Q: J.Hodgins was quoted in the Feb.28 Financial Post saying HCG's "leverage...is currently about 8.5X on its mortgage book. They are moving away from (CMHC) insured mortgages and more toward subprime, and we think this is exactly the wrong time to be doing that." His reco is sell/short on a pair trade though he doesn't say what he's long.
How accurate is what he is stating is Home Capital's strategy, and how important is that leverage number? What for instance are the competition's leverage ratios and what would be a conservative number? I know that Oaken has had a fairly aggressive GIC campaign on the 3 year and less notes over the last few months and I know they like to match the mortgage and GIC terms to reduce rate risk. I've absorbed your previous responses on his BNN appearance and agree with your rationale. Thanks, J.
How accurate is what he is stating is Home Capital's strategy, and how important is that leverage number? What for instance are the competition's leverage ratios and what would be a conservative number? I know that Oaken has had a fairly aggressive GIC campaign on the 3 year and less notes over the last few months and I know they like to match the mortgage and GIC terms to reduce rate risk. I've absorbed your previous responses on his BNN appearance and agree with your rationale. Thanks, J.
