AL
Air Lease Corporation
Rental & Leasing Services
Market Cap$7.26B
5Y Perf.+115.9%
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Stock Comparison
AL vs BBU
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
BBU
Brookfield Business Partners L.P.
Conglomerates
Market Cap$2.79B
5Y Perf.+72.5%
AL vs BBU — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AL | BBU |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Rental & Leasing Services | Conglomerates |
| Market Cap | $7.26B | $2.79B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.02B | $27.57B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.09B | $-14M |
| Gross Margin | 38.4% | 19.3% |
| Operating Margin | 29.5% | 15.1% |
| Forward P/E | 12.8x | 18.3x |
| Total Debt | $19.73B | $43.67B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $466M | $3.54B |
AL vs BBU — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AL
BBU
| Stock | May 20 | Apr 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Lease Corporati… (AL) | 100 | 215.9 | +115.9% |
| Brookfield Business… (BBU) | 100 | 172.5 | +72.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AL vs BBU
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AL leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Brookfield Business Partners L.P. is the stronger pick specifically for recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
AL
Air Lease Corporation
The Income Pick
AL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 13 yrs, beta 0.30, yield 1.3%
- Rev growth 10.3%, EPS growth 179.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 9.2%
- 129.9% 10Y total return vs BBU's 108.2%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
BBU
Brookfield Business Partners L.P.
The Defensive Pick
BBU is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 1.33, yield 2.2%, current ratio 1.83x
- +48.7% vs AL's +22.5%
Best for: defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AL | 10.3% revenue growth vs BBU's -31.2% |
| Value | AL | Lower P/E (12.8x vs 18.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | AL | 36.1% margin vs BBU's -0.0% |
| Stability / Safety | AL | Beta 0.30 vs BBU's 1.33, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AL | 1.3% yield, 13-year raise streak, vs BBU's 2.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | BBU | +48.7% vs AL's +22.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AL | 3.3% ROA vs BBU's -0.0%, ROIC 4.2% vs 5.8% |
AL vs BBU — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLALLAGGINGBBU
BBUBrookfield Business P…
1leads
ALAir Lease Corporation
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs BBUMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AL5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
BBU3/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AL7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
AL2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BBU is the larger business by revenue, generating $27.6B annually — 9.1x AL's $3.0B. AL is the more profitable business, keeping 36.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BBU's -0.0%. On growth, AL holds the edge at +15.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ALAir Lease Corpora… | BBUBrookfield Busine… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.0B | $27.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.1B | $6.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.1B | -$14M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$1.7B | $1.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +38.4% | +19.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +29.5% | +15.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +36.1% | -0.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -57.4% | +4.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.1% | -3.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +81.9% | +76.2% |
AL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
BBU leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ALAir Lease Corpora… | BBUBrookfield Busine… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.3B | $2.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.8B | $39.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.00x | -62.92x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.76x | 18.35x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.43x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 5.13x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.41x | 0.07x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.86x | 0.14x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 3.85x |
BBU leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AL leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AL delivers a 13.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $-0 for BBU. AL carries lower financial leverage with a 2.33x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BBU's 2.86x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AL scores 8/9 vs BBU's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ALAir Lease Corpora… | BBUBrookfield Busine… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.2% | -0.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.3% | -0.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.2% | +5.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.0% | +6.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.33x | 2.86x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $19.3B | $40.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $466M | $3.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $19.7B | $43.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.32x | 1.15x |
AL leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — AL and BBU each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AL five years ago would be worth $15,633 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,496 for BBU. Over the past 12 months, BBU leads with a +48.7% total return vs AL's +22.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BBU at 23.2% vs AL's 21.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ALAir Lease Corpora… | BBUBrookfield Busine… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.7% | -12.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +22.5% | +48.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +79.9% | +86.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.3% | +5.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +129.9% | +108.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +21.6% | +23.2% |
Evenly matched — AL and BBU each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AL is the less volatile stock with a 0.30 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BBU's 1.33 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AL currently trades 100.0% from its 52-week high vs BBU's 83.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ALAir Lease Corpora… | BBUBrookfield Busine… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.30x | 1.33x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $65.00 | $37.75 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $51.66 | $21.07 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +100.0% | +83.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 66.3 | 48.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.5M | 47K |
AL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — AL and BBU each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AL as "Buy" and BBU as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 33.5% upside for BBU (target: $42) vs 0.0% for AL (target: $65). For income investors, BBU offers the higher dividend yield at 2.20% vs AL's 1.35%.
| Metric | ALAir Lease Corpora… | BBUBrookfield Busine… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $65.00 | $42.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 8 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.3% | +2.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 13 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.87 | $0.61 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.8% |
Evenly matched — AL and BBU each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
AL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). BBU leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallAir Lease Corporation (AL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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AL vs BBU: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AL or BBU a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Air Lease Corporation (AL) is the stronger pick with 10.
3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -31. 2% for Brookfield Business Partners L. P. (BBU). Air Lease Corporation (AL) offers the better valuation at 7. 0x trailing P/E (12. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Air Lease Corporation (AL) a "Buy" — based on 20 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 — AL or BBU?
On forward P/E, Air Lease Corporation is actually cheaper at 12.
8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AL or BBU?
Over the past 5 years, Air Lease Corporation (AL) delivered a total return of +56.
3%, compared to +5. 0% for Brookfield Business Partners L. P. (BBU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AL returned +129. 9% versus BBU's +108. 2%. 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 — AL or BBU?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Air Lease Corporation (AL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
30β versus Brookfield Business Partners L. P. 's 1. 33β — meaning BBU is approximately 347% more volatile than AL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Air Lease Corporation (AL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 3% for Brookfield Business Partners L. P. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AL or BBU?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Air Lease Corporation (AL) is pulling ahead at 10.
3% versus -31. 2% for Brookfield Business Partners L. P. (BBU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Air Lease Corporation grew EPS 179. 0% year-over-year, compared to 38. 0% for Brookfield Business Partners L. P.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AL leads at 9. 2% 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 — AL or BBU?
Air Lease Corporation (AL) is the more profitable company, earning 36.
1% net margin versus -0. 1% for Brookfield Business Partners L. P. — meaning it keeps 36. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AL leads at 50. 5% versus 15. 1% for BBU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AL leads at 59. 4%, 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 AL or BBU more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Air Lease Corporation (AL) trades at 12.
8x forward P/E versus 18. 3x for Brookfield Business Partners L. P. — 5. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BBU: 33. 5% to $42. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — AL or BBU?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Brookfield Business Partners L. P. (BBU) offers the highest yield at 2. 2%, versus 1. 3% for Air Lease Corporation (AL).
09Is AL or BBU better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Air Lease Corporation (AL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
30), 1. 3% yield, +129. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AL: +129. 9%, BBU: +108. 2%), 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 AL and BBU?
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: AL is a small-cap deep-value stock; BBU is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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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