Alaska continues to face challenges getting investors to acknowledge its solid financial performance

Alaska Air Group during the last few years has consistently outperformed its US carrier peers in a financial metric - return on invested capital (ROIC) - that is prevalent in discourse in other industries but has only surfaced in discussion among airline executives during the last few years. Since 2010 the carrier has exceeded its ROIC targets on an after tax basis and has posted annual profits for the last nine years. Despite its consistent profitability, Alaska's robust financial performance is often overlooked by the investment community, leaving executives scratching their heads as to why the company's consistent financial results are not more recognisable.

Even as Alaska delivers consistent profitability, questions often arise over the company's growth prospects at its two subsidiaries - Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air (which now operates under the Alaska banner). The carrier holds an advantageous position as the leading airline in Seattle, where it can feed into long-haul flights operated by its partner Delta Air Lines. It also has a strong relationship with American Airlines, but it is not certain how that partnership will evolve once American and US Airways close on their merger and complete a roughly 18 month-long integration process. Alaska does have the opportunity to flesh out its domestic network, and remains bullish that it will still deliver sound financial results with planned annual capacity growth of 4% to 8% during the next few years.