Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: What are your current thoughts on Element Financial? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Element Financial Group, $12.06, symbol EFN on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 125.4 million; Market cap: $1.5 billion; www.elementfinancial.ca), is a leading independent North American equipment-finance company. Element operates across the continent through three segments. Element Capital provides leases for larger equipment; Element Finance serves the mid-sized equipment finance market; and Element Fleet provides fleet leasing and management through the company’s TLS Fleet Management division. The company continues to grow rapidly. In June 2013, Element completed its $570-million purchase of GE Fleet Canada. Under this agreement, Element acquired GE Capital’s existing Canadian fleet. Element will combine these operations with TLS Fleet Management. Growth by acquisition adds risk. As well, the company’s shares have more than doubled from just over $6 in December 2012, so it will need to report increased profits to move higher. The stock trades at 28.0 times this year’s forecast earnings of $0.43 a share—but at 17.2 next year’s estimated earnings of $0.70 a share. Element Financial is okay to hold, but only…