COCONUT CREEK, Fla., July  08, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:WLFC) (&#34;WLFC&#34; or the &#34;Company&#34;), the leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and a global provider

WLFC

Willis Lease Finance Corporation Added to Three Russell 2000 Indexes

Willis Lease Finance joins three Russell 2000 indexes, signaling potential inflows

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>COCONUT CREEK, Fla., July  08, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:WLFC) (&amp;#34;WLFC&amp;#34; or the &amp;#34;Company&amp;#34;), the leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and a global provider</p>
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  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>Willis Lease Finance has been added to three Russell 2000 indexes, effective June 26, 2026. The expansion should boost WLFC&#039;s exposure to passive funds and broaden visibility among asset managers, potentially supporting near-term demand as funds rebalance. There is no immediate earnings impact, but liquidity and trading interest may benefit.</p>
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  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>WLFC added to three Russell 2000 indexes, effective June 26, 2026.</li><li>WLFC now in Russell Defensive, Growth-Defensive, and Value-Defensive subindexes.</li><li>Russell index reconstitution could boost WLFC visibility and demand.</li><li>As of 6/30/2025, Russell indexes benchmark about $12.2 trillion.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC)</strong>: Added to three Russell 2000 indexes; potential passive-fund inflows and increased visibility.</li><li><strong>FTSE Russell (N/A)</strong>: Index provider overseeing Russell 2000 reconstitution; context for potential fund flows.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Industry News</h3>
    <p>Industry News: This is a corporate development affecting WLFC&#039;s stock visibility and potential passive inflows, not a fundamental earnings event.</p>
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  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Inclusion may trigger passive-buying inflows into WLFC.</li><li>Liquidity could improve with increased index-tracking demand.</li><li>No earnings catalysts tied to this announcement; monitor fund flows.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Effective date: June 26, 2026.</li><li>WLFC added to Russell 2000 Defensive, Growth-Defensive, Value-Defensive indexes.</li><li>WLFC has been a Russell 2000 member since 2009.</li><li>As of 6/30/2025, Russell US Indexes benchmark about $12.2 trillion assets.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Short-term upside from index-driven buying; fundamentals remain the longer-term driver.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/styles/gnw_nitf.css"></link><p align="justify">COCONUT CREEK, Fla., July  08, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WLFC">WLFC</a>) (&#34;WLFC&#34; or the &#34;Company&#34;), the leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and a global provider of aviation services, today announced that it has been added to three Russell 2000 Indexes, effective June 26, 2026, as part of the FTSE Russell 2026 U.S. Indexes reconstitution.</p>  <p align="justify">A member of the Russell 2000 Index since 2009, WLFC is now included in these additional indexes:</p>  <ul type="square"><li style="text-align:justify;">Russell 2000 Defensive Index</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Russell 2000 Growth-Defensive Index</li><li style="margin-bottom:12pt; text-align:justify;">Russell 2000 Value-Defensive Index<br></br><br></br></li></ul>  <p align="justify">&#34;We are delighted to be represented in three additional Russell 2000 Indexes, which should broaden WLFC’s visibility with the investment community,&#34; said Austin C. Willis, Chief Executive Officer of WLFC. &#34;These indexes are designed to deliver financial stability for investors, and we believe our inclusion validates our long-term strategy to create value for shareholders."</p>  <p align="justify">Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. As of June 30, 2025, approximately $12.2 trillion in assets are benchmarked to the Russell US Indexes, which belong to FTSE Russell, the global index provider.</p>  <p align="justify"><strong><u>Willis</u></strong> <strong><u>Lease</u></strong> <strong><u>Finance</u></strong> <strong><u>Corporation</u></strong></p>  <p align="justify">Willis Lease Finance Corporation leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers worldwide. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools, and asset management services through Willis Mitsui &amp; Co. Asset Management Limited, as well as various end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials provided through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. Through Willis Engine Repair Center&#xAE;, Jet Centre by Willis, and Willis Aviation Services Limited, the Company’s service offerings include Part 145 engine maintenance, aircraft line and base maintenance, aircraft disassembly, parking and storage, airport FBO and ground and cargo handling services.</p>  <p align="justify">Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law.</p>  <p align="justify">The Company’s actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as war, terrorist activity and the COVID-19 pandemic; changes in oil prices, rising inflation and other disruptions to world markets; trends in the airline industry and the Company’s ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; the Company’s ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to the Company and its customers; the Company’s ability to continue to meet changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in the Company’s portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is advisable, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in such filings. These statements constitute the Company’s cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.</p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width:100%; border-collapse:collapse ;"><tr><td style="width:26.3614%;;text-align: justify ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; "><strong> CONTACT:</strong></td><td style="width:73.6386%;;text-align: justify ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">Lynn Mailliard Kohler</td></tr><tr><td style="width:26.3614%;;text-align: justify ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: top ; "> </td><td style="width:73.6386%;;text-align: justify ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">Director, Global Corporate Communications</td></tr><tr><td style="width:26.3614%;;text-align: justify ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: top ; "> </td><td style="width:73.6386%;;text-align: justify ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">(415) 328-4798</td></tr><tr><td style="width:26.3614%;;text-align: justify ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: top ; "> </td><td style="width:73.6386%;;text-align: justify ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">lkohler@willislease.com</td></tr></table> <p align="justify"><br></br></p> <img alt="" class="__GNW8366DE3E__IMG" src="https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ti?nf=OTc1OTI1MyM3Njk3NTgxIzIwMjY5MDg="></img> <br></br><img alt="" src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/YjZiNWY5MzItZmU5Yi00NTE0LTg3MTUtYWM4ZjMwMmZhMDM1LTEwMzg1NDQtMjAyNi0wNy0wOC1lbg==/tiny/Willis-Lease-Finance-Corp-.png" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></img><p><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c7750338-127c-4be8-9305-fb8b94ddd7a4"><img src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/c7750338-127c-4be8-9305-fb8b94ddd7a4/small/wlfc-jpg.jpg" border="0" width="150" height="63" alt="Primary Logo"></img></a></p>

Willis Lease Finance has been added to three Russell 2000 indexes, effective June 26, 2026. The expansion should boost WLFC's exposure to passive funds and broaden visibility among asset managers, potentially supporting near-term demand as funds rebalance. There is no immediate earnings impact, but liquidity and trading interest may benefit.

Willis Lease Finance Corporation Added to Three Russell 2000 Indexes

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Market-Moving

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