AerCap Holdings N.V. Reports Strong Financial Results for the First Quarter 2025, Increases 2025 Guidance and Announces New $500 Million Share Repurchase Program

  • Net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $643 million, or $3.48 per share.
  • Adjusted net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $679 million, or $3.68 per share.
  • Raising full-year 2025 adjusted earnings per share guidance to $9.30 - $10.30, not including any additional gains on sale for the remainder of the year.
  • New $500 million share repurchase program announced.

DUBLIN, April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE: AER), the industry leader across all areas of aviation leasing, today reported strong financial results for the first quarter of 2025.

"AerCap produced another strong performance for the first quarter of 2025. We continue to benefit from strong demand for our aviation assets, as well as a robust sales market. Given these strong results, we have increased our 2025 full-year EPS guidance and announced a new $500 million share repurchase program," said Aengus Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of AerCap.

Highlights:

  • Return on equity of 15% and adjusted return on equity of 16% for the first quarter of 2025.
  • Cash flow from operating activities of $1.3 billion for the first quarter of 2025.
  • Unlevered gain-on-sale margin of 35% for assets sold in the first quarter of 2025, or 2.3x book value on an equity basis.
  • Capex of $1.5 billion, including purchases of 13 aircraft, 35 engines and one helicopter.
  • Signed financing transactions for approximately $1.5 billion in the first quarter of 2025.
  • Adjusted debt/equity ratio of 2.4 to 1 as of March 31, 2025.
  • Upgraded to BBB+ by Fitch Ratings; now rated BBB+ by all three major rating agencies.
  • Book value per share of $97.37 as of March 31, 2025, an increase of approximately 11% from March 31, 2024.
  • Returned $558 million to shareholders through the repurchase of 5.7 million shares at an average price of $97.93 per share during the first quarter of 2025.
  • New $500 million share repurchase program announced.

Revenue and Net Spread

Three months ended March 31,

2025

2024

% increase/
(decrease)

(U.S. Dollars in millions)

Lease revenue:

   Basic lease rents

$1,649

$1,586

4 %

   Maintenance rents and other receipts

146

179

(18 %)

Total lease revenue

1,796

1,765

2 %

Net gain on sale of assets

177

160

11 %

Other income

105

93

12 %

Total Revenues and other income

$2,077

$2,018

3 %

Basic lease rents were $1,649 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared with $1,586 million for the same period in 2024. Basic lease rents for the first quarter of 2025 were negatively impacted by $27 million of lease premium amortization.

Maintenance rents and other receipts were $146 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared with $179 million for the same period in 2024. Maintenance rents for the first quarter of 2025 were negatively impacted by $9 million as a result of maintenance rights assets that were amortized to revenue.

Net gain on sale of assets for the first quarter of 2025 was $177 million, relating to 35 assets sold for $683 million, compared with $160 million for the same period in 2024, relating to 43 assets sold for $920 million. The increase was primarily due to the composition of asset sales and the strong sales environment during the first quarter.

Other income for the first quarter of 2025 was $105 million, compared with $93 million for the same period in 2024.

Three months ended March 31,

2025

2024

% increase/
(decrease)

(U.S. Dollars in millions)

Basic lease rents

$1,649

$1,586

4 %

Adjusted for:

   Amortization of lease premium/deficiency

27

33

(18 %)

Basic lease rents excluding amortization of lease premium/

deficiency

$1,676

$1,618

4 %

Interest expense

503

492

2 %

Adjusted for:

   Mark-to-market of interest rate derivatives

(5)

(3)

46 %

Interest expense excluding mark-to-market of interest rate derivatives

498

488

2 %

Adjusted net interest margin (*)

$1,178

$1,131

4 %

Depreciation and amortization

(660)

(633)

4 %

Adjusted net interest margin, less depreciation and amortization

$518

$497

4 %

Average lease assets (*)

$62,053

$60,458

3 %

Annualized net spread (*)

7.6 %

7.5 %

Annualized net spread less depreciation and amortization (*)

3.3 %

3.3 %

(*) Refer to "Notes Regarding Financial Information Presented in This Press Release" for details relating to these non-GAAP measures and metrics

Interest expense excluding mark-to-market of interest rate derivatives was $498 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared with $488 million for the same period in 2024. AerCap's average cost of debt was 4.1% for the first quarter of 2025 and 3.9% for the same period in 2024, excluding debt issuance costs, upfront fees and other impacts.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Three months ended March 31,

2025

2024

% increase/
(decrease)

(U.S. Dollars in millions)

Selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding share-based

compensation expenses)

$86

$94

(8 %)

Share-based compensation expenses

27

25

7 %

Selling, general and administrative expenses

$113

$119

(5 %)

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $113 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared with $119 million for the same period in 2024.

Other Expenses

Leasing expenses were $81 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared with $149 million for the same period in 2024. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in transition-related costs and lower maintenance rights amortization. Leasing expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were negatively impacted by $7 million of maintenance rights amortization.

Effective Tax Rate

AerCap's effective tax rate was 15.5% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to an effective tax rate of 14.3% for the first quarter of 2024. The effective tax rate is impacted by the source and amount of earnings among our different tax jurisdictions as well as the amount of permanent tax differences relative to pre-tax income or loss, and certain other discrete items.

Book Value Per Share

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2024

(U.S. Dollars in millions,
except share and per share data)

Total AerCap Holdings N.V. shareholders' equity

$17,192

$16,956

Ordinary shares outstanding

181,274,006

198,342,820

Unvested restricted stock

(4,707,440)

(4,503,640)

Ordinary shares outstanding (excl. unvested restricted stock)

176,566,566

193,839,180

Book value per ordinary share outstanding (excl. unvested restricted stock)

$97.37

$87.47

Dividend declared per ordinary share for the three months ended March 31, 2025

$0.27

 

Financial Position 

March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

% increase/

(decrease) over

December 31, 2024

(U.S. Dollars in millions)

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

$1,269

$1,402

(9 %)

Total assets

72,555

71,442

2 %

Debt

46,187

45,295

2 %

Total liabilities

55,363

54,257

2 %

Total AerCap Holdings N.V. shareholders' equity

17,192

17,185

— %

Flight Equipment 

As of March 31, 2025, AerCap's portfolio consisted of 3,508 aircraft, engines and helicopters that were owned, on order or managed. The average age of the company's owned aircraft fleet as of March 31, 2025 was 7.5 years (4.9 years for new technology aircraft, 15.2 years for current technology aircraft) and the average remaining contracted lease term was 7.3 years.

Dividend

In April 2025, AerCap's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share, with a payment date of June 5, 2025, to shareholders of record of AerCap ordinary shares as of the close of business on May 14, 2025.

Notes Regarding Financial Information Presented in This Press Release

The financial information presented in this press release is not audited.

Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this document may not add up precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures.

The following are definitions of non-GAAP measures and metrics used in this press release. We believe these measures and metrics may further assist investors in their understanding of our performance. These measures and metrics should not be viewed in isolation and should only be used in conjunction with and as a supplement to our U.S. GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP measures and metrics are not uniformly defined by all companies, including those in our industry, and so this additional information may not be comparable with similarly-titled measures and metrics and disclosures by other companies.

Adjusted net income / earnings per share, adjusted return on equity and adjusted earnings per share guidance

Adjusted net income is calculated as net income excluding the after-tax impact of the amortization of maintenance rights and lease premium assets recognized under purchase accounting and net recoveries related to the Ukraine Conflict. Adjusted earnings per share is calculated by dividing adjusted net income by the weighted average of our ordinary shares outstanding. Adjusted return on equity is calculated by dividing adjusted net income by average shareholders' equity. Given the relative significance of these items during 2025, we have chosen to present this measure in order to assist investors in their understanding of the changes and trends related to our earnings.

Three months ended March 31, 2025

Net income

Earnings

per share

(U.S. Dollars in millions,

except per share data)

Net income / earnings per share

$643

$3.48

Adjusted for:

   Amortization of maintenance rights and lease premium

   assets recognized under purchase accounting (*)

43

0.23

   Income tax effect of above adjustments

(6)

(0.04)

Adjusted net income / earnings per share

$679

$3.68

Average AerCap Holdings N.V. shareholders' equity

$17,188

Return on equity

15 %

Adjusted return on equity

16 %

(*) Includes $27 million adjustment to basic lease rents, $9 million adjustment to maintenance revenues and $7 million adjustment to leasing expenses for
the three months ended Match 31, 2025

 

Adjusted earnings per share guidance for full-year 2025 is calculated as projected net income excluding the after-tax impact of the amortization of maintenance rights and lease premium assets recognized under purchase accounting divided by the weighted average of our projected ordinary shares outstanding.

Projected FY 2025
Net income / Earnings
per Share

(U.S. Dollars in billions,
except per share data)

Net income

$1.5

Amortization of maintenance rights and lease premium assets recognized under purchase accounting

0.3

Income tax effect of above adjustments

(0.1)

Adjusted net income

$1.8

Adjusted earnings per share

$9.30 - $10.30

 

Adjusted debt/equity ratio

This measure is the ratio obtained by dividing adjusted debt by adjusted equity.

  • Adjusted debt means consolidated total debt less cash and cash equivalents, and less a 50% equity credit with respect to certain long-term subordinated debt.
  • Adjusted equity means total equity, plus the 50% equity credit relating to the long-term subordinated debt.

Adjusted debt and adjusted equity are adjusted by the 50% equity credit to reflect the equity nature of those financing arrangements and to provide information that is consistent with definitions under certain of our debt covenants. We believe this measure may further assist investors in their understanding of our capital structure and leverage.

March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

(U.S. Dollars in millions,
except debt/equity ratio)

Debt

$46,187

$45,295

Adjusted for:

   Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents

(1,057)

(1,209)

   50% equity credit for long-term subordinated debt

(1,125)

(1,125)

Adjusted debt

$44,006

$42,960

Equity

$17,192

$17,185

Adjusted for:

   50% equity credit for long-term subordinated debt

1,125

1,125

Adjusted equity

$18,317

$18,310

Adjusted debt/equity ratio

2.40 to 1

2.35 to 1

Adjusted net interest margin, annualized net spread, annualized net spread less depreciation and amortization and average cost of debt

Adjusted net interest margin is calculated as the difference between basic lease rents, excluding the impact of the amortization of lease premium/deficiency recognized under purchase accounting, and interest expense, excluding the impact of the mark-to-market of interest rate derivatives. Annualized net spread is adjusted net interest margin expressed as a percentage of average lease assets. Annualized net spread less depreciation and amortization is adjusted net interest margin less depreciation and amortization, expressed as a percentage of average lease assets.

Average cost of debt is calculated as interest expense, excluding mark-to-market on interest rate derivatives, debt issuance costs, upfront fees and other impacts, divided by average debt balance.

Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024

(U.S. Dollars in millions)

Interest expense

$503

$492

Adjusted for:

   Mark-to-market on interest rate derivatives

(5)

(3)

   Debt issuance costs, upfront fees and other impacts

(28)

(31)

Interest expense, excluding mark-to-market on interest rate derivatives, debt issuance

costs, upfront fees and other impacts

$470

$457

Average debt balance

$46,160

$46,536

Average cost of debt

4.1 %

3.9 %

Lease assets

Lease assets include flight equipment held for operating leases, flight equipment held for sale, net investment in finance leases and maintenance rights assets.

Aviation assets

Aviation assets include aircraft, engines and helicopters.

Conference Call

In connection with its report of first quarter 2025 results, management will host a conference call with members of the investment community today, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 8:30 am Eastern Time. The call can be accessed live via webcast by AerCap's website at www.aercap.com under "Investors", or by dialing (U.S./Canada) +1 929 477 0402 or (International) +353 1 246 5638 and referencing code 9290960 at least 5 minutes before start time.

The webcast replay will be archived in the "Investors" section of the company's website for one year.

For further information, contact Joseph McGinley: +353 1 418 0428 (jmcginley@aercap.com).

About AerCap

AerCap is the global leader in aviation leasing with one of the most attractive order books in the industry. AerCap serves approximately 300 customers around the world with comprehensive fleet solutions. AerCap is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (AER) and is based in Dublin with offices in Shannon, Miami, Singapore, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Dubai and other locations around the world.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements, estimates and forecasts with respect to future performance and events. These statements, estimates and forecasts are "forward-looking statements". In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "intend," "will," "aim," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negatives thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements and are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the availability of capital to us and to our customers and changes in interest rates; the ability of our lessees and potential lessees to make lease payments to us; our ability to successfully negotiate flight equipment (which includes aircraft, engines and helicopters) purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to repossess flight equipment under defaulted leases, and to control costs and expenses; changes in the overall demand for commercial aviation leasing and aviation asset management services; the continued impacts of the Ukraine Conflict, including the resulting sanctions by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other countries, on our business and results of operations, financial condition and cash flows; the effects of terrorist attacks on the aviation industry and on our operations; the economic condition of the global airline and cargo industry and economic and political conditions; the impact of hostilities in the Middle East, or any escalation thereof, on the aviation industry or our business; trade tensions, including U.S. tariffs and retaliatory measures by China and other countries, and the resulting geopolitical uncertainty; development of increased government regulation, including travel restrictions, sanctions, regulation of trade and the imposition of import and export controls, tariffs and other trade barriers; a downgrade in any of our credit ratings; competitive pressures within the industry; regulatory changes affecting commercial flight equipment operators, flight equipment maintenance, engine standards, accounting standards and taxes; and disruptions and security breaches affecting our information systems or the information systems of our third-party providers.

As a result, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate or correct. These and other important factors and risks are discussed in AerCap's annual report on Form 20-F and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future performance or events described in the forward-looking statements in this press release might not occur. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information regarding AerCap and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.aercap.com.

 

AerCap Holdings N.V.

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

(U.S. Dollars in thousands, except share data)

March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$1,056,547

$1,209,226

Restricted cash

212,746

192,356

Trade receivables

58,141

68,073

Flight equipment held for operating leases, net

58,882,411

58,575,672

Investment in finance leases, net

1,243,284

1,208,585

Flight equipment held for sale

524,594

466,173

Prepayments on flight equipment

4,476,040

3,460,296

Maintenance rights and lease premium, net

2,000,504

2,129,993

Other intangibles, net

134,197

139,666

Deferred tax assets

262,754

261,004

Associated companies

1,159,418

1,128,894

Other assets

2,544,838

2,602,038

Total Assets

$72,555,474

$71,441,976

Liabilities and Equity

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

$1,812,666

$1,774,827

Accrued maintenance liability

3,361,205

3,327,347

Lessee deposit liability

1,144,342

1,092,585

Debt

46,187,370

45,294,511

Deferred tax liabilities

2,857,592

2,767,874

Total Liabilities

55,363,175

54,257,144

Ordinary share capital €0.01 par value, 450,000,000 ordinary shares authorized as of March 31, 2025 and

 December 31, 2024; 196,043,739 and 204,543,739 ordinary shares issued and 181,274,006 and 186,783,225

 ordinary shares outstanding (including 4,707,440 and 5,072,382 shares of unvested restricted stock) as of

March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively

2,466

2,558

Additional paid-in capital

5,264,597

5,809,276

Treasury shares, at cost (14,769,733 and 17,760,514 ordinary shares as of March 31, 2025 and

December 31, 2024, respectively)

(1,410,655)

(1,425,652)

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

(15,580)

42,683

Accumulated retained earnings

13,351,261

12,755,758

Total AerCap Holdings N.V. shareholders' equity

17,192,089

17,184,623

Non-controlling interest

210

209

Total Equity

17,192,299

17,184,832

Total Liabilities and Equity

$72,555,474

$71,441,976

AerCap Holdings N.V.

Unaudited Consolidated Income Statements

(U.S. Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024

Revenues and other income

Lease revenue:

Basic lease rents

$1,649,061

$1,585,631

Maintenance rents and other receipts

146,491

179,460

Total lease revenue

1,795,552

1,765,091

Net gain on sale of assets

176,918

159,580

Other income

104,562

93,417

Total Revenues and other income

2,077,032

2,018,088

Expenses

Depreciation and amortization

659,735

633,478

Net recoveries related to Ukraine Conflict

(22,749)

Asset impairment

3,240

2,670

Interest expense

502,860

491,515

Loss on debt extinguishment

12

Leasing expenses

80,745

148,614

Selling, general and administrative expenses

113,101

119,292

Total Expenses

1,359,681

1,372,832

(Loss) gain on investments at fair value

(1,395)

13,523

Income before income taxes and income of investments

accounted for under the equity method

715,956

658,779

Income tax expense

(110,973)

(94,109)

Equity in net earnings of investments accounted for under

the equity method

37,878

39,540

Net income

$642,861

$604,210

Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest

(1)

4

Net income attributable to AerCap Holdings N.V.

$642,860

$604,214

Basic earnings per share

$3.58

$3.09

Diluted earnings per share

$3.48

$3.02

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic

179,521,844

195,773,846

Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted

184,605,431

200,085,734

AerCap Holdings N.V.

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(U.S. Dollars in thousands)

Three months ended March 31,

2025

2024

Net income

$642,861

$604,210

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

659,735

633,478

Net recoveries related to Ukraine Conflict

(22,749)

Asset impairment

3,240

2,670

Amortization of debt issuance costs, debt discount, debt premium and lease premium

47,185

58,629

Maintenance rights write-off

16,034

49,298

Maintenance liability release to income

(45,528)

(50,407)

Net gain on sale of assets

(176,918)

(159,580)

Deferred tax expense

97,235

76,158

Share-based compensation

27,256

25,378

Collections of finance leases

83,260

116,194

Loss (gain) on investments at fair value

1,395

(13,523)

Loss on debt extinguishment

12

Other

(25,834)

(9,331)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

   Trade receivables

9,833

21,388

   Other assets

36,823

15,777

   Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

(41,540)

28,064

Net cash provided by operating activities

1,335,037

1,375,666

Purchase of flight equipment

(1,310,617)

(670,432)

Proceeds from sale or disposal of assets

520,281

768,365

Prepayments on flight equipment

(1,190,217)

(961,049)

Net (issuances of) proceeds from loans receivable

(368)

19,786

Other

(24,257)

1,580

Net cash used in investing activities

(2,005,178)

(841,750)

Issuance of debt

1,930,469

1,500,000

Repayment of debt

(1,030,659)

(2,237,767)

Debt issuance and extinguishment costs paid, net of debt premium received

(19,751)

(35,762)

Maintenance payments received

223,184

215,207

Maintenance payments returned

(39,891)

(26,748)

Security deposits received

99,983

113,432

Security deposits returned

(60,901)

(53,090)

Repurchase of shares and tax withholdings on share-based compensation

(562,311)

(347,937)

Dividends paid on ordinary shares

(5,595)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

534,528

(872,665)

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(135,613)

(338,749)

Effect of exchange rate changes

3,324

(1,222)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

1,401,582

1,825,466

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$1,269,293

$1,485,495

 

AerCap 50th Anniversary logo (PRNewsfoto/AerCap Holdings N.V.)

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SOURCE AerCap Holdings N.V.