Ryanair CEO O'Leary Responds to Musk's Comments as Stock Rises 62% Over the Year
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 20 2026
0mins
Should l Buy RYAAY?
Source: stocktwits
- Escalating Online Feud: Ryanair labeled Musk's comments as 'Twitshit' and announced that CEO O'Leary will address these remarks in a press conference on January 21, highlighting the ongoing conflict that could impact public perception.
- Strong Stock Performance: Ryanair's U.S.-listed stock has risen 62% over the past year, indicating robust financial performance despite controversies and reflecting market confidence in its business model.
- Musk's Polling Influence: Musk conducted a poll asking if he should buy Ryanair, with nearly 78% of respondents in favor, showcasing his influence and the public's interest in Ryanair's future direction.
- CEO Bonus Incentives: O'Leary received a significant bonus for achieving specific performance metrics, which not only enhances his personal stake but may also motivate him to drive further growth and innovation within the company.
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Analyst Views on RYAAY
Wall Street analysts forecast RYAAY stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for RYAAY is USD with a low forecast of USD and a high forecast of USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
0 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Current: 67.550
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Current: 67.550
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About RYAAY
Ryanair Holdings PLC is the leading airline group by passenger numbers in Europe. The company employs a low-cost no-frills model to offer low fares to leisure customers on short-haul intra-European routes. In 2020, the most recent pre-pandemic fiscal year, the company carried 149 million passengers, utilizing a fleet of 467 Boeing 737 aircraft across its 1,800 routes. To keep costs low the company serves predominantly lower-cost secondary airports. The company generated sales of EUR 8.5 billion in fiscal 2020.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Technology Expansion: This partnership positions MasOrange as the first European telco to offer direct-to-device satellite connectivity after Ukraine's Kyivstar, further advancing Starlink's technology deployment in the region.
- Market Potential: Starlink's direct-to-cell technology is expected to enhance internet connectivity for users in remote areas, addressing the growing demand for high-quality internet services and presenting significant market expansion opportunities.
- Future Outlook: As Starlink expands in the EU, it is anticipated to attract more telecom companies, promoting the proliferation of satellite internet services and enhancing overall industry competitiveness.
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- User Base: The service is currently utilized by over 7 million passengers, and it is free for MileagePlus members, which not only boosts customer loyalty but also has the potential to attract new users, enhancing the airline's competitive position in the market.
- Industry Dynamics: Despite Ryanair CEO O'Leary's concerns about fuel drag penalties associated with Starlink, he anticipates that all airlines will eventually offer free in-flight Wi-Fi, indicating a gradual acceptance of this technology across the industry and its future ubiquity.
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- Future Wi-Fi Trends: Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary predicts that most airlines will offer free Wi-Fi on short-haul flights in the future, although current implementation is hindered by technological limitations and fuel cost considerations.
- Exploring Tech Partnerships: Ryanair is in talks with SpaceX-backed Starlink, Amazon's Leo, and Vodafone Group for Wi-Fi services, but O'Leary believes only 5-10% of passengers would pay for it, indicating limited market demand.
- Poor Financial Performance: In its latest earnings report, Ryanair reported an EPS of 7 cents, significantly below the expected 18 cents and down from 30 cents a year ago, highlighting the company's profitability challenges.
- Antitrust Fine Impact: Ryanair has also paid a $351 million antitrust fine, which is still under appeal, further straining the company's finances and impacting its future investment capabilities.
See More
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- Sales Performance Beats Expectations: Ryanair's Q3 sales reached $3.74 billion, slightly exceeding market expectations, with passenger traffic increasing by 6% to 47.5 million, indicating strong market demand despite overall profitability pressures.
- Impact of Italian Antitrust Fine: The company's earnings per share fell to 7 cents, significantly below the expected 18 cents, primarily due to a £256 million ($351 million) antitrust fine in Italy, which is still under appeal and affecting financial performance.
- Market Sentiment Volatility: Rumors linked to Elon Musk have impacted Ryanair's stock price; despite strong fundamentals, the market's expectations for the company have become more uncertain due to discussions on social media, leading to divergent investor valuations.
- Upgraded Future Outlook: Despite regulatory challenges, management has raised its 2026 outlook, reflecting confidence in future growth; however, the ongoing tension between narrative-driven demand and fundamental performance continues to persist in the market.
See More
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- Passenger Volume Increase: The airline's passenger traffic grew by 6% to 47.5 million in Q3, driven by robust demand during the October school holidays and Christmas/New Year bookings, with average fares rising by 4% further boosting revenue.
- Future Outlook: Ryanair anticipates a 4% increase in passenger traffic for FY26, reaching nearly 208 million, primarily supported by strong market demand and earlier-than-expected Boeing deliveries, while full-year fare growth is expected to exceed the previous guidance of 7%.
- Profit Projections: The company projects pre-exceptional profit after tax for FY26 to be between €2.13 billion and €2.23 billion, reflecting a solid profitability outlook in a continuously growing market environment.
See More
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- Significant Revenue Growth: The airline achieved total revenue of $3.74 billion during the period, reflecting a recovery in air travel demand and an increase in market share, further solidifying its position in the industry.
- Market Expectations Surpassed: Ryanair's financial results exceeded the average estimates of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research, demonstrating the company's strong operational capabilities and profit potential in a competitive airline market.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: With the ongoing growth in air travel demand, Ryanair's financial performance provides a solid foundation for future expansion and investment, potentially attracting more investor interest in its stock.
See More
