Topic: How To Invest

Hello Pat: What are your recommendations for Element Financial and Rifco Inc.? Thank you.

Article Excerpt

Element Financial Group, $12.26, symbol EFN on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 188.9 million; Market cap: $2.4 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 gear; Element Finance serves the mid-sized equipment market; and Element Fleet provides fleet leasing and management through its TLS Fleet Management division. The company continues to grow rapidly. In June 2013, it completed its $570-million purchase of GE Fleet Canada. It will combine these operations with TLS Fleet Management. In December 2013, Element bought $348 million U.S. worth of helicopter and railcar leases from GE Capital and Trinity Industries (symbol TRN on New York). It also entered into an alliance with Trinity to finance leases for up to $2 billion worth of railcars over the next two years. 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…