Bleakley Financial Group LLC Acquires Shares of 1,433 Willis Lease Finance Co. (NASDAQ:WLFC)

Bleakley Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Willis Lease Finance Co. (NASDAQ:WLFC - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 1,433 shares of the transportation company's stock, valued at approximately $297,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Ritholtz Wealth Management increased its holdings in shares of Willis Lease Finance by 32.5% during the fourth quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 2,778 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $577,000 after buying an additional 681 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Willis Lease Finance in the third quarter valued at approximately $146,000. Lakewood Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Willis Lease Finance in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $227,000. Precision Wealth Strategies LLC bought a new position in Willis Lease Finance in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $257,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Willis Lease Finance by 2.9% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 67,021 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $9,975,000 after acquiring an additional 1,886 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.70% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com cut shares of Willis Lease Finance from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Willis Lease Finance

In other news, Director Rae Ann Mckeating sold 500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.32, for a total transaction of $97,160.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 16,500 shares in the company, valued at $3,206,280. The trade was a 2.94 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 57.02% of the company's stock.

Willis Lease Finance Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of NASDAQ:WLFC traded up $3.22 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $195.84. 16,617 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 33,497. Willis Lease Finance Co. has a fifty-two week low of $46.70 and a fifty-two week high of $235.43. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.84. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $203.18 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $170.03. The firm has a market cap of $1.29 billion, a PE ratio of 13.88 and a beta of 1.10.

Willis Lease Finance Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 12th will be paid a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 12th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.51%. Willis Lease Finance's payout ratio is currently 7.09%.

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.