AerCap (NYSE:AER) Hits New 1-Year High – Should You Buy?

AerCap Holdings (NYSE:AER) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $114.42 and last traded at $113.61, with a volume of 175545 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $113.81.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on AER shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of AerCap from $112.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Susquehanna increased their target price on shares of AerCap from $120.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of AerCap from $101.00 to $111.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. UBS Group downgraded shares of AerCap to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their target price on AerCap from $105.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, AerCap presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $119.25.

AerCap Stock Down 0.5%

The firm has a 50 day moving average of $101.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of $98.83. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.15 billion, a PE ratio of 8.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.41.

AerCap (NYSE:AER) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported $3.68 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.69 by $0.99. AerCap had a net margin of 32.38% and a return on equity of 13.98%. The business had revenue of $2.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.01 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.29 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that AerCap Holdings will post 11.29 earnings per share for the current year.

AerCap Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 5th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 14th will be given a $0.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 14th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.95%. AerCap’s dividend payout ratio is presently 9.58%.

AerCap declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback program on Wednesday, February 26th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to purchase up to 4.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AerCap

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in AerCap during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp acquired a new stake in shares of AerCap during the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Mather Group LLC. increased its position in AerCap by 230.1% during the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 307 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 214 shares in the last quarter. Pinpoint Asset Management Ltd acquired a new position in AerCap in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Quarry LP purchased a new position in AerCap in the 1st quarter valued at about $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.42% of the company’s stock.

AerCap Company Profile

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.