Birnam Oak Advisors LP Makes New $2.39 Million Investment in AerCap Holdings (NYSE:AER)

Birnam Oak Advisors LP purchased a new position in AerCap Holdings (NYSE:AER) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 25,000 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,392,000. AerCap makes up approximately 1.2% of Birnam Oak Advisors LP’s holdings, making the stock its 18th largest holding.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Toth Financial Advisory Corp purchased a new stake in shares of AerCap in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AerCap in the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AerCap in the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of AerCap in the 3rd quarter valued at $64,000. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of AerCap in the 3rd quarter valued at $66,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.42% of the company’s stock.

AerCap Stock Up 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE AER opened at $102.49 on Tuesday. 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 12 month low of $81.93 and a 12 month high of $107.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.14 billion, a PE ratio of 8.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.83. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $98.24 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $96.49.

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

AerCap Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 3rd. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 12th will be paid a $0.27 dividend. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.05%. This is a positive change from AerCap’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 12th. AerCap’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.99%.

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

AER has been the subject of several analyst reports. UBS Group cut shares of AerCap to an “underperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $119.00 price target on shares of AerCap in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $115.00 price target (up previously from $113.00) on shares of AerCap in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Susquehanna increased their price target on shares of AerCap from $108.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price target on shares of AerCap from $105.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, AerCap has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $117.43.

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.