Willis Lease Finance (NASDAQ:WLFC) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume – Time to Buy?

Willis Lease Finance Co. (NASDAQ:WLFC) saw strong trading volume on Tuesday . 14,858 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 36% from the previous session’s volume of 23,387 shares.The stock last traded at $212.00 and had previously closed at $204.65.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, StockNews.com lowered shares of Willis Lease Finance from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th.

Willis Lease Finance Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $1.37 billion, a PE ratio of 14.71 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.84. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $202.91 and a 200-day simple moving average of $141.19.

Willis Lease Finance Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 21st. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 12th were issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.48%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 12th. Willis Lease Finance’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7.09%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Willis Lease Finance

In other news, Director Rae Ann Mckeating sold 500 shares of Willis Lease Finance stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $194.32, for a total transaction of $97,160.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 16,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,206,280. The trade was a 2.94 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, President Brian Richard Hole sold 20,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $203.31, for a total value of $4,066,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 81,164 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,501,452.84. This trade represents a 19.77 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 25,500 shares of company stock worth $5,164,310 over the last three months. Insiders own 57.02% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Willis Lease Finance

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Willis Lease Finance during the third quarter worth approximately $4,136,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Willis Lease Finance by 173.7% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 22,990 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,421,000 after purchasing an additional 14,590 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in Willis Lease Finance by 39.4% during the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 33,008 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $4,912,000 after purchasing an additional 9,326 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its position in Willis Lease Finance by 48.0% during the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 17,663 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $2,628,000 after purchasing an additional 5,731 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new position in Willis Lease Finance in the third quarter valued at $531,000. Hedge funds and other 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.