KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Invests $14.88 Million in AerCap Holdings (NYSE:AER)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new position in shares of AerCap Holdings (NYSE:AER) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 155,500 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $14,881,000. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS owned 0.08% of AerCap at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of AER. Toth Financial Advisory Corp purchased a new stake in shares of AerCap during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of AerCap during the third quarter worth $35,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC acquired a new position in shares of AerCap during the fourth quarter worth $38,000. Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of AerCap during the third quarter worth $64,000. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in shares of AerCap during the third quarter worth $66,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.42% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. UBS Group downgraded shares of AerCap to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of AerCap from $105.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Susquehanna boosted their target price on shares of AerCap from $108.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $115.00 target price (up previously from $113.00) on shares of AerCap in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $117.43.

AerCap Stock Performance

NYSE AER opened at $102.13 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.89, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.67. AerCap Holdings has a 1 year low of $81.93 and a 1 year high of $107.36. The company has a market capitalization of $19.08 billion, a PE ratio of 8.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.83. The company has a fifty day moving average of $98.89 and a two-hundred day moving average of $96.73.

AerCap (NYSE:AER) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The financial services provider reported $3.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.56 by $0.75. AerCap had a net margin of 32.38% and a return on equity of 13.98%. The company had revenue of $2.07 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.97 billion. As a group, analysts expect that AerCap Holdings will post 11.29 earnings per share for the current year.

AerCap announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, February 26th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to buy up to 4.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

AerCap Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.27 per share. This is an increase from AerCap’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 12th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.06%. AerCap’s dividend payout ratio is 9.99%.

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.