AerCap Holdings N.V. (AER) Target Lifted to $160 at Morgan Stanley

AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) is among the 12 Best Very Cheap Stocks to Buy in 2026.

AerCap Holdings N.V. (AER) Target Lifted to $160 at Morgan Stanley

On March 2, Morgan Stanley raised the firm’s price target on AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) to $160 from $150 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm said it updated its financial model following the company’s fourth-quarter results and management commentary, reflecting a refined outlook for the aircraft leasing company’s earnings trajectory and capital allocation strategy.

On February 5, AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) reported record financial results for full-year 2025. The company generated GAAP net income of $3.8 billion, or $21.30 per share, and adjusted net income of $2.7 billion, or $15.37 per share—both representing company records. AerCap also reported a GAAP return on equity of 21% and an adjusted return on equity of 15%. Total revenue reached an all-time high of $8.5 billion, while aircraft sales volumes also set a record at $3.9 billion. The company reported a gain-on-sale margin of 27% for the year, translating to approximately twice book equity on owned assets.

AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) returned approximately $2.6 billion to shareholders during 2025 through share repurchases and dividends, including the buyback of about 22.1 million shares. In December, the company announced a new $1 billion share repurchase authorization and increased its quarterly dividend to $0.40 per share. During the fourth quarter alone, AerCap repurchased 3.5 million shares for $444 million at an average price of $127.63 per share.

Looking ahead, AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) guided for adjusted earnings per share of $12.00 to $13.00 in 2026, excluding any gains from asset sales. AerCap expects GAAP net income of roughly $1.7 billion and adjusted net income of about $2.0 billion after adding back approximately $300 million in purchase-accounting adjustments. Management noted that 2025 results included $3.95 per share of gains on sale that are not assumed in the 2026 outlook.

Founded in 1995, AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) is an Irish-American aviation leasing company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. The company leases commercial aircraft, engines, and helicopters through long-term agreements with airlines around the world and maintains offices across multiple global markets.

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