AerCap Holdings (AER) receives a Buy rating, supported by robust fundamentals, a strong credit profile, and discounted valuation versus peers. AER maintains a $12.4B liquidity buffer, declining leverage, and a 3.65x EBITDA-interest-coverage ratio, ensuring debt servicing and growth flexibility. With 283 aircraft on order and 95% of the near-term backlog placed, AER is positioned for sustained lease revenue and cash flow growth.
Five of the Royce SMid-Cap Total Return Fund portfolio's nine equity sectors made a positive impact on calendar year performance. In the post-Covid era, airlines have seen a significant resurgence in passenger demand, which engine OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) have struggled to meet amid quality issues with new engine families such as the LEAP and GTF. Sapiens has idiosyncratic opportunities to drive growth and profitability through new geographies, expanding the product suite into adjacent areas, and scaling up existing operations.
The Touchstone Mid Cap Fund (Class A Shares, Load Waived) outperformed its benchmark, the Russell MidCap® Index, for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Both stock selection and sector exposure were tailwinds to relative performance. Underweight Utilities and overweight Materials helped performance.
The London Company Mid Cap portfolio returned 3.2% (3.0% net) during the quarter vs. a 0.2% increase in the Russell Midcap Index. Dollar Tree, Inc. was a top performer after completing the divestiture of the Family Dollar business, removing a long-standing drag on growth. AerCap Holdings shares performed well all year after reporting solid quarterly results as the company owns the largest portfolio of aircraft.
AerCap delivered Q4 EPS of $15.37, surpassing expectations, with shares up 9.3% as value from asset sales is recycled into buybacks. Lease revenue grew 11%, driven by higher basic rents and maintenance rents, while asset sales generated substantial gains despite lower margins year-over-year. AER guides 2026 adjusted EPS to $12–$13, excluding asset sale gains; robust asset sale activity could materially lift reported EPS above guidance.
While the top- and bottom-line numbers for AerCap (AER) give a sense of how the business performed in the quarter ended December 2025, it could be worth looking at how some of its key metrics compare to Wall Street estimates and year-ago values.
AerCap delivered a 51% return in 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 and surpassing my bullish expectations. FY26 core EPS could come in at $13, with another $5 in gain of sale earnings. With repurchases, FY26 earnings could approach $20/share, a 7x P/E at the current price. Key drivers include improving net interest margin, higher lease rents, and ongoing share repurchases supporting continued earnings growth.
AerCap (AER) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting growing optimism about the company's earnings prospects. This might drive the stock higher in the near term.
Investors looking for stocks in the Transportation - Equipment and Leasing sector might want to consider either AerCap (AER) or Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?
AerCap (AER) has an impressive earnings surprise history and currently possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely beat in its next quarterly report.
Headwinds, including inflation, tariff-related tensions, and lingering supply-chain disruptions, hurt the Zacks Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry. WAB, AER and HRI are likely to stand out.
Does AerCap (AER) have what it takes to be a top stock pick for momentum investors? Let's find out.