Bosun Asset Management LLC Cuts Holdings in Willis Lease Finance Corporation $WLFC

Key Points

• Bosun Asset Management LLC has reduced its stake in Willis Lease Finance Corporation by 28.0%, now holding 5,835 shares valued at approximately $922,000.
• Institutional ownership is significant, with institutions owning 93.70% of the company's stock and multiple large investors adjusting their stakes in recent quarters.
• Willis Lease Finance recently reported a strong quarterly earnings result, with an EPS of $8.43, surpassing analyst expectations and illustrating a net margin of 18.77%.

Bosun Asset Management LLC decreased its position in Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:WLFC - Free Report) by 28.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 5,835 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 2,269 shares during the period. Bosun Asset Management LLC owned about 0.08% of Willis Lease Finance worth $922,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its position in Willis Lease Finance by 16.9% during the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 643 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $133,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company bought a new stake in Willis Lease Finance in the fourth quarter valued at $216,000. Invesco Ltd. increased its position in Willis Lease Finance by 48.7% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,949 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $308,000 after purchasing an additional 638 shares during the period. Alps Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Lease Finance in the 1st quarter worth about $311,000. Finally, Janus Henderson Group PLC bought a new stake in shares of Willis Lease Finance during the 4th quarter valued at about $312,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.70% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Willis Lease Finance news, President Brian Richard Hole sold 9,142 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.13, for a total transaction of $1,372,488.46. Following the completion of the sale, the president directly owned 89,640 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,457,653.20. This trade represents a 9.25% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Charles F. Iv Willis sold 30,000 shares of Willis Lease Finance stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.02, for a total transaction of $4,650,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman directly owned 957,046 shares of the company's stock, valued at $148,361,270.92. This trade represents a 3.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 58,003 shares of company stock worth $8,753,643 over the last three months. 53.85% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Willis Lease Finance Stock Down 1.4%

Shares of NASDAQ WLFC traded down $2.12 on Tuesday, reaching $147.49. 25,958 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 74,410. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $145.43 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $149.90. Willis Lease Finance Corporation has a 12 month low of $102.80 and a 12 month high of $235.43. The company has a market cap of $1.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.76 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a quick ratio of 5.55, a current ratio of 5.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.53.

Willis Lease Finance (NASDAQ:WLFC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The transportation company reported $8.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.57 by $5.86. Willis Lease Finance had a return on equity of 21.75% and a net margin of 18.77%.The company had revenue of $195.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $134.00 million.

Willis Lease Finance Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 21st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 12th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 12th. Willis Lease Finance's dividend payout ratio is currently 5.95%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Willis Lease Finance from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd.

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.