Originally Posted by Casimir
Indufan, as others have stated, just about the final thing that will happen in the chapter 11 is that all of the present stock in the company will be cancelled, and new stock will be issued. That new stock will go to creditors as partial repayment of what they are owed.
The rule in bankruptcy is that until all creditors of a corporation receive 100 cents per dollar on the debt of a bankrupt corporation, shareholders receive nothing. (It is slightly more complicated, but that's the deal here). Thus, when a corporation is insolvent, as Delta manifestly is, then it's present shareholders will receive nothing and its creditors will receive the stock in the reorganized corporation.
Thus, unless they clear enough money before they emerge from bankruptcy to pay off all their creditors in full, the current stockholders will not receive a penny. Even if they could pay off all creditors in full, it is only then that shareholders would begin to receive something, and they would share pro rata in that money.
I hope this helps.
I understand all of that...but if they make ENOUGH money, then the stock would have value. I agree its unlikely but we know how the airline industry works...either they lose tons of money or make tons of money and you never know when the door will turn the other way. Hopefully, sooner than later. Generally, I am an economic pessimist.