AerCap Locks In Freighter Deal With Ethiopian Airlines

AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) shares are up during Tuesday’s premarket session.

The company disclosed lease agreements with Ethiopian Airlines for two Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) 777-300ERSF converted freighters.

Details

The deal marks a significant milestone for AerCap as these will be the first of their kind to operate in Africa.

The company has scheduled the deliveries in the second quarter of 2028, enhancing Ethiopian Airlines’ cargo capacity and efficiency.

The CEO of Aercap, Aengus Kelly, expressed enthusiasm about deepening their partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, emphasizing the aircraft’s ability to deliver 25% more capacity than smaller twin-engine freighters.

This strategic move aligns with Ethiopian Airlines’ commitment to investing in modern, sustainable solutions to boost trade in the region.

Orders 100 Airbus Jets

Last week, AerCap ordered 100 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, including the exercise of 45 existing options, while adding another 55 aircraft to its order book.

Engine deliveries are set to begin in the second quarter of 2026, providing a clear timeline for assets entering AerCap’s leasing portfolio, while aircraft deliveries will extend from 2028 through 2034.

AerCap: Technical Analysis

The stock is currently trading 3.6% below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 0.8% above its 100-day SMA, indicating a mixed short-term trend. Over the past 12 months, shares have increased 30.47%, and they are currently positioned closer to their 52-week highs than lows.

The RSI is at 41.68, which is considered neutral territory, suggesting that the stock is neither overbought nor oversold at this time. Meanwhile, MACD is at -3.3836, below its signal line at -2.6270, indicating bearish pressure on the stock. The combination of neutral RSI and bearish MACD suggests mixed momentum for Aercap.

• Key Resistance: $140.00
• Key Support: $130.00

Earnings & Analyst Outlook

Aercap is slated to provide its next financial update on April 29, 2026 (estimated).

• EPS Estimate: $3.60 (Down from $3.68)
• Revenue Estimate: $2.02 billion (Down from $2.08 billion)
• Valuation: P/E of 6.3x (Indicates value opportunity)

Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $128.77. Recent analyst moves include:

• Morgan Stanley: Equal-Weight (Raises Target to $160.00) (Mar. 2)
• Barclays: Overweight (Raises Target to $162.00) (Jan. 6)
• Truist Securities: Initiated with Buy (Target $159.00) (Dec. 9, 2025)

Benzinga Edge Rankings

Below is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Aercap, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:

• Value Rank: 79.37 — The stock shows strong value characteristics.
• Growth Rank: 90.25 — Indicating robust growth potential.
• Quality Rank: 87 — Reflecting solid financial health.
• Momentum Rank: 70.5 — Suggesting positive price momentum.

The Verdict: Aercap’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals a balanced scorecard with strong growth and quality metrics, indicating a favorable outlook for investors.

AER Stock Price Activity: AerCap shares were up 0.44% at $135.80 during premarket trading on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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