COVID-19 study shows equipment leasing and finance industry’s confidence has improved
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) has released the August 2020 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI), according to its press release.
The index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $900 billion equipment finance sector. Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 48.4, an increase from the July index of 45.3.
The Foundation also released highlights of the COVID-19 Impact Survey of the Equipment Finance Industry, a monthly survey of industry leaders designed to track the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the equipment finance industry. From 98 survey responses collected from August 3-14, results show that 89percent of equipment finance companies have offered payment deferrals, including extensions, modifications or restructuring. 76 percent of companies expect that the default rate will be greater in 2020 than in 2019, 19 percent expect it to be the same, and 5 percent expect it to be lower. A majority (81 percent) of companies have not furloughed or laid off employees.
When asked about the outlook for the future, MCI-EFI survey respondent Brian Madison, President, TrinityRail Leasing & Management Services, said, “To date, receivables have held up surprisingly well, which seems to indicate businesses were relatively healthy entering the crisis. The biggest concern is continued limited demand given the amount of uncertainty related to the spread of COVID-19.”
August 2020 Survey Results:
The overall MCI-EFI is 48.4, an increase from the July index of 45.3.
• When asked to assess their business conditions over the next four months, 24.1 percent of executives responding said they believe business conditions will improve over the next four months, up from 21.4 percent in July. 51.7 percent believe business conditions will remain the same over the next four months, an increase from 50 percent the previous month. 24.1 percent believe business conditions will worsen, a decrease from 28.6 percent in July.
• 13.8 percent of the survey respondents believe demand for leases and loans to fund capital expenditures (capex) will increase over the next four months, down from 14.3 percent in July. 65.5 percent believe demand will “remain the same” during the same four-month time period, an increase from 64.3 percent the previous month. 20.7percent believe demand will decline, a decrease from 21.4 percent in July.
• 17.2 percent of the respondents expect more access to capital to fund equipment acquisitions over the next four months, up from 10.7 percent in July. 75.9 percent of executives indicate they expect the “same” access to capital to fund business, a decrease from 78.6 percent last month. 6.9percent expect “less” access to capital, a decrease from 10.7percent the previous month.
• When asked, 13.8 percent of the executives report they expect to hire more employees over the next four months, up from 7.1 percent in July. 69percent expect no change in headcount over the next four months, a decrease from 75 percent last month. 17.2 percent expect to hire fewer employees, down slightly from 17.9 percent the previous month.
• None of the leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as “excellent,” unchanged from the previous month. 48.3 percent of the leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as “fair,” up from 39.3 percent in July. 51.7 percent evaluate it as “poor,” down from 60.7 percent last month.
• 31 percent of the survey respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will get “better” over the next six months, an increase from 25.9 percent in July. 44.8 percent indicate they believe the U.S. economy will “stay the same” over the next six months, a decrease from 55.6 percent last month. 24.1 percent believe economic conditions in the U.S. will worsen over the next six months, up from 18.5 percent the previous month.
• In August, 31 percent of respondents indicate they believe their company will increase spending on business development activities during the next six months, an increase from 21.4 percent last month. 48.3 percent believe there will be “no change” in business development spending, a decrease from 57.1 percent in July. 20.7 percent believe there will be a decrease in spending, down from 21.4 percent last month.
