American Century Companies Boosts Southwest Airlines Holdings

Investment firm increases stake in major U.S. airline by 0.6% in third quarter

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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American Century Companies Inc., a major investment management firm, increased its holdings in Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) by 0.6% during the third quarter of 2026, according to a recent SEC filing. The firm now owns approximately 4.43 million shares of the airline, representing about 0.86% of Southwest's outstanding stock.

Why it matters

Southwest Airlines is one of the largest and most prominent U.S. airlines, so changes in major institutional investors' holdings can signal broader market sentiment and expectations for the company's future performance.

The details

American Century Companies added 26,608 shares of Southwest Airlines to its portfolio during Q3 2026, bringing its total stake to over 4.42 million shares. The investment firm is now one of Southwest's top institutional shareholders, owning about 0.86% of the airline's outstanding stock. This purchase comes as Wall Street analysts have issued a mix of ratings and price targets for Southwest, with some seeing upside potential and others remaining cautious.

  • American Century Companies filed its Q3 2026 SEC disclosure on March 2, 2026.

The players

American Century Companies Inc.

A major U.S. investment management firm that oversees over $200 billion in assets.

Southwest Airlines Co.

A major U.S. low-cost airline headquartered in Dallas, Texas that operates a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft.

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The takeaway

American Century's increased stake in Southwest Airlines suggests the investment firm sees potential upside in the airline's stock, even as Wall Street analysts remain divided on the company's near-term outlook. This move highlights the continued interest from major institutional investors in the U.S. airline industry as it navigates the post-pandemic recovery.