It’s ready for higher loan writeoffs

Article Excerpt

HOME CAPITAL GROUP INC. $24 remains a hold for aggressive investors. The alternative mortgage lender (Toronto symbol HCG; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 53.0 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.8; Dividend suspended in May 2017; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative; www.homecapital.com) set aside $18.67 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2020, to cover potential future loan losses. That’s up 207.2% from $6.08 million a year earlier. Despite that jump, earnings gained 5.5%, to $36.65 million from $34.72 million; per-share earnings jumped 20.7%, to $0.70 from $0.58, on fewer shares outstanding. That’s largely because revenue rose 18.9%, to $132.31 million from $111.27 million, on higher demand for home mortgage loans. Loan-loss provisions should ease as the economy re-opens. Still, the company remains vulnerable if loan defaults rise when governments withdraw income-support programs following COVID-19. Home Capital Group is still a hold. hold…