Revenue growth remains strong at 23.2% year-over-year as of 2026Q1, though operating margins have compressed significantly from a 35.8% peak in 2024Q2 to 17.4% in the most recent quarter.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 | Dec'97 | Dec'96 |
|---|
| Sales/Revenue | 763.5M | 675.84M | 569.22M | 418.56M | 311.93M | 274.2M | 288.69M | 409.16M | 348.35M | 274.84M | 207.27M | 199.61M | 174.29M | 158.41M | 148.09M | 156.65M | 148.3M | 150.44M | 152.29M | 121.9M | 84.97M | 70.55M | 61.94M | 59.87M | 55.88M | 66.15M | 49.01M | 83.4M | 74.6M | 50.5M | 32.3M |
| Revenue Growth % | 25.6% | 18.73% | 36% | 34.18% | 13.76% | -5.02% | -29.44% | 17.46% | 26.75% | 32.6% | 3.84% | 14.53% | 10.02% | 6.97% | -5.47% | 5.63% | -1.42% | -1.22% | 24.94% | 43.45% | 20.45% | 13.9% | 3.46% | 7.14% | -15.53% | 34.97% | -41.23% | 11.8% | 47.72% | 56.35% | 42.29% |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 157.4M | 231.74M | 139.78M | 127.29M | 109.09M | 105.43M | 111.3M | 148.88M | 137.84M | 106.87M | 79.57M | 87.45M | 72.92M | 58.73M | 52.59M | 8.39M | 8.12M | 7.15M | 6.14M | 3.82M | 601K | 81K | 577K | 1.27M | 3.05M | 0 | 0 | 36.7M | 20.9M | 20.2M | 14.1M |
| COGS % of Revenue | - | 34.29% | 24.56% | 30.41% | 34.97% | 38.45% | 38.55% | 36.39% | 39.57% | 38.88% | 38.39% | 43.81% | 41.84% | 37.07% | 35.51% | 5.36% | 5.47% | 4.75% | 4.03% | 3.14% | 0.71% | 0.11% | 0.93% | 2.12% | 5.46% | - | - | 44% | 28.02% | 40% | 43.65% |
| Gross Profit | 411.75M | 444.1M | 429.44M | 291.26M | 202.83M | 168.77M | 177.39M | 260.28M | 210.51M | 167.97M | 127.7M | 112.16M | 101.37M | 99.69M | 95.5M | 148.26M | 140.18M | 143.29M | 146.15M | 118.08M | 84.37M | 70.47M | 61.36M | 58.6M | 52.83M | 66.15M | 49.01M | 46.7M | 53.7M | 30.3M | 18.2M |
| Gross Margin % | 53.93% | 65.71% | 75.44% | 69.59% | 65.03% | 61.55% | 61.45% | 63.61% | 60.43% | 61.12% | 61.61% | 56.19% | 58.16% | 62.93% | 64.49% | 94.64% | 94.53% | 95.25% | 95.97% | 96.86% | 99.29% | 99.89% | 99.07% | 97.88% | 94.54% | 100% | 100% | 56% | 71.98% | 60% | 56.35% |
| Gross Profit Growth % | - | 3.41% | 47.44% | 43.6% | 20.18% | -4.86% | -31.85% | 23.64% | 25.33% | 31.53% | 13.86% | 10.64% | 1.69% | 4.38% | -35.59% | 5.76% | -2.17% | -1.96% | 23.78% | 39.94% | 19.74% | 14.83% | 4.72% | 10.92% | -20.14% | 34.97% | 4.95% | -13.04% | 77.23% | 66.48% | 4% |
| Operating Expenses | 346.44M | 226.12M | 285.04M | 227.04M | 192.98M | 160.43M | 162.69M | 179.97M | 83.16M | 65.47M | 54.77M | 52.15M | 48.2M | 46.73M | 41.56M | 87.29M | 78.01M | 69.98M | 68.2M | 54.23M | 46.52M | 42.25M | 38.57M | 36.81M | 32.87M | 30.58M | 24.34M | 31.2M | 23.5M | 13.5M | 8.3M |
| OpEx % of Revenue | - | 33.46% | 50.08% | 54.24% | 61.87% | 58.51% | 56.36% | 43.99% | 23.87% | 23.82% | 26.43% | 26.12% | 27.65% | 29.5% | 28.06% | 55.72% | 52.6% | 46.52% | 44.78% | 44.49% | 54.75% | 59.89% | 62.26% | 61.48% | 58.82% | 46.23% | 49.67% | 37.41% | 31.5% | 26.73% | 25.7% |
| Selling, General & Admin | 211.97M | 194.74M | 146.76M | 115.74M | 92.53M | 75.35M | 67.91M | 86.52M | 72.02M | 55.74M | 47.78M | 42.74M | 35.86M | 33.87M | 34.55M | 35.7M | 29.3M | 26.77M | 30.76M | 23.09M | 20.96M | 16.96M | 15.37M | 15.12M | 17.49M | 13.14M | 11.93M | 17.5M | 15.2M | 9.3M | 5.1M |
| SG&A % of Revenue | - | 28.81% | 25.78% | 27.65% | 29.66% | 27.48% | 23.52% | 21.15% | 20.68% | 20.28% | 23.05% | 21.41% | 20.57% | 21.38% | 23.33% | 22.79% | 19.76% | 17.79% | 20.2% | 18.95% | 24.67% | 24.04% | 24.81% | 25.26% | 31.3% | 19.86% | 24.33% | 20.98% | 20.38% | 18.42% | 15.79% |
| Research & Development | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12.86M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R&D % of Revenue | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8.12% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Operating Expenses | 3M | 31.38M | 138.29M | 111.3M | 100.45M | 85.08M | 94.78M | 93.45M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51.59M | 48.7M | 43.22M | 37.44M | 31.14M | 25.56M | 25.29M | 23.2M | 21.69M | 15.38M | 17.45M | 12.42M | 13.7M | 8.3M | 4.2M | 3.2M |
| Operating Income | 155.7M | 217.98M | 144.4M | 64.22M | 9.86M | 8.34M | 14.69M | 80.3M | 52.47M | 28.85M | 22.13M | 12.97M | 10.51M | 7.77M | 937K | 22.59M | 18.57M | 31.45M | 41.2M | 67.67M | 38.45M | 28.29M | 23.37M | 23.06M | 23.01M | 35.57M | 24.67M | 15.5M | 30.2M | 16.8M | 9.9M |
| Operating Margin % | 20.39% | 32.25% | 25.37% | 15.34% | 3.16% | 3.04% | 5.09% | 19.63% | 15.06% | 10.5% | 10.68% | 6.5% | 6.03% | 4.91% | 0.63% | 14.42% | 12.52% | 20.9% | 27.05% | 55.51% | 45.25% | 40.11% | 37.74% | 38.52% | 41.18% | 53.77% | 50.33% | 18.59% | 40.48% | 33.27% | 30.65% |
| Operating Income Growth % | - | 50.96% | 124.84% | 551.67% | 18.17% | -43.24% | -81.7% | 53.03% | 81.87% | 30.36% | 70.66% | 23.36% | 35.23% | 729.67% | -95.85% | 21.64% | -40.94% | -23.68% | -39.11% | 75.98% | 35.9% | 21.05% | 1.36% | 0.2% | -35.3% | 44.18% | 59.15% | -48.68% | 79.76% | 69.7% | 4.21% |
| EBITDA | 272.98M | 329.53M | 239.61M | 155.15M | 98.11M | 98.84M | 109.23M | 166.54M | 129.29M | 94.88M | 88.41M | 82.56M | 75.95M | 66.5M | 53.53M | 73.84M | 67.28M | 75.54M | 78.64M | 103.1M | 68.18M | 56.63M | 46.83M | 44.74M | 42.46M | 53.62M | 39.29M | 29.2M | 38.5M | 21M | 13.1M |
| EBITDA Margin % | 35.75% | 48.76% | 42.09% | 37.07% | 31.45% | 36.05% | 37.84% | 40.7% | 37.11% | 34.52% | 42.66% | 41.36% | 43.58% | 41.98% | 36.15% | 47.14% | 45.36% | 50.21% | 51.64% | 84.58% | 80.24% | 80.28% | 75.6% | 74.74% | 75.99% | 81.06% | 80.17% | 35.01% | 51.61% | 41.58% | 40.56% |
| EBITDA Growth % | 13.86% | 37.53% | 54.44% | 58.13% | -0.74% | -9.51% | -34.41% | 28.81% | 36.27% | 7.31% | 7.1% | 8.69% | 14.21% | 24.24% | -27.51% | 9.76% | -10.94% | -3.95% | -23.72% | 51.21% | 20.4% | 20.94% | 4.65% | 5.38% | -20.82% | 36.48% | 34.56% | -24.16% | 83.33% | 60.31% | -7.75% |
| D&A (Non-Cash Add-back) | 117.29M | 111.55M | 95.21M | 90.92M | 88.26M | 90.5M | 94.54M | 86.24M | 76.81M | 66.02M | 66.28M | 69.59M | 65.44M | 58.73M | 52.59M | 51.25M | 48.7M | 44.09M | 37.44M | 35.43M | 29.73M | 28.34M | 23.45M | 21.69M | 19.45M | 18.05M | 14.62M | 13.7M | 8.3M | 4.2M | 3.2M |
| EBIT | 231.96M | 217.98M | 257.41M | 145.93M | 76.54M | 77.13M | 80.36M | 155.77M | 120.49M | 84.73M | 65.09M | 51.79M | 48.8M | 50.02M | 34.45M | 59.09M | 60.63M | 68.4M | 80.64M | 65.67M | 58.26M | 36.08M | 23.37M | 23.06M | 23.01M | 35.57M | 24.67M | 21.96M | 14.58M | 12.6M | 9.3M |
| Net Interest Income | -96.61M | -137.86M | -104.76M | -78.8M | -66.74M | -67.98M | -63.02M | -66.89M | -64.22M | -48.72M | -41.14M | -39.01M | -37.06M | -38.72M | -31.67M | -35.03M | -40.73M | -35.73M | -36.75M | -34.15M | -28.53M | -22.97M | 0 | -17.16M | 0 | 0 | -23.71M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Income | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80K | 167K | 212K | 280K | 1.89M | 3.79M | 3.08M | 1.54M | 0 | 244K | 0 | 0 | 902K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Expense | 129.24M | 137.86M | 104.76M | 78.8M | 66.74M | 67.98M | 63.02M | 66.89M | 64.22M | 48.72M | 41.14M | 39.01M | 37.06M | 38.72M | 31.75M | 35.2M | 40.95M | 36.01M | 38.64M | 37.94M | 31.61M | 24.51M | 0 | 17.41M | 0 | 0 | 24.61M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Income/Expense | 16.5M | -57.37M | 8.25M | 2.91M | -62K | 800K | 2.64M | 8.58M | 3.8M | 7.16M | 1.81M | -42.77M | -41.23M | 3.53M | 1.76M | 1.29M | 1.11M | 942K | 797K | -39.93M | -28.21M | -22.76M | -18.02M | -17.16M | -18.68M | -23.55M | -15.73M | -2.15M | -719K | -3.8M | -4.5M |
| Pretax Income | 172.19M | 160.61M | 152.65M | 67.13M | 9.79M | 9.14M | 17.34M | 88.88M | 56.27M | 36.01M | 23.95M | 14.14M | 11.84M | 11.3M | 2.7M | 23.89M | 19.68M | 32.39M | 42M | 27.73M | 10.24M | 5.54M | 5.36M | 5.89M | 4.33M | 12.02M | 8.94M | 4.3M | 15.8M | 8.8M | 4.8M |
| Pretax Margin % | 22.55% | 23.76% | 26.82% | 16.04% | 3.14% | 3.33% | 6% | 21.72% | 16.15% | 13.1% | 11.55% | 7.09% | 6.79% | 7.13% | 1.82% | 15.25% | 13.27% | 21.53% | 27.58% | 22.75% | 12.05% | 7.85% | 8.65% | 9.84% | 7.76% | 18.17% | 18.24% | 5.16% | 21.18% | 17.43% | 14.86% |
| Income Tax | 50.22M | 46.85M | 44.03M | 23.35M | 4.35M | 5.79M | 7.59M | 21.96M | 13.04M | -26.15M | 9.88M | 6.79M | 4.59M | -4.33M | 1.16M | 9.38M | 7.63M | 10.02M | 15.4M | 10.07M | 2.99M | 1.36M | 1.5M | 1.72M | 738K | 4.37M | 3.47M | 1M | 6.3M | 3.5M | 2M |
| Effective Tax Rate % | 29.16% | 29.17% | 28.85% | 34.78% | 44.46% | 63.33% | 43.77% | 24.71% | 23.18% | -72.61% | 41.25% | 47.99% | 38.8% | -38.28% | 43.06% | 39.26% | 38.77% | 30.94% | 36.66% | 36.31% | 29.17% | 24.53% | 28.01% | 29.13% | 17.03% | 36.4% | 38.78% | 23.26% | 39.87% | 39.77% | 41.67% |
| Net Income | 120.55M | 113.76M | 108.61M | 43.78M | 5.44M | 3.35M | 9.75M | 66.92M | 43.23M | 62.16M | 14.07M | 7.36M | 7.25M | 15.63M | 1.53M | 14.51M | 12.05M | 22.37M | 26.6M | 17.66M | 7.25M | 4.18M | 3.86M | 4.18M | 3.6M | 6.94M | 7.81M | 3.3M | 9.3M | 7.3M | 2.8M |
| Net Margin % | 15.79% | 16.83% | 19.08% | 10.46% | 1.74% | 1.22% | 3.38% | 16.36% | 12.41% | 22.62% | 6.79% | 3.69% | 4.16% | 9.86% | 1.04% | 9.26% | 8.13% | 14.87% | 17.47% | 14.49% | 8.54% | 5.92% | 6.23% | 6.98% | 6.44% | 10.5% | 15.94% | 3.96% | 12.47% | 14.46% | 8.67% |
| Net Income Growth % | 15.24% | 4.74% | 148.08% | 704.95% | 62.26% | -65.61% | -85.43% | 54.8% | -30.45% | 341.81% | 91.26% | 1.5% | -53.62% | 917.98% | -89.42% | 20.4% | -46.13% | -15.92% | 50.59% | 143.51% | 73.67% | 8.3% | -7.66% | 16.16% | -48.21% | -11.13% | 136.79% | -64.52% | 27.4% | 160.71% | -12.5% |
| Net Income (Continuing) | 120.55M | 113.76M | 108.61M | 43.78M | 5.44M | 3.35M | 9.75M | 66.92M | 43.23M | 62.16M | 14.07M | 6.46M | 7.25M | 15.63M | 1.53M | 14.51M | 12.05M | 22.37M | 26.6M | 17.66M | 17.89M | 3.64M | 3.86M | 4.18M | 3.6M | 7.64M | 5.47M | 10.12M | 8.31M | 5.3M | 2.8M |
| Discontinued Operations | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Minority Interest | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| EPS (Diluted) | 16.62 | 15.39 | 15.34 | 6.23 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 1.05 | 10.50 | 7.15 | 9.69 | 2.05 | 0.92 | 0.89 | 1.89 | -0.45 | 1.28 | 0.96 | 2.14 | 2.68 | 1.66 | 1.56 | 0.38 | 0.36 | 0.82 | 0.43 | 0.78 | 1.03 | 0.44 | 1.24 | 1.29 | 0.74 |
| EPS Growth % | 14.32% | 0.33% | 146.23% | 1787.88% | - | -99.73% | -90% | 46.85% | -26.21% | 372.68% | 122.83% | 3.37% | -52.91% | 520% | -135.16% | 33.33% | -55.14% | -20.15% | 61.45% | 6.41% | 310.53% | 5.56% | -56.1% | 90.7% | -44.87% | -24.27% | 134.09% | -64.52% | -3.88% | 74.32% | -28.16% |
| EPS (Basic) | - | 16.00 | 15.97 | 6.40 | 0.35 | 0.00 | 1.07 | 10.90 | 7.31 | 9.93 | 2.10 | 0.94 | 0.92 | 1.95 | -0.45 | 1.35 | 1.03 | 2.30 | 2.85 | 1.79 | 1.63 | 0.40 | 0.37 | 0.83 | 0.43 | 0.79 | 1.04 | 0.44 | 1.27 | 1.33 | 0.75 |
| Diluted Shares Outstanding | 7.25M | 7.02M | 6.8M | 6.48M | 6.3M | 6.35M | 6.13M | 6.06M | 6.05M | 6.22M | 6.71M | 7.98M | 8.14M | 8.29M | 8.79M | 8.88M | 9.25M | 8.98M | 8.76M | 8.74M | 9.61M | 9.52M | 10.71M | 8.88M | 8.36M | 8.89M | 7.61M | 7.45M | 7.46M | 5.66M | 3.2M |
| Basic Shares Outstanding | 6.78M | 6.75M | 6.54M | 6.3M | 6.07M | 6.11M | 5.96M | 5.84M | 5.92M | 6.07M | 6.57M | 7.81M | 7.92M | 8.03M | 8.49M | 8.42M | 8.68M | 8.36M | 8.24M | 8.12M | 9.17M | 9.07M | 10.42M | 8.84M | 8.36M | 8.77M | 7.51M | 7.38M | 7.27M | 5.49M | 3.2M |
| Dividend Payout Ratio | - | - | 9.87% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 35.71% |
Asset Obsolescence and Leverage
As reported in recent financial filings, WLFC has sustained double-digit top-line growth, with revenue reaching $194.3 million in 2026Q1, representing a 23.2% year-over-year increase that suggests robust demand for mid-life engine assets despite broader volatility in the global aviation sector's supply chain and maintenance cycles.
The consistent revenue growth appears driven by the company's ability to capitalize on OEM delivery delays, which forces airlines to extend the service life of existing engine fleets. Investors should monitor whether this growth remains durable as the industry eventually transitions to newer engine platforms, which could shift the demand profile for WLFC's current portfolio.
Based on the provided income statement data, gross margins have exhibited significant fluctuations, ranging from a high of 93.4% in 2025Q3 to a complete absence of reported COGS in 2026Q1, indicating potential inconsistencies in how the company classifies direct costs versus operating expenses.
The wide variance in gross margins suggests that the company's profitability is highly sensitive to the mix of leasing versus spare parts sales, which carry different cost structures. This lack of margin stability warrants further investigation into whether the firm possesses genuine pricing power or if it is merely a price-taker in a highly competitive engine leasing market.
According to historical income statements, operating income has failed to scale linearly with revenue, as evidenced by the 2026Q1 operating margin of 17.4% compared to the 35.8% peak observed in 2024Q2, suggesting that administrative and maintenance oversight costs are consuming a larger portion of incremental revenue gains.
The inability to maintain operating margin expansion during periods of revenue growth implies that the company's cost structure is becoming increasingly burdened by fixed overheads. This trend may indicate that the firm is struggling to achieve the necessary economies of scale required to offset the rising costs of managing a complex, aging engine portfolio.
As indicated by the quarterly data, net income has shown extreme volatility, with EPS swinging from $8.43 in 2025Q2 to $1.52 in 2025Q4, a pattern that suggests reported earnings are heavily influenced by non-operating items or irregular gains from the sale of engine assets.
The reliance on non-recurring gains to bolster the bottom line raises concerns regarding the sustainability of reported profitability. Investors should look past the headline EPS figures to determine the underlying cash-generating capability of the core leasing business, as the current earnings profile appears susceptible to accounting adjustments and asset liquidation timing.
Based on an analysis of the provided figures, the primary risk to the narrative is the potential for margin compression as the company faces increasing competition and the inevitable obsolescence of its core engine assets, which may necessitate higher capital expenditures to maintain a competitive fleet.
Short-sellers would likely focus on the inconsistency of the reported COGS and the potential for future impairments if the secondary market for used serviceable material softens. The company's reliance on older engine types may prove to be a liability if maintenance costs for these assets escalate faster than the rental income they generate.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying WLFC stock.
For fiscal year 2025, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) reported total revenue of $675.8M. This represents a 1992.4% increase compared to $32.3M in 1996.
Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is profitable, generating $113.8M in net income for the fiscal year ending 2025 with a net profit margin of 16.8%.
Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) reported an operating income of $218.0M, resulting in an operating profit margin of 32.3%. This margin reflects the operational efficiency of the business before interest and taxes.
Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) generated $444.1M in gross profit for the year, representing a gross profit margin of 65.7%. This demonstrates the company's core pricing power and production efficiency.