AER
AerCap Holdings N.V.
Rental & Leasing Services
Market Cap$25.21B
5Y Perf.+368.5%
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Stock Comparison
AER vs GE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
GE
GE Aerospace
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$319.54B
5Y Perf.+835.0%
AER vs GE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AER | GE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Rental & Leasing Services | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $25.21B | $319.54B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $8.11B | $48.35B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $3.93B | $8.66B |
| Gross Margin | 52.9% | 34.8% |
| Operating Margin | 45.2% | 18.5% |
| Forward P/E | 8.8x | 40.4x |
| Total Debt | $43.57B | $20.49B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.48B | $12.39B |
AER vs GE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AER
GE
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| AerCap Holdings N.V. (AER) | 100 | 468.5 | +368.5% |
| GE Aerospace (GE) | 100 | 935.0 | +835.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AER vs GE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AER leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. GE Aerospace is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
AER
AerCap Holdings N.V.
The Income Pick
AER carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.74, yield 0.7%
- 276.1% 10Y total return vs GE's 121.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.74, current ratio 0.61x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
GE
GE Aerospace
The Growth Play
GE is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 18.5%, EPS growth 36.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 16.3%
- 18.5% revenue growth vs AER's 2.4%
- +47.4% vs AER's +41.3%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | GE | 18.5% revenue growth vs AER's 2.4% |
| Value | AER | Lower P/E (8.8x vs 40.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | AER | 48.4% margin vs GE's 17.9% |
| Stability / Safety | AER | Beta 0.74 vs GE's 1.14 |
| Dividends | AER | 0.7% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs GE's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | GE | +47.4% vs AER's +41.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GE | 6.8% ROA vs AER's 5.4%, ROIC 24.7% vs 5.2% |
AER vs GE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
AER vs GE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAERLAGGINGGE
GEGE Aerospace
2leads
AERAerCap Holdings N.V.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs GEMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AER4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AER5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
GE8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
GE4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
AER2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
AER1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AER leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GE is the larger business by revenue, generating $48.4B annually — 6.0x AER's $8.1B. AER is the more profitable business, keeping 48.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GE's 17.9%. On growth, GE holds the edge at +24.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AERAerCap Holdings N… | GEGE Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.1B | $48.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.7B | $9.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $3.9B | $8.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $405M | $7.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +52.9% | +34.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +45.2% | +18.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +48.4% | +17.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.0% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.1% | +24.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +42.5% | -1.1% |
AER leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
AER leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.1x trailing earnings, AER trades at a 81% valuation discount to GE's 37.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AER's 9.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GE's 32.8x.
| Metric | AERAerCap Holdings N… | GEGE Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $25.2B | $319.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $67.3B | $327.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.09x | 37.48x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.79x | 40.44x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.17x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.76x | 32.80x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.08x | 6.97x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.45x | 17.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 43.99x |
AER leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GE leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GE delivers a 45.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $46 in annual profit, vs $22 for AER. GE carries lower financial leverage with a 1.08x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AER's 2.38x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AER scores 8/9 vs GE's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AERAerCap Holdings N… | GEGE Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +21.6% | +45.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.4% | +6.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.2% | +24.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.2% | +9.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.38x | 1.08x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $42.1B | $8.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.5B | $12.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $43.6B | $20.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.42x | 11.69x |
GE leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
GE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GE five years ago would be worth $47,052 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $25,787 for AER. Over the past 12 months, GE leads with a +47.4% total return vs AER's +41.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GE at 56.6% vs AER's 40.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AERAerCap Holdings N… | GEGE Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +4.7% | -4.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +41.3% | +47.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +178.5% | +284.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +157.9% | +370.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +276.1% | +121.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +40.7% | +56.6% |
GE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AER leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AER is the less volatile stock with a 0.74 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GE's 1.14 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AER currently trades 97.5% from its 52-week high vs GE's 87.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AERAerCap Holdings N… | GEGE Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.74x | 1.14x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $154.94 | $348.48 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $105.65 | $205.92 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.5% | +87.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.4 | 45.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 5.7M |
AER leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
AER leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AER as "Buy" and GE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 26.3% upside for GE (target: $386) vs 9.2% for AER (target: $165). For income investors, AER offers the higher dividend yield at 0.72% vs GE's 0.45%.
| Metric | AERAerCap Holdings N… | GEGE Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $165.00 | $386.20 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 25 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.09 | $1.36 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.4% |
AER leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
AER leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). GE leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns).
Best OverallAerCap Holdings N.V. (AER)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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AER vs GE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AER or GE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, GE Aerospace (GE) is the stronger pick with 18.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 4% for AerCap Holdings N. V. (AER). AerCap Holdings N. V. (AER) offers the better valuation at 7. 1x trailing P/E (8. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AerCap Holdings N. V. (AER) a "Buy" — based on 25 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — AER or GE?
On trailing P/E, AerCap Holdings N.
V. (AER) is the cheapest at 7. 1x versus GE Aerospace at 37. 5x. On forward P/E, AerCap Holdings N. V. is actually cheaper at 8. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AER or GE?
Over the past 5 years, GE Aerospace (GE) delivered a total return of +370.
5%, compared to +157. 9% for AerCap Holdings N. V. (AER). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AER returned +276. 1% versus GE's +121. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — AER or GE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AerCap Holdings N.
V. (AER) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 74β versus GE Aerospace's 1. 14β — meaning GE is approximately 55% more volatile than AER relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, GE Aerospace (GE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 108% versus 2% for AerCap Holdings N. V. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AER or GE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), GE Aerospace (GE) is pulling ahead at 18.
5% versus 2. 4% for AerCap Holdings N. V. (AER). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AerCap Holdings N. V. grew EPS 97. 4% year-over-year, compared to 36. 2% for GE Aerospace. Over a 3-year CAGR, GE leads at 16. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — AER or GE?
AerCap Holdings N.
V. (AER) is the more profitable company, earning 45. 8% net margin versus 19. 0% for GE Aerospace — meaning it keeps 45. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AER leads at 51. 9% versus 19. 1% for GE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AER leads at 59. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is AER or GE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, AerCap Holdings N.
V. (AER) trades at 8. 8x forward P/E versus 40. 4x for GE Aerospace — 31. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GE: 26. 3% to $386. 20.
08Which pays a better dividend — AER or GE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
AerCap Holdings N. V. (AER) offers the highest yield at 0. 7%, versus 0. 4% for GE Aerospace (GE).
09Is AER or GE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, AerCap Holdings N.
V. (AER) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 74), 0. 7% yield, +276. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AER: +276. 1%, GE: +121. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between AER and GE?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: AER is a mid-cap deep-value stock; GE is a large-cap high-growth stock. AER pays a dividend while GE does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(AER: 4.1% · GE: 24.7%)Net Margin>
%
(AER: 48.4% · GE: 17.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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