The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) releases the March 2017 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 $1 trillion equipment finance sector.

Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 71.1, easing from the February index of 72.2 but remaining among the highest levels of the last two years.

When asked about the outlook for the future, MCI-EFI survey respondent Thomas Jaschik, President, BB&T Equipment Finance, said, “The ‘Trump Effect’ appears to be having a positive impact on the equipment finance market. Customer demand has increased over 2016 levels. A positive outlook on taxes and regulation seems to have been the catalyst for increased capital expenditures. If the promises come to life it could be a banner year for the U.S. economy and the equipment finance industry.” 
 
March 2017 Survey Results:

The overall MCI-EFI is 71.1, a decrease from the February index of 72.2.

• When asked to assess their business conditions over the next four months, 70% of executives responding said they believe business conditions will improve over the next four months, an increase from 69.2% in February. 20% of respondents believe business conditions will remain the same over the next four months, a decrease from 26.9% in February. 10% believe business conditions will worsen, an increase from 3.8% the previous month.
• 70% of survey respondents believe demand for leases and loans to fund capital expenditures (capex) will increase over the next four months, an increase from 53.8% in February. 20% believe demand will “remain the same” during the same four-month time period, down from 42.3% the previous month.  10% believe demand will decline, up from 3.8% who believed so in February.
• 16.7% of the respondents expect more access to capital to fund equipment acquisitions over the next four months, an increase from 15.4% who expected more in February. 80% of executives indicate they expect the “same” access to capital to fund business, a decrease from 84.6% the previous month. 3.3% expect “less” access to capital, an increase from none who expected less last month.
• When asked, 43.3% of the executives report they expect to hire more employees over the next four months, an increase from 42.3% in February. 53.3% expect no change in headcount over the next four months, an increase from 50% last month. 3.3% expect to hire fewer employees, down from 7.7% in February.
• None of the leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as “excellent,” unchanged from last month. 100% of the leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as “fair,” and none evaluate it as “poor,” both also unchanged from February.
• 60% of the survey respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will get “better” over the next six months, a decrease from 73.1% in February. 36.7% of survey respondents indicate they believe the U.S. economy will “stay the same” over the next six months, an increase from 26.9% the previous month. 3.3% believe economic conditions in the U.S. will worsen over the next six months, up from none who believed so last month.
• In March, 50% of respondents indicate they believe their company will increase spending on business development activities during the next six months, a decrease from 65.4% in February. 50% believe there will be “no change” in business development spending, an increase from 34.6% the previous month. None believe there will be a decrease in spending, unchanged from last month.

March 2017 MCI-EFI Survey Comments from Industry Executive Leadership:

Independent, Small Ticket
“I am always optimistic about the equipment finance industry but concerned near term about the lack of clarity in Washington and this new administration’s inability to chart a course that resonates with the American public. My hope is that the ‘dust settles’ and small business gets back to expansion and job creation.” Valerie Hayes Jester, President, Brandywine Capital Associates

Bank, Middle Ticket
“We are encouraged by continued loan/lease demand for equipment spends by our core client base, especially in the heavy equipment, marine and renewable energy sectors. Looking beyond the current softness of the rail sector, we feel demand will increase later in the year and beyond as older cars are retired. We continue to be challenged by what we feel are some irrational pricing pressures as too much money chases too few assets in certain sectors placing increased pressure on expenses and limiting some business development activity.” Frank J. Campagna, Group Vice President, Line of Business Manager, M&T Bank Commercial Equipment Finance

Bank, Large Ticket
“While there appears to be optimism with our client base, many are waiting for a clearer picture with potential tax changes before making sizable capital investment decisions.”  Thomas Partridge, President, Fifth Third Equipment Finance