FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) has garnered a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from twelve analysts currently covering the stock, according to Marketbeat Ratings. The analysis reflects a combination of recommendations, with two analysts suggesting a hold, nine endorsing a buy, and one advocating for a strong buy.
Among the analysts, the average 1-year price target stands at approximately $226.88. Several recent evaluations have contributed to this consensus. Notably, Barclays raised its price target on FTAI Aviation from $200.00 to $260.00, categorizing the stock as “overweight” in a report dated January 15, 2024. Similarly, BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating, setting a target price of $230.00 on December 30, 2023.
Zacks Research made a significant adjustment on January 9, lifting FTAI Aviation from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating, while Jones Trading began coverage on October 10, issuing a “buy” rating with a price objective of $306.00.
Institutional Investments and Stock Performance
Recent trading activity reveals substantial interest from institutional investors, with 88.96% of the stock currently held by such entities. For instance, Mather Group LLC acquired a new position valued at approximately $28,000 during the third quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its stake by 78.5% in the second quarter, now holding 307 shares worth $35,000 after adding 135 shares.
Global Retirement Partners LLC experienced a substantial increase of 880.0% in its holdings during the third quarter, now owning 343 shares valued at $57,000. Likewise, Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. invested around $60,000 to acquire a new position in the company, while Assetmark Inc. raised its holdings by 15.8% in the second quarter.
On the trading front, FTAI Aviation shares opened at $280.24 on Friday, reflecting a 2.4% increase. The stock has demonstrated significant volatility over the past year, with a low of $75.06 and a high of $281.12. The market capitalization of FTAI Aviation stands at approximately $28.74 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 63.98.
Financial Performance and Dividend Declaration
In its most recent quarterly earnings report on October 27, 2023, FTAI Aviation reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.10, falling short of the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.09. The company generated revenue of $667.06 million, slightly exceeding analysts’ expectations of $662.51 million. This performance marks a 43.2% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year, with the previous year’s EPS recorded at $0.76.
In addition to its financial performance, FTAI Aviation has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.35 per share, which was paid on November 19, 2023, to shareholders on record as of November 10, 2023. This annualizes to $1.40, yielding 0.5%. The company’s current dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.96%.
FTAI Aviation specializes in commercial aircraft leasing, focusing on acquiring, managing, and leasing modern, fuel-efficient wide-body jet aircraft to airlines worldwide. The firm’s strategy is centered on delivering stable cash flows through lease rentals and maintenance reserves while offering airlines flexible fleet solutions.
