Ameriprise Financial Boosts Stake in Southwest Airlines

Investment firm increases holdings in airline by 43.7% in Q3 2026

Mar. 17, 2026 at 7:08am

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Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its stake in Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) by 43.7% in the third quarter of 2026, according to a recent SEC filing. The investment firm now owns 12,335,167 shares of the airline's stock, representing about 2.39% of Southwest's outstanding shares.

Why it matters

This significant increase in Ameriprise's Southwest Airlines holdings suggests the investment firm sees long-term value in the airline's stock, even as the industry faces headwinds like rising fuel costs and economic uncertainty. Southwest's network changes and customer loyalty program updates have also drawn some scrutiny, making Ameriprise's vote of confidence noteworthy.

The details

Ameriprise Financial added 3,753,183 shares of Southwest Airlines to its portfolio during the third quarter, bringing its total stake to 12,335,167 shares. This represents about 2.39% of Southwest's outstanding shares. The investment firm cited Southwest's growth potential and resilience in a challenging industry environment as reasons for the increased investment.

  • Ameriprise Financial filed its Q3 2026 13F report with the SEC on March 17, 2026, disclosing the increased Southwest Airlines stake.

The players

Ameriprise Financial Inc.

A diversified financial services firm that provides wealth management, asset management, insurance, and annuity products to individual and institutional clients.

Southwest Airlines Co.

A major U.S. low-cost airline that operates a point-to-point domestic and near-international route network, primarily using Boeing 737 aircraft.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to monitor Southwest's network changes and customer sentiment, but Ameriprise's increased stake suggests they see long-term value in the airline's business model and growth prospects.”

— Analyst (MarketBeat)

What’s next

Investors will be watching to see if Ameriprise continues to increase its Southwest Airlines holdings in future quarters, which could signal growing confidence in the airline's outlook.

The takeaway

Ameriprise Financial's substantial increase in its Southwest Airlines stake underscores the investment firm's belief in the airline's long-term potential, even as the industry faces near-term headwinds. This vote of confidence from a major institutional investor could help offset some of the recent negative sentiment around Southwest's network and loyalty program changes.