These Two Profit From Riskier Clientele

Article Excerpt

HOME CAPITAL GROUP INC. $38.39 (Toronto symbol HCG; SI Rating: Extra Risk) (1-800-990-7881; www.homecapital.com; Shares outstanding: 34.5 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion) is a federally regulated trust company offering residential first mortgages to small business owners, the self-employed and others who don’t meet the stricter criteria of larger, traditional lenders. Home Capital reports that revenues rose 31% in the three months ended March 31, 2007, to $81.7 million from $62.4 million. Total assets increased 25.3%, to $4.2 billion from $3.3 billion. Earnings per share rose 47.6% in the latest quarter, to $0.62 from $0.42. The company’s shares now yield 1.0%. Results in the latest quarter included a contribution of $4.7 million from the company’s consumer lending services. These services include Home Trust’s VISA card, which lets cardholders borrow against the equity in their homes. The company also issues pre-paid VISA cards to customers with bad or no credit. Cardholders deposit up to $10,000 with Home Trust and pay a monthly fee. They can…