The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) releases the September 2013 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI) today. Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $725 billion equipment finance sector.

Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 61.3, steady with the August index of 61.0.

When asked about the outlook for the future, MCI survey respondent Russell Nelson, President, CoBank Farm Credit Leasing, said, “Stable to slightly favorable economic news, combined with rising equipment costs and interest rates, are driving a continued increase in capital expenditures within a number of industries. Current tax advantages, flexible structures and terms, used equipment values, and attractive fixed rates are contributing to another strong year for equipment financing in 2013, with potential increasing momentum into 2014.”

September 2013 Survey Results:

The overall MCI-EFI is 61.3, steady with the August index of 61.0.

• When asked to assess their business conditions over the next four months, 30.3% of executives responding said they believe business conditions will improve over the next four months, down from 32.4% in August.  66.7% of respondents believe business conditions will remain the same over the next four months, down from 67.6% in August.  3% believe business conditions will worsen, up from no one who believed so the previous month.

• 33.3% of survey respondents believe demand for leases and loans to fund capital expenditures (capex) will increase over the next four months, up from 23.5% in August.  63.6% believe demand will “remain the same” during the same four-month time period, down from 76.5% the previous month.  3% believe demand will decline, up from no one who believed so in August.

• 18.2% of executives expect more access to capital to fund equipment acquisitions over the next four months, down from 20.6% in August. 81.8% of survey respondents indicate they expect the “same” access to capital to fund business, an increase from 79.4% the previous month. No one expects “less” access to capital, unchanged from August.

• When asked, 36.4% of the executives reported they expect to hire more employees over the next four months, an increase from 29.4% in August.  60.6% expect no change in headcount over the next four months, down from 64.7% last month.  3.0% expect fewer employees, down from 5.9% of respondents who expected fewer employees in August.

• 90.9% of the leadership evaluates the current U.S. economy as “fair,” steady with 91.2% last month.  9.1% rate it as “poor,” also steady with 8.8% in August.

• 18.2% of survey respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will get “better” over the next six months, a decrease from 26.5% in August.  78.8% of survey respondents indicate they believe the U.S. economy will “stay the same” over the next six months, an increase from 70.6% in August.  3.0% believe economic conditions in the U.S. will worsen over the next six months, unchanged from last month.

• In September, 30.3% of respondents indicate they believe their company will increase spending on business development activities during the next six months, an increase from 29.4% in August.  66.7% believe there will be “no change” in business development spending, a decrease from 70.6% last month.  3% believe there will be a decrease in spending, up from no one who believed so in August.

September 2013 MCI Survey Comments from Industry Executive Leadership:
 
Depending on the market segment they represent, executives have differing points of view on the current and future outlook for the industry.

Independent, Small Ticket

“Our long term view is optimistic. However, in the near term the challenge of continued growth becomes greater as margins continue to narrow and demand is not at a robust pace. Small business owners—who are our customers—are still not exhibiting the same behavior as it relates to capital equipment acquisition that their larger counterparts are experiencing.  It is sometimes as though the economy has two very different sides.”  Valerie Hayes Jester, President, Brandywine Capital Associates, Inc.

Independent, Small Ticket

“We continue to see moderate demand in the small business segment.  Job growth continues to be unimpressive and not significant enough to propel anything more than modest demand for new equipment.  Portfolio performance is outstanding in terms of delinquency and defaults and we don't expect any significant change in the near term.”  David Schaefer, CEO, Mintaka Financial, LLC

Bank, Middle Ticket

“At this point I don’t believe we have an economic recovery but economic stagnation.  There is no momentum in the economy, only the hope that conditions may get better but hopefully won’t get any worse.  The upcoming fiscal battle in Washington will only add to the stagnation.  As such, the equipment finance market will see only marginal growth over the coming months.” Thomas Jaschik, President, BB&T Equipment Finance