AerCap Holdings (NYSE:AER) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

AerCap Holdings (NYSE:AER - Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the eight brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has given a hold recommendation and six have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $117.14.

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of AerCap from $105.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on AerCap from $112.00 to $101.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $115.00 price target (up previously from $113.00) on shares of AerCap in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Susquehanna raised their price objective on AerCap from $108.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a "positive" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, UBS Group lowered AerCap to an "underperform" rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th.

AerCap Trading Up 2.4 %

Shares of AER opened at $97.44 on Friday. AerCap has a 12 month low of $82.21 and a 12 month high of $107.36. The stock's 50-day moving average is $99.40 and its two-hundred day moving average is $97.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.89, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The stock has a market cap of $18.20 billion, a PE ratio of 7.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.46.

AerCap (NYSE:AER - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The financial services provider reported $3.31 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.56 by $0.75. AerCap had a return on equity of 13.98% and a net margin of 32.38%. The firm had revenue of $2.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.97 billion. Equities analysts forecast that AerCap will post 11.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AerCap declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback program on Wednesday, February 26th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to purchase up to 4.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

AerCap Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th were issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 12th. This is an increase from AerCap's previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. AerCap's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 9.99%.

Institutional Trading of AerCap

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AER. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of AerCap in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp acquired a new position in AerCap in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Pinpoint Asset Management Ltd bought a new position in shares of AerCap during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AerCap during the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of AerCap by 1,148.5% during the 4th quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 1,261 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $121,000 after purchasing an additional 1,160 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 96.42% of the company's stock.

About AerCap

AerCap Holdings N.V. engages in the lease, financing, sale, and management of commercial flight equipment in China, Hong Kong, Macau, the United States, Ireland, and internationally. The company offers aircraft asset management services, such as remarketing aircraft and engines; collecting rental and maintenance rent payments, monitoring aircraft maintenance, monitoring and enforcing contract compliance, and accepting delivery and redelivery of aircraft and engines; and conducting ongoing lessee financial performance reviews.

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