Willis Lease Finance (NASDAQ:WLFC) Sets New 12-Month High – Should You Buy?

Willis Lease Finance Co. (NASDAQ:WLFC)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $214.90 and last traded at $208.98, with a volume of 12674 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $202.95.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com cut shares of Willis Lease Finance from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 21st.

Willis Lease Finance Trading Up 3.2 %

The firm has a 50-day moving average of $128.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of $87.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.77 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.80, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.95.

Willis Lease Finance (NASDAQ:WLFC) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The transportation company reported $6.21 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $151.12 million for the quarter. Willis Lease Finance had a net margin of 18.16% and a return on equity of 19.51%.

Willis Lease Finance Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 12th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.48%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 12th. Willis Lease Finance’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 7.77%.

Insider Activity

In related news, President Brian Richard Hole sold 1,314 shares of Willis Lease Finance stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.84, for a total transaction of $139,073.76. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 99,587 shares in the company, valued at $10,540,288.08. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Willis Lease Finance news, Chairman Charles F. Iv Willis sold 6,483 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.48, for a total transaction of $716,241.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 942,050 shares in the company, valued at approximately $104,077,684. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, President Brian Richard Hole sold 1,314 shares of Willis Lease Finance stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.84, for a total transaction of $139,073.76. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 99,587 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $10,540,288.08. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 38,903 shares of company stock valued at $4,123,692 over the last quarter. 57.02% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Willis Lease Finance

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WLFC. ProShare Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Willis Lease Finance during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Willis Lease Finance during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $44,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Willis Lease Finance during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $69,000. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Willis Lease Finance in the 1st quarter worth approximately $114,000. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Willis Lease Finance in the third quarter valued at approximately $146,000. Institutional investors own 93.70% of the company’s stock.

Willis Lease Finance Company Profile

Willis Lease Finance Corporation operates as a lessor and servicer of commercial aircraft and aircraft engines worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Leasing and Related Operations, and Spare Parts Sales. The Leasing and Related Operations segment engages in acquiring and leasing commercial aircraft, aircraft engines, and other aircraft equipment, as well as the purchase and resale of commercial aircraft engines and other aircraft equipment, and other related businesses.