Willis Lease Finance (NASDAQ:WLFC) Stock Price Up 5.3% – Still a Buy?

Willis Lease Finance Co. (NASDAQ:WLFC)’s stock price rose 5.3% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $207.12 and last traded at $207.00. Approximately 6,345 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 73% from the average daily volume of 23,117 shares. The stock had previously closed at $196.51.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com cut Willis Lease Finance from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th.

Willis Lease Finance Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.84, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 1.16. The stock has a market cap of $1.35 billion, a PE ratio of 14.53 and a beta of 1.09. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $199.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $131.61.

Willis Lease Finance Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 21st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 12th were issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 12th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.49%. Willis Lease Finance’s dividend payout ratio is 7.09%.

Insider Activity

In other news, President Brian Richard Hole sold 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $203.31, for a total value of $4,066,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 81,164 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,501,452.84. The trade was a 19.77 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Rae Ann Mckeating sold 500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.32, for a total transaction of $97,160.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 16,500 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,206,280. This trade represents a 2.94 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 25,500 shares of company stock worth $5,164,310 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 57.02% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Willis Lease Finance

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. ProShare Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Lease Finance in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Willis Lease Finance in the 2nd quarter valued at $44,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Willis Lease Finance during the 2nd quarter worth about $69,000. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Willis Lease Finance during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $146,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. acquired a new position in Willis Lease Finance in the third quarter valued at approximately $283,000. 93.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Willis Lease Finance

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.