Southwest Airlines - Strong Buy of the Month Review

Since recommending Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) back on Sept 16, the stock has enjoyed a 13% 30-day rise despite the overall bearish market conditions and continued rising fuel costs. The airline industry (AMEX:^XAL) rose only 4.5%, in comparison, during the same time period.

The solid showing was fueled by several positive catalysts:

• 3 separate upgrades from Fulcrum, JP Morgan & Citigroup
• Interruptions from Hurricane Rita were much less than expected
• Flights are starting to recover at New Orleans airport
• September traffic increased 19%

With Southwest's increasingly aggressive pricing, rising growth opportunities, and superior survival prospects, the stock should continue to shine.