Informed Momentum Co LLC Cuts Stock Position in Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:WLFC)

Key Points

• Informed Momentum Co LLC has reduced its stake in Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:WLFC) by 49.8% during the first quarter, holding now 1,980 shares worth approximately $313,000.
• Willis Lease Finance reported a significant earnings surprise for the last quarter, with an EPS of $8.43, exceeding estimates by $5.86, and a revenue of $195.50 million.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, reflecting an annualized dividend yield of 0.6%, with a payout ratio of 5.95%.

Informed Momentum Co LLC lessened its holdings in Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:WLFC - Free Report) by 49.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,980 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 1,964 shares during the period. Informed Momentum Co LLC's holdings in Willis Lease Finance were worth $313,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Willis Lease Finance by 27.4% in the 4th quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 298 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $62,000 after buying an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its stake in Willis Lease Finance by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 1,622 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $337,000 after buying an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Willis Lease Finance by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 5,783 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,200,000 after buying an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Willis Lease Finance by 16.9% in the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 643 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $133,000 after buying an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Palisades Investment Partners LLC increased its stake in Willis Lease Finance by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Palisades Investment Partners LLC now owns 21,224 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $3,353,000 after buying an additional 296 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.70% of the company's stock.

Willis Lease Finance Stock Up 5.7%

WLFC opened at $169.32 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $142.91 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $155.81. Willis Lease Finance Corporation has a 52 week low of $92.03 and a 52 week high of $235.43. The company has a market capitalization of $1.15 billion, a PE ratio of 10.07 and a beta of 1.13. 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 released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 5th. The transportation company reported $8.43 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.57 by $5.86. Willis Lease Finance had a net margin of 18.77% and a return on equity of 21.75%. The business had revenue of $195.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $134.00 million.

Willis Lease Finance Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 21st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 12th. Willis Lease Finance's dividend payout ratio is 5.95%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Willis Lease Finance

In other Willis Lease Finance news, CEO Austin Chandler Willis sold 3,450 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $140.01, for a total transaction of $483,034.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 196,181 shares of the company's stock, valued at $27,467,301.81. This represents a 1.73% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Chairman Charles F. Iv Willis sold 11,250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.95, for a total transaction of $1,529,437.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman directly owned 987,046 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $134,188,903.70. The trade was a 1.13% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 51,053 shares of company stock valued at $7,164,349 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 53.85% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

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.

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