AerCap beats earnings estimates as 100th Boeing 787 delivery marks fleet milestone
The aircraft lessor delivered its 100th Dreamliner to Grupo Aeromexico while reporting second-quarter results that significantly exceeded Wall Street expectations.
AerCap Holdings N.V. has marked a significant operational milestone by delivering its 100th Boeing 787 aircraft from its direct order book. The latest delivery was made to Grupo Aeromexico, representing the airline’s 25th Dreamliner. AerCap, which remains the world’s largest owner of Boeing 787s, holds a portfolio of approximately 140 owned and ordered aircraft of this type.
The delivery coincided with the release of the company’s second-quarter 2026 financial results, which demonstrated strong performance relative to market expectations. AerCap reported adjusted earnings per share of $5.14, significantly surpassing the $4.00 estimated by Wall Street analysts. The company generated revenues of $2.16 billion for the period, supported by operating cash flow of $1.5 billion.
Further bolstering its financial position, AerCap recorded net gains of $223 million from $1.4 billion in asset sales, achieving a 20 per cent margin. Based on these results, the company raised its full-year 2026 adjusted earnings per share guidance from $14.50 to $16.80. This upward revision reflects confidence in the continued strength of the aviation leasing sector.
In a comparative context, The Boeing Company reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $24.6 billion, driven by 171 commercial deliveries. However, the manufacturer recorded a core loss per share of $0.76, missing the expected loss of $0.29, and reported a GAAP net loss of $428 million. Despite the loss, Boeing’s free cash flow turned positive at $631 million, and its commercial airplane backlog stands at $597 billion.
Boeing also secured a $636.11 million US Army contract modification for Apache airframe logistics, repair, and supply chain support. This award brings the cumulative contract value to $1.13 billion, with work scheduled to extend through April 2029. The defence contract provides a stabilising pillar for Boeing’s revenue as it navigates challenges in its commercial division.
Institutional sentiment data from Insider Monkey’s hedge fund database indicates contrasting trends for the two companies. In the first quarter of 2026, 56 hedge funds held AerCap shares, an increase from 54 in the previous quarter. Conversely, Boeing saw a decline in hedge fund participation, with 99 funds holding the stock in the first quarter of 2026 compared with 114 in the fourth quarter of 2025.
