FORT WORTH, Texas, September 2, 2026, 07:59 CDT — U.S. shares saw gains during premarket trade.
- At 07:58:45 EDT, American Airlines traded at $13.06, marking a 0.8% gain compared to Tuesday’s closing price.
- The stock slipped 3.57% on Tuesday while U.S. crude closed above $90 a barrel.
- American calculates that every one-cent rise in jet fuel costs boosts yearly expenses by approximately $50 million.
- Fuel expenses climbed by $2.2 billion in the second quarter, with fare revenue covering nearly half of that rise.
Shares in American Airlines Group Inc. NASDAQ:AAL rose 0.8% in premarket trading on Wednesday, partially trimming Tuesday’s 3.57% loss. The stock was at $13.06 at 07:58:45 EDT in delayed trading Yahoo Finance.
The minor increase is significant due to American’s notably high exposure to fuel price changes. According to its annual report, every one-cent increase per gallon results in approximately $50 million added to the airline’s annual fuel costs SEC filing.
Oil prices gave little reprieve on Wednesday. U.S. crude was trading at $89.68 as of 07:43 EDT, roughly 0.6% lower than Tuesday’s close. Jet fuel prices do not track crude directly.
AAL regains part of Tuesday’s drop
Premarket price, U.S. dollars; delayed readings
Source: Yahoo Finance delayed trade data. As of .
Oil prices led Tuesday’s broader risk-off sentiment. Brent gained 4.6%, and U.S. crude settled above $90 per barrel. Fresh U.S. strikes targeting Iran heightened supply concerns Associated Press.
American saw 63.1 million shares traded on Tuesday. The closing price of $12.95 brought its market capitalization down to approximately $8.57 billion. Trading volume was about 59% of its average daily volume over the past three months.
Airline stocks declined. Delta Air Lines Inc. NYSE:DAL slipped 2.1%. United Airlines Holdings Inc. NASDAQ:UAL shed 3.1%, while JetBlue Airways Corp. NASDAQ:JBLU lost 2.8% Yahoo Finance market data.
The fuel lever is large beside AAL’s equity value
Mechanical annual expense sensitivity; before fares, capacity, tax or hedging effects
As a result, a 30-cent shift suggests an annual cost of $1.5 billion. This represents 17.5% of the company’s market value on Tuesday. The calculation serves as a measure of sensitivity, not as a projection of earnings.
Pressures are evident in published results. American’s cost per gallon reached $4.05 in the second quarter, a 77.1% climb compared with the previous year. Fuel costs rose by $2.2 billion, an increase of 83.3% second-quarter filing.
Revenue reached a record $16.7 billion, counterbalancing nearly half of the fuel expense rise. However, GAAP net income amounted to just $71 million. “Revenue growth was strong across all entities,” Chief Executive Robert Isom said company results.
Revenue strength meets a thin profit cushion
American Airlines, second quarter and current guidance
American estimates third-quarter fuel at about $3.75 per gallon. It projects an adjusted loss ranging from $0.70 to $0.10 per share. Guidance for the full year ranges from a loss of 65 cents to a profit of 65 cents per share.
Risks are present on both sides. An end to hostilities may drive oil prices down, giving airline profits a swift boost. Continued conflict could expand refining margins, but softer demand might restrict the ability to raise ticket prices.
The next test comes with the 09:30 EDT cash open. Investors are looking to see if oil stays under $90 and if American maintains its gains from premarket. Fuel continues to be the most volatile component affecting earnings.
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