AerCap Holdings N.V. (AER) AI Stock Analysis
AER AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchAerCap Holdings N.V. (AER) is a global aviation leasing and asset management company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. The company generated $8.96B in trailing twelve month revenue with an operating margin of 57.5% and diluted trailing EPS of $20.41. AerCap trades at a trailing price-to-earnings multiple of 7.1x while carrying $42.77B in total debt.
- Market cap
- $22.90B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $8.96B
- P/E
- 7.1x fwd 8.0x
- 1Y return
- 22.4% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $179.80 23.4% vs last close
Bull case
- AerCap delivered strong trailing EPS of $20.41 and beat consensus earnings estimates in all 4 of the last quarters.
- The stock trades at a modest trailing P/E of 7.1x compared to the US-listed Industrials peer median of 24.8x.
- Aggressive capital returns have reduced the total share count by 22.4% over five years, supported by $2.54B in FY2025 buybacks.
Bear case
- AerCap carries significant leverage with total debt of $42.77B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.32.
- Free cash flow remained negative at -$681.2M in FY2025 due to substantial capital expenditures of $6.07B.
- Analyst consensus expects next fiscal year EPS to fall 4.1% alongside a revenue decline of 2.5%.
What AerCap does
AerCap Holdings N.V. is a global aviation industry leader specializing in the lease, financing, sale, and management of commercial flight equipment across markets such as China, Hong Kong, Macau, the United States, and Ireland. Its comprehensive operations include aircraft asset management, remarketing aircraft and engines, rental collections, contract compliance, and managing deliveries. AerCap also supplies cash management services, treasury functions, hedging, and corporate administrative oversight. As of December 31, 2021, its portfolio comprised 2,369 aircraft owned, managed, or on order. Additionally, AerCap provides airframe and engine parts and supply chain solutions to airlines, MRO service providers, and parts distributors.
Growth and profitability
AerCap grew annual revenue from $4.59B in FY2021 to $8.19B in FY2025, posting a five-year revenue CAGR of 12.8%. Operating margins expanded steadily over that span, rising from 48.2% in FY2021 to 51.9% in FY2025, while gross margin reached 59.8%. Net income reached $3.75B in FY2025 with diluted earnings per share of $15.43, recovering from a net income loss of -$726.0M in FY2022. Across the trailing twelve months, revenue totaled $8.96B with a profit margin of 37.9%. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 14.9% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings declined 35.3%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, AerCap held $1.80B in cash and short-term investments against $42.77B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $40.97B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.32. Total assets stood at $71.18B and shareholders' equity was $18.41B, with a current ratio of 0.68. Operating cash flow reached $5.39B in FY2025, while capital expenditures totaled $6.07B, resulting in free cash flow of -$681.2M. AerCap allocated $2.54B toward share buybacks and paid $192.4M in dividends in FY2025, reducing its share count by 22.4% over five years.
Valuation and performance
AerCap's valuation multiples sit below peer group averages. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 7.1x and a forward P/E of 8.0x, compared to medians of 24.8x and 17.2x, respectively, for US-listed Industrials. Its EV-to-EBITDA stands at 11.0x versus the peer median of 13.9x, while its price-to-sales ratio is 2.6x against 1.5x for peers. Over the past year, AerCap returned 22.4%, outperforming the S&P 500 benchmark return of 16.8%. Over five years, the stock gained 144.6% compared to 83.0% for the S&P 500.
AER dividend
AerCap pays an annual forward dividend of $1.60 per share, delivering a dividend yield of 1.10% based on a quarterly payout frequency. The company has maintained consecutive dividend payments for 3 years, with a modest payout ratio of 7.6%. Its last ex-dividend date was August 12, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street sentiment is predominantly bullish, with 7 Strong Buy, 2 Buy, and 1 Hold recommendations, and zero Sell ratings. The mean price target of $179.80 implies an upside of 23.4% from the last close of $145.69. Consensus estimates model FY2026 EPS of $19.00 on revenue of $8.63B, before slipping 4.1% to $18.22 EPS in FY2027. AerCap has beat earnings estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings report scheduled for October 28, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- A high net debt load of $40.97B creates ongoing balance sheet sensitivity to debt refinancing costs and credit conditions.
- Short-term liquidity is tight, as evidenced by a current ratio of 0.68 as of June 30, 2026.
- Quarterly earnings growth dropped 35.3% year-over-year in the period ended June 30, 2026, highlighting earnings volatility.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this AER AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of AerCap Holdings N.V. (AER). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: AER income statement, AER balance sheet, AER key metrics, AER analyst forecast, AER chart. See the AER stock overview for the latest quote and news.
AER AI stock analysis FAQ
What is AerCap's dividend payout and yield?
AerCap pays a forward dividend of $1.60 per share annually, which equates to a 1.10% dividend yield. The dividend is paid quarterly with a payout ratio of 7.6%.
How does AerCap's valuation compare to other industrial companies?
AerCap trades at a trailing P/E of 7.1x and forward P/E of 8.0x, substantially lower than the US-listed Industrials medians of 24.8x and 17.2x, respectively. Its EV-to-EBITDA of 11.0x is also lower than the peer median of 13.9x.
How much debt does AerCap hold?
As of June 30, 2026, AerCap carried $42.77B in total debt and $1.80B in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $40.97B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.32.
When does AerCap report its next earnings?
AerCap is scheduled to report its next earnings on October 28, 2026.