WNC vs WLFC vs AL vs AER

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -20. 8% for Wabash National Corporation (WNC). Wabash National Corporation (WNC) offers the better valuation at 1. 5x trailing P/E, 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, Wabash National Corporation (WNC) is the cheapest at 1.

5x versus Willis Lease Finance Corporation at 14. 7x. On forward P/E, AerCap Holdings N. V. is actually cheaper at 8. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. 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 Air Lease Corporation's 0. 79x — 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 +440.

7%, compared to -48. 5% for Wabash National Corporation (WNC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WLFC returned +879. 9% versus WNC's -22. 6%. 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), Air Lease Corporation (AL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

30β versus Wabash National Corporation's 1. 93β — meaning WNC is approximately 548% more volatile than AL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Wabash National Corporation (WNC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 120% 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 -20. 8% for Wabash National Corporation (WNC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Wabash National Corporation grew EPS 179. 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.

AerCap Holdings N.

V. (AER) is the more profitable company, earning 45. 8% net margin versus 13. 7% for Wabash National 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 20. 8% for WNC. 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 Air Lease Corporation's 0. 79x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, AerCap Holdings N. V. (AER) trades at 8. 6x forward P/E versus 16. 3x for Willis Lease Finance Corporation — 7. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WNC: 124. 4% to $17. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Wabash National Corporation (WNC) offers the highest yield at 4. 2%, versus 0. 4% for Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC).

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). Wabash National Corporation (WNC) carries a higher beta of 1. 93 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AL: +129. 9%, WNC: -22. 6%), 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: WNC is a small-cap deep-value stock; WLFC is a small-cap high-growth stock; AL is a small-cap deep-value stock; AER is a mid-cap deep-value stock. WNC, AL, AER pay 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.