Southwest Airlines anounced that 4th quarter profits rose 54%. The stock for Southwest should be doing good with these high earnings. It looks like the airline industry is picking up, their over 9/11 and other disastors.


"Net income rose to $86 million, or 10 cents per share, for the three months ended Dec. 31 from $56 million, or 7 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of 2004. Excluding one time items, net income was $98 million, or 12 cents per share.
The air carrier said results were hurt by $24 million in added 2005 federal airport security expenses due to a retroactive assessment by the Transportation Security Administration, which were unexpected, and which the company said it intends to contest.
Revenue increased 20 percent to $1.99 billion from $1.66 billion, a year earlier."