Is LUV or XYL cheaper?

On trailing earnings, XYL is cheaper: LUV trades at a 32.86 P/E and XYL at 27.87.

Which has grown faster, LUV or XYL?

Over the past five years, LUV grew revenue faster — LUV at a 33.29% CAGR versus XYL at 12.66%.

Does LUV or XYL pay a bigger dividend?

LUV yields 1.41% and XYL yields 1.48% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is LUV or XYL more profitable?

XYL runs the higher net margin — LUV at 2.83% versus XYL at 10.70%.

Which has been the better investment, LUV or XYL?

Over the past 10-year, XYL delivered the higher annualized total return — LUV at 4.16% versus XYL at 11.11%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) vs Xylem Inc. (XYL)

XYL leads on 11 of 16 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Southwest Airlines Co. and Xylem Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 25, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

LUV

Southwest Airlines Co.

Total return — LUV vs XYL

growth of $100 · last 15y

LUV +511.5%XYL +362.0%LUV compounded faster

LUV XYL

LUV vs XYL: by the numbers

•XYL is the larger company ($26.63B vs $24.90B market cap).
•XYL trades at the lower earnings multiple (27.87 vs 32.86 P/E).
•XYL converts more revenue to profit (10.70% vs 2.83% net margin).
•LUV grew revenue faster over the past five years (33.29% vs 12.66% CAGR).
•XYL pays the higher dividend yield (1.48% vs 1.41%).

Which is better, LUV or XYL?

Metric tally: LUV 5 · XYL 11

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueXYL(lower P/E)

GrowthLUV(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeXYL(higher dividend yield)

QualityXYL(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	LUV	XYL
P/E ratio	32.86	27.87●
Forward P/E	11.19●	20.25
P/S ratio	0.89●	3.00
P/B ratio	3.73	2.49●
PEG ratio	40.83	4.89●
EV / EBITDA	10.70●	15.83
FCF yield	—	3.54%

Profitability

Metric	LUV	XYL
Gross margin	16.46%	38.61%●
Operating margin	3.40%	13.60%●
Net margin	2.83%	10.70%●
ROE	11.88%●	8.87%
ROIC	1.79%	6.37%●

Dividends

Metric	LUV	XYL
Dividend yield	1.41%	1.48%●
Payout ratio	87.80%	42.24%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	LUV	XYL
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	33.29%●	12.66%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	-24.07%	22.76%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	-15.91%	8.96%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	0.21%	0.36%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, LUV or XYL?: It depends on your goal. value: XYL (lower P/E); growth: LUV (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: XYL (higher dividend yield); quality: XYL (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, XYL leads 11 to 5.
Is LUV or XYL cheaper?: On trailing earnings, XYL is cheaper: LUV trades at a 32.86 P/E and XYL at 27.87.
Which has grown faster, LUV or XYL?: Over the past five years, LUV grew revenue faster — LUV at a 33.29% CAGR versus XYL at 12.66%.
Does LUV or XYL pay a bigger dividend?: LUV yields 1.41% and XYL yields 1.48% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is LUV or XYL more profitable?: XYL runs the higher net margin — LUV at 2.83% versus XYL at 10.70%.
Which has been the better investment, LUV or XYL?: Over the past 10-year, XYL delivered the higher annualized total return — LUV at 4.16% versus XYL at 11.11%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full LUV analysis Full XYL analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Southwest Airlines P/E ratio Xylem P/E ratio Southwest Airlines dividend yield Xylem dividend yield Southwest Airlines ROE Xylem ROE Southwest Airlines operating margin Xylem operating margin Southwest Airlines revenue growth Xylem revenue growth Southwest Airlines free cash flow Xylem free cash flow

Southwest Airlines & Xylem appear in these rankings

Fastest Revenue Growth Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 25, 2026.