American Airlines Drops on Jobs Update

American Airlines said it will reduce management and support staff by 30%

The shares of American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) are down 4.5% at $11.98 this morning, after the airline announced to employees on Wednesday it will downsize management and support staff by 30%, and then will cut front-line workers due to the coronavirus outbreak. This news is in line with the carrier's plan to operate a smaller business for the foreseeable future, once U.S government aid that bans involuntary job cuts expires in late September. While the company also shared its revenue is down by 90%, demand seems to be improving as states begin to reopen and net receipts land on positive territory.

On the charts however, AAL is struggling to climb out of its mid-May low near the $8.25 level, only this past week breaking through resistance at the 40-day moving average. Overhead pressure is also prevalent at the $12 ceiling, a sure contributor to the stock's now 58% year-to-date deficit.

Meanwhile, puts have been overwhelmingly popular in the options pits. In the last 10 days, 1.18 puts were bought for every call at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX). This ratio sits higher than 96% of readings from the past year, meaning puts are being picked up at a faster-than-usual clip.

Despite the airline's best efforts to bounce back, analysts are still skeptical. Coming into today, only two of the 12 in coverage considered AAL a "strong buy," compared to four calling it a "hold," and the remaining six sporting a "sell" or worse recommendation.