AerCap Holdings (NYSE:AER) Short Interest Update

AerCap Holdings (NYSE:AER) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,190,000 shares, a decrease of 15.8% from the January 31st total of 2,600,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,110,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days.

AerCap Stock Up 3.9 %

AerCap stock traded up $3.85 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $102.33. 1,274,966 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,316,404. AerCap has a one year low of $79.51 and a one year high of $107.36. The company has a market cap of $19.11 billion, a PE ratio of 8.10, a PEG ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.81. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $97.55 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $96.19. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.89.

AerCap (NYSE:AER) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The financial services provider reported $3.31 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.56 by $0.75. The business had revenue of $2.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.97 billion. AerCap had a return on equity of 13.98% and a net margin of 32.38%. On average, research analysts forecast that AerCap will post 11.29 EPS for the current year.

AerCap Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.06%. This is a positive change from AerCap’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 12th. AerCap’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.99%.

AerCap declared that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Wednesday, February 26th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to reacquire up to 4.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on AER. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $119.00 price objective on shares of AerCap in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Susquehanna increased their target price on AerCap from $108.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $115.00 target price (up from $113.00) on shares of AerCap in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $116.17.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of AerCap in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp purchased a new stake in shares of AerCap during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Pinpoint Asset Management Ltd bought a new stake in shares of AerCap during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new position in AerCap in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC bought a new position in AerCap in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.42% of the company’s stock.

About AerCap

AerCap Holdings N.V. engages in the lease, financing, sale, and management of commercial flight equipment in China, Hong Kong, Macau, the United States, Ireland, and internationally. The company offers aircraft asset management services, such as remarketing aircraft and engines; collecting rental and maintenance rent payments, monitoring aircraft maintenance, monitoring and enforcing contract compliance, and accepting delivery and redelivery of aircraft and engines; and conducting ongoing lessee financial performance reviews.