Be Aware
Like ROE % and ROA %, ROC % is calculated with only 12 months of data. Fluctuations in the company's earnings or business cycles can affect the ratio drastically. It is important to look at the ratio from a long term perspective.
Delta Air Lines ROC % Related Terms
Delta Air Lines ROC % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Delta Air Lines's ROC % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Note:
The Operating Income data used here is four times the quarterly (Mar. 2026) data.
The tax rate is limited to between 0% and 100%.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Delta Air Lines (DAL) has a ROC % of 2.26% as of Mar. 2026. Return on capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period capital. View historical data on Delta Air Lines and its competitors.
Is Delta Air Lines' ROC % too high?
Delta Air Lines' current ROC % is 2.26%. The Transportation industry median ROC % is 4.69. Delta Air Lines' value of 2.26% is 51.8% below this industry median. Overall, Delta Air Lines has a GF Score™ of 79/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Delta Air Lines' ROC % compare to UAL and LUV?
Delta Air Lines' ROC % of 2.26% can be compared against companies in the Transportation industry. The industry median ROC % is 4.69. Delta Air Lines' value of 2.26% is 51.8% below this benchmark. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good ROC % for a Transportation company?
The median ROC % among Transportation companies is 4.69, based on 994 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a ROC % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, ROC % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Delta Air Lines's current ROC % of 2.26% is 51.8% below the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high ROC % mean?
A high ROC % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Return on capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period capital. View historical data on Delta Air Lines and its competitors. For the Transportation industry, the median ROC % is 4.69 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Delta Air Lines's current ROC % is 2.26%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Delta Air Lines stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Delta Air Lines (DAL) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $54.11, compared to a current price of $90.65 — trading 67.5% above its estimated fair value. The current ROC % is 2.26% and 51.8% below the Transportation industry median of 4.69. Delta Air Lines' overall GF Score™ is 79/100 with 10 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is ROC % calculated?
ROC % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Delta Air Lines (DAL), the current ROC % is 2.26% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Delta Air Lines (DAL) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Delta Air Lines stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $90.65 is trading 67.5% above its estimated GF Value™ of $54.11.
GuruFocus considers Delta Air Lines to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for DAL:
ROC %: 2.26%
GF Value™: $54.11 vs. price of $90.65 (67.5% above fair value)
Industry Position: 51.8% below the Transportation median
No single metric tells the full story. See the DAL stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is one of the world's largest airlines, with a network of over 300 destinations in more than 50 countries. Delta operates a hub-and-spoke network, where it gathers and distributes passengers across the globe through its biggest hubs in Atlanta, New York, Salt Lake City, Detroit, Seattle, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Delta has historically earned most of its international revenue and profits from flying passengers over the Atlantic Ocean.
79GF Score
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