CIT Group reported net income from continuing operations for Q4/14 was $252 million, $1.37 per diluted share compared to $123 million in the year-ago quarter. Q4/14 net income included a $44 million reversal of an international tax related valuation allowance and the benefits from the sale of $800 million of assets in its Commercial franchises.
Net income from continuing operations for 2014 was $1,078 million compared to $644 million a year earlier. CIT said 2014 net income included $419 million of income tax benefits associated with the partial reversals of the valuation allowances on certain domestic and international deferred tax assets.
Highlights from the news release included the following:
“We made good progress in 2014 building our commercial franchise,” said John Thain, chairman and CEO. “In addition to growing our assets organically, we made two key acquisitions that will strengthen our commercial franchises and improve returns. Our focus on increasing shareholder value was reflected in the repurchase of more than $775 million of common shares and the increase in our dividend. In 2015, we will continue to build long-term value by focusing on closing and integrating the acquisition of OneWest Bank, returning additional capital to our shareholders, and meeting the financing needs of our small and middle market customers.”
The following segment highlights were excerpted from the news release:
Transportation & International Finance – Includes commentary on the Aerospace, Rail, Maritime and International Finance segments:
Pre-tax earnings for the quarter were $185 million, up from $117 million in the year-ago quarter and $162 million in the prior quarter. The increase from the year-ago quarter primarily reflected asset growth and higher gains on asset sales. The increase from the prior quarter largely reflected higher gains on asset sales and increased rental revenue.
Financing and leasing assets at December 31, 2014 were $19.0 billion, flat sequentially and up 16% from $16.4 billion at December 31, 2013. The increase from the prior year reflected growth in all transportation divisions, while the sequential trend was impacted by sales of aircraft to the TC-CIT Aviation joint venture, and the sale of the UK corporate lending portfolio.
Annual asset growth reflected increases of $1.5 billion in Aerospace, $1.2 billion in Rail, which included the Nacco acquisition in the first quarter of 2014, and $0.6 billion in Maritime, partially offset by a reduction in International Finance. The Maritime Finance portfolio now exceeds $1.0 billion in assets. Assets Held for Sale totaled $0.8 billion, and included the $0.4 billion UK equipment finance portfolio transferred at year end as well as the remaining $0.2 billion of additional aircraft to seed the joint venture.
New business volume was $1.2 billion and consisted of $0.6 billion of operating lease equipment, including the delivery of eight new aircraft and approximately 500 new railcars, and the funding of $0.6 billion of finance receivables.
Net finance revenue was $233 million, up $41 million from the year-ago quarter and up $7 million sequentially primarily due to growth in earning assets. Net finance margin was 4.88% compared to 4.83% in the year-ago quarter and 4.82% in the prior quarter. The increases from prior periods were driven by higher rental yields in Rail. Gross yields in Aerospace decreased to 11.5%, reflecting lower rental receipts and lease re-pricings, while gross yields in Rail increased to 15.3% reflecting re-pricing and elevated usage.
Utilization remained strong with 99% of both commercial aircraft and rail equipment on lease or under a commitment at quarter-end. All new aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2015 and approximately 83% of total railcars on order, have lease commitments.