Norges Bank Takes Position in AerCap Holdings (NYSE:AER)

Norges Bank bought a new stake in AerCap Holdings (NYSE:AER) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 2,283,354 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $218,517,000. Norges Bank owned 1.15% of AerCap as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Toth Financial Advisory Corp bought a new stake in shares of AerCap in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in AerCap in the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in AerCap in the third quarter valued at $66,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC acquired a new position in AerCap during the third quarter worth $78,000. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AerCap by 1,148.5% during the fourth quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 1,261 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $121,000 after acquiring an additional 1,160 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.42% of the company’s stock.

AerCap Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:AER opened at $102.12 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.89. AerCap Holdings has a 1-year low of $81.93 and a 1-year high of $107.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.83. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $99.60 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $97.14.

AerCap (NYSE:AER) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The financial services provider reported $3.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.75. AerCap had a net margin of 32.38% and a return on equity of 13.98%. The business had revenue of $2.07 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.97 billion. Equities analysts predict that AerCap Holdings will post 11.29 earnings per share for the current year.

AerCap declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, February 26th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 4.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

AerCap Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th will be given a $0.27 dividend. This is a positive change from AerCap’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 12th. AerCap’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 9.99%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on AER shares. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of AerCap from $105.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. UBS Group lowered shares of AerCap to an “underperform” rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $115.00 price objective (up previously from $113.00) on shares of AerCap in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Susquehanna increased their target price on AerCap from $108.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, AerCap currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $117.43.

AerCap Profile

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.