Equipment Finance Industry Confidence Increases Slightly in November, According to Monthly Index

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation recently released the November 2023 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). The index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $1 trillion equipment finance sector. Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 42.8, an increase from the October index of 40.1.

When asked about the outlook for the future, MCI-EFI survey respondent Sean Duffy, CFO of Global Financial & Leasing Services, LLC, said, “The depth of geopolitical uncertainty, and our own domestic political uncertainty, will have a significant impact on how the economy and our industry fare over the next 6-12 months.”

November 2023 Survey Results:

The overall MCI-EFI is 42.8, an increase from the October index of 40.1.

• When asked to assess their business conditions over the next four months, none of the executives responding said they believe business conditions will improve over the next four months, a decrease from 3.7% in October. 74.1% believe business conditions will remain the same over the next four months, unchanged from the previous month. 25.9% believe business conditions will worsen, an increase from 22.2% in October.
• None of the survey respondents believe demand for leases and loans to fund capital expenditures (capex) will increase over the next four months, down from 3.7% in October. 74.1% believe demand will “remain the same” during the same four-month time period, a decrease from 77.8% the previous month. 25.9% believe demand will decline, an increase from 18.5% in October.
• 11.1% of the respondents expect more access to capital to fund equipment acquisitions over the next four months, down from 14.8% in October. 74.1% of executives indicate they expect the “same” access to capital to fund business, up from 70.4% last month. 14.8% expect “less” access to capital, unchanged from the previous month.
• When asked, 14.8% of the executives report they expect to hire more employees over the next four months, unchanged from October. 77.8% expect no change in headcount over the next four months, up from 70.4% last month. 7.4% expect to hire fewer employees, down from 14.8% in October.
• 3.7% of the leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as “excellent,” an increase from none the previous month. 81.5% of the leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as “fair,” down from 92.6% in October. 14.8% evaluate it as “poor,” up from 7.4% last month.
• 3.7% of the survey respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will get “better” over the next six months, relatively unchanged from 3.9% in October. 44.4% indicate they believe the U.S. economy will “stay the same” over the next six months, a decrease from 57.7% last month. 51.9% believe economic conditions in the U.S. will worsen over the next six months, an increase from 38.5% the previous month.
• In November, 14.8% of respondents indicate they believe their company will increase spending on business development activities during the next six months, up from 11.1% the previous month. 70.4% believe there will be “no change” in business development spending, down from 77.8% in October. 14.8% believe there will be a decrease in spending, an increase from 11.1% last month.

November 2023 MCI-EFI Survey Comments from Industry Executive Leadership:

Bank, Small Ticket

“As the equipment leasing and finance industry heads to the end of year there will continue to be demand for financing, and the organizations with liquidity will have solid new originations. Portfolios continue to perform in most sectors at strong historic rates. I think we are heading into a slowdown in 2024, and rates will fall during this slowdown, but for now there is opportunity.” David Normandin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wintrust Specialty Finance

Bank, Middle Ticket

“Customers seem to be getting accustomed to the current interest rate environment and the idea that rates may not be coming down for a while. This, combined with the continued draw-down of cash reserves, could lead to increased lease demand going forward, but we will need to keep a closer eye on repayment capacity.” Jason Lueders, President, Farm Credit Leasing