Stocks pairs trading: DAL vs BEN

Let's analyze the trade potential of Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) by examining key financial metrics and market performance to determine reasons for potentially going long on DAL and short on BEN.

Forward P/E Ratio: DAL's forward P/E of 6.86 is lower than BEN’s forward P/E of 8.61, suggesting that DAL is priced more attractively relative to future earnings expectations. This lower valuation might make DAL a more appealing investment, indicating market optimism about its earnings growth potential.

Year-to-Date Performance: DAL has seen a substantial gain of 29.66% year-to-date, while BEN has faced a significant decline of 19.55%. DAL's strong performance amidst broader market conditions indicates a resilient position, whereas BEN's sharp decline suggests ongoing challenges.

Market Performance Trends: DAL has experienced a robust quarterly performance with a 27.97% gain, while BEN’s performance trends are negative across multiple periods, with a particularly notable 11.44% drop over the past quarter, indicating a potential for further decline.

Analyst Recommendations: DAL has a more favorable recommendation score of 1.27 compared to BEN’s 3.79, indicating stronger analyst confidence in DAL’s market position and future performance.

Decision:

Long on 1 DAL: This position is supported by DAL’s lower forward valuation, impressive near-term earnings growth forecast, and stronger market performance indicators.

Short on 2 BEN: Given its higher forward P/E ratio, weaker growth prospects in EPS, and significant reduction in market performance, coupled with relatively poor market performance indicators, shorting BEN could be advantageous if these trends continue.