Willis Lease Finance (NASDAQ:WLFC) Sees Large Volume Increase - Time to Buy?

Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:WLFC - Get Free Report) saw an uptick in trading volume on Thursday . 258,413 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 355% from the previous session's volume of 56,801 shares.The stock last traded at $141.59 and had previously closed at $135.84.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

Willis Lease Finance Stock Down 3.0%

The firm has a market capitalization of $1.06 billion, a PE ratio of 9.43 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $139.59 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $165.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.95, a quick ratio of 1.61 and a current ratio of 2.17.

Willis Lease Finance (NASDAQ:WLFC - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The transportation company reported $2.21 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.41 by ($2.20). Willis Lease Finance had a return on equity of 19.69% and a net margin of 17.21%. The firm had revenue of $157.73 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $149.00 million.

Willis Lease Finance Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 12th were issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 12th. Willis Lease Finance's dividend payout ratio is 6.85%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Willis Lease Finance news, CEO Austin Chandler Willis sold 3,450 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.01, for a total value of $483,034.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 196,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,467,301.81. This represents a 1.73% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Charles F. Iv Willis sold 11,250 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.95, for a total value 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 ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 39,895 shares of company stock worth $5,488,698. 53.85% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in WLFC. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new position in Willis Lease Finance during the 4th quarter valued at about $104,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased 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 buying an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its position in Willis Lease Finance by 780.8% during the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 687 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $143,000 after buying an additional 609 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rangeley Capital LLC acquired a new position in Willis Lease Finance during the 4th quarter valued at about $208,000. 93.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.