Willis Lease Finance (NASDAQ:WLFC) Shares Down 14.6% – Here’s Why

Willis Lease Finance Co. (NASDAQ:WLFC)’s share price fell 14.6% on Monday . The company traded as low as $165.01 and last traded at $156.26. 19,376 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 32% from the average session volume of 28,489 shares. The stock had previously closed at $183.05.

Willis Lease Finance Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.84, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 1.16. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $198.15 and its 200-day moving average price is $180.60. The company has a market cap of $972.45 million, a PE ratio of 10.42 and a beta of 1.11.

Willis Lease Finance (NASDAQ:WLFC) last posted its earnings results on Monday, March 10th. The transportation company reported $2.81 earnings per share for the quarter. Willis Lease Finance had a net margin of 18.56% and a return on equity of 20.62%.

Willis Lease Finance Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 12th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 12th. Willis Lease Finance’s payout ratio is presently 7.09%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Austin Chandler Willis sold 3,450 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $204.14, for a total value of $704,283.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 158,034 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,261,060.76. This trade represents a 2.14 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 57.02% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Willis Lease Finance

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Willis Lease Finance by 27.4% in the fourth quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 298 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Lease Finance during the 4th quarter valued at $104,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Lease Finance by 16.9% during the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 643 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $133,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in Willis Lease Finance by 780.8% in the fourth quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 687 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $143,000 after acquiring an additional 609 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Truist Financial Corp bought a new position in Willis Lease Finance in the fourth quarter valued at $208,000. Institutional investors own 93.70% of the company’s stock.

About Willis Lease Finance

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.