Willis Lease Finance (NASDAQ:WLFC) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume - What's Next?

Shares of Willis Lease Finance Co. (NASDAQ:WLFC - Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 55,059 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 24% from the previous session's volume of 44,553 shares.The stock last traded at $146.33 and had previously closed at $144.37.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

Willis Lease Finance Stock Down 2.3%

The business's fifty day moving average is $140.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $174.75. The company has a market cap of $1.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.09 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.84, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 1.16.

Willis Lease Finance (NASDAQ:WLFC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 6th. The transportation company reported $2.21 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.41 by ($2.20). Willis Lease Finance had a net margin of 18.56% and a return on equity of 20.62%. The company had revenue of $157.73 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $149.00 million.

Willis Lease Finance Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 12th were issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 12th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.70%. Willis Lease Finance's dividend payout ratio is currently 6.85%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Austin Chandler Willis sold 3,450 shares of Willis Lease Finance stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.82, for a total value of $544,479.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 206,644 shares of the company's stock, valued at $32,612,556.08. The trade was a 1.64% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Scott B. Flaherty sold 1,539 shares of Willis Lease Finance stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.90, for a total transaction of $263,015.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 69,296 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,842,686.40. The trade was a 2.17% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 39,165 shares of company stock worth $5,681,512. 57.02% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Willis Lease Finance in the 1st quarter worth approximately $563,000. Caxton Associates LLP purchased a new stake in Willis Lease Finance during the 1st quarter worth approximately $758,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its position in Willis Lease Finance by 50,634.3% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 17,757 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $2,805,000 after purchasing an additional 17,722 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its position in Willis Lease Finance by 4.8% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 1,700 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $269,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in Willis Lease Finance by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 14,452 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $2,283,000 after purchasing an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.70% of the company's stock.

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.