WLFC vs GE

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 18. 5% for GE Aerospace (GE). Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) offers the better valuation at 14. 9x trailing P/E (16. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) a "Buy" — based on 1 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, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is the cheapest at 14.

9x versus GE Aerospace at 35. 1x. On forward P/E, Willis Lease Finance Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Willis Lease Finance Corporation wins at 0. 23x versus GE Aerospace's 3. 21x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) delivered a total return of +451.

8%, compared to +341. 4% for GE Aerospace (GE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WLFC returned +837. 9% versus GE's +109. 7%. 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), GE Aerospace (GE) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

14β versus Willis Lease Finance Corporation's 1. 66β — meaning WLFC is approximately 45% more volatile than GE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, GE Aerospace (GE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 108% 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 18. 5% for GE Aerospace (GE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: GE Aerospace grew EPS 36. 2% 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.

GE Aerospace (GE) is the more profitable company, earning 19.

0% net margin versus 16. 8% for Willis Lease Finance Corporation — meaning it keeps 19. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WLFC leads at 32. 3% versus 19. 1% for GE. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 23x versus GE Aerospace's 3. 21x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) trades at 16. 5x forward P/E versus 37. 9x for GE Aerospace — 21. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

GE Aerospace (GE) offers the highest yield at 0. 5%, versus 0. 4% for Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+837.

9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WLFC: +837. 9%, GE: +109. 7%), 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.

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.