Willis Austin Chandler, serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC), completed a significant transaction involving the sale of 5,184 shares of the company's common equity on July 1, 2026. The total value of these sales reached approximately $1,161,555. The execution price for the shares varied, with costs ranging between $220.618 and $229.53 per share.
These sales were carried out in accordance with a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Mr. Chandler initially adopted this plan on March 24, 2026. The timing of the transaction coincides with WLFC stock trading near its 52-week high of $239.44. This price level follows a substantial 63% gain in the stock's value over the past year. According to analysis from InvestingPro, the stock appears to be fairly valued at its current trading levels.
Following the execution of these sales, Mr. Chandler's direct ownership of Willis Lease Finance Corporation common stock stands at 1,822 shares. His total holdings are further expanded through indirect ownership structures managed via several trusts and partnerships:
- 1,822 shares are held through the Rooster A. Willis 2019 Trust, where Mr. Chandler acts as trustee for his son.
- 1,822 shares are held through the Wilder Grace Willis 2019 Trust, where he serves as trustee for his daughter.
- 22,322 shares are held through the Charles F. Willis V 2019 Trust, where he serves as trustee for his brother.
- 3,449 shares are held through the Austin C. Willis 2019 Irrevocable Trust.
- 8,692 shares are held through the CFW V 2016 Trust, where he serves as trustee.
- 232,715 shares are held through the 2019 Willis Family Trust, where he serves as trustee. This holding includes 213,415 shares with shared voting power with Charles F. Willis IV.
- 405,488 shares are held through CFW Partners, with shared voting power with Charles F. Willis IV.
The company has recently completed the acquisition of three Airbus A330-300 aircraft. These assets will be leased to China Airlines and EVA Air. This acquisition aligns with the company's strategy to expand its aircraft portfolio with high-quality assets. Additionally, Willis Lease Finance announced that shareholders have approved a three-for-one forward stock split of its common stock. This decision includes a proportionate increase in authorized shares and was also approved by the Board of Directors. The split will be executed through an amendment to the company's certificate of incorporation.
Four Tree Island Advisory LLC, a significant stockholder, reported that a large percentage of unaffiliated shareholders opposed the company's executive compensation program and the re-election of a director during the 2026 annual meeting. In financial developments, Willis Lease Finance priced a public offering of $200 million in convertible senior notes due in 2031. The notes carry an interest rate of 2.50%. The net proceeds from this offering are expected to be approximately $193.1 million. These developments highlight the company's ongoing efforts to strengthen its financial position and asset portfolio.