AER vs WLFC

For growth investors, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is the stronger pick with 18.

7% 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.

On trailing P/E, AerCap Holdings N.

V. (AER) is the cheapest at 7. 1x versus Willis Lease Finance Corporation at 15. 5x. On forward P/E, AerCap Holdings N. V. is actually cheaper at 8. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) delivered a total return of +475.

9%, compared to +157. 9% for AerCap Holdings N. V. (AER). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WLFC returned +888. 3% versus AER's +276. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AerCap Holdings N.

V. (AER) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 74β versus Willis Lease Finance Corporation's 1. 66β — meaning WLFC is approximately 125% more volatile than AER relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AerCap Holdings N. V. (AER) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 4% for Willis Lease Finance Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is pulling ahead at 18.

7% 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 0. 3% for Willis Lease Finance Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, WLFC leads at 29. 4% 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.

AerCap Holdings N.

V. (AER) is the more profitable company, earning 45. 8% net margin versus 16. 8% for Willis Lease Finance Corporation — 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 32. 3% for WLFC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WLFC leads at 65. 7%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, AerCap Holdings N.

V. (AER) trades at 8. 8x forward P/E versus 17. 2x for Willis Lease Finance Corporation — 8. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

AerCap Holdings N. V. (AER) offers the highest yield at 0. 7%, versus 0. 3% for Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC).

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). Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) carries a higher beta of 1. 66 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AER: +276. 1%, WLFC: +888. 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.

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; WLFC is a small-cap high-growth stock. AER pays a dividend while WLFC 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.