“Bullish on America” investor phenom Bruce Berkowitz once said, "I don’t invest in things I can’t understand.”
Berkowitz’s Fairholme Fund has sold out its second largest holding, CIT Group Inc. (CIT, Financial) as of March 31, 2013. Because the Fairholme Fund is so highly concentrated and because Berkowitz is Berkowitz, this latest trade is major. With CIT turning around a 2009 bankruptcy, you have to wonder what part of the company is not making sense: Read the five warning signs issued by GuruFocus in a recent checkup on CIT financials and performance.
Here are the trade details:
Fairholme Fund shed 16,358,129 CIT Group Inc. shares at an average price was $42.08 per share, for a 0.5% gain, as of March 31, 2013.
The Fairholme Fund “ignores the crowd” and has a reputation for being distilled, focusing primarily on only five stocks that make up 80% of its net assets: American International Group Inc. (AIG, Financial), Bank of America Corporation (BAC, Financial), Sears Holdings Corporation (SHLD, Financial), St. Joe Corporation (JOE, Financial) and Leucadia National Corporation (LUK, Financial).
Up 12% over 12 months, CIT Group Inc. (CIT) is a specialty finance company with a market cap of $8.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 503.7, and a P/S ratio is 5.1. The company’s 2012 net income was in the red for $592.3 million. However, the company reported its first quarter 2013 net income of $163 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $427 million, ($2.13) per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2012. The company said the loss in the year-ago quarter was primarily due to $620 million of debt redemption charges, compared to $18 million of debt redemption charges in the current quarter.
Founded in 1908, CIT Group Inc. provides commercial financing and leasing products and services to small and middle-market businesses clients in over 30 industries and around 20 countries. The company also operates its primary bank subsidiary, CIT Bank.
In his recent quarterly report, CIT Group’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Thain, said, “CIT Bank experienced solid asset growth and deposits now play a larger role in our diversified funding mix, accounting for a third of our total funding. We continue to maintain a strong balance sheet and capital ratios, and remain focused on improving our operating efficiencies and meeting our profitability targets.”
GuruFocus “Guru of the Year 2012” Bruce Berkowitz expressed confidence in American companies to generate reasonable returns on equity, in his most recent letter to investors. As of April 26, 2013, Berkowitz’s Fairholme Fund lists 10 stocks, with no new stocks, in a portfolio valued at $5.9 billion, and a quarter-over-quarter turnover of 0%.
Try the GuruFocus Value Screen to find 52-Week Lows and discover potentially deep value stocks held by billionaire Guru investors.
GuruFocus "Real Time Picks" reports the stock purchases and sales that Gurus have made within the prior 2 weeks. The report time lag can be as short as 2 days after the date of the transaction. This feature is for Premium Members only. If you are not a Premium Member, we invite you for a 7-day Free Trial.
Berkowitz’s Fairholme Fund has sold out its second largest holding, CIT Group Inc. (CIT, Financial) as of March 31, 2013. Because the Fairholme Fund is so highly concentrated and because Berkowitz is Berkowitz, this latest trade is major. With CIT turning around a 2009 bankruptcy, you have to wonder what part of the company is not making sense: Read the five warning signs issued by GuruFocus in a recent checkup on CIT financials and performance.
Here are the trade details:
Fairholme Fund shed 16,358,129 CIT Group Inc. shares at an average price was $42.08 per share, for a 0.5% gain, as of March 31, 2013.
The Fairholme Fund “ignores the crowd” and has a reputation for being distilled, focusing primarily on only five stocks that make up 80% of its net assets: American International Group Inc. (AIG, Financial), Bank of America Corporation (BAC, Financial), Sears Holdings Corporation (SHLD, Financial), St. Joe Corporation (JOE, Financial) and Leucadia National Corporation (LUK, Financial).
Up 12% over 12 months, CIT Group Inc. (CIT) is a specialty finance company with a market cap of $8.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 503.7, and a P/S ratio is 5.1. The company’s 2012 net income was in the red for $592.3 million. However, the company reported its first quarter 2013 net income of $163 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $427 million, ($2.13) per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2012. The company said the loss in the year-ago quarter was primarily due to $620 million of debt redemption charges, compared to $18 million of debt redemption charges in the current quarter.
Founded in 1908, CIT Group Inc. provides commercial financing and leasing products and services to small and middle-market businesses clients in over 30 industries and around 20 countries. The company also operates its primary bank subsidiary, CIT Bank.
In his recent quarterly report, CIT Group’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Thain, said, “CIT Bank experienced solid asset growth and deposits now play a larger role in our diversified funding mix, accounting for a third of our total funding. We continue to maintain a strong balance sheet and capital ratios, and remain focused on improving our operating efficiencies and meeting our profitability targets.”
GuruFocus “Guru of the Year 2012” Bruce Berkowitz expressed confidence in American companies to generate reasonable returns on equity, in his most recent letter to investors. As of April 26, 2013, Berkowitz’s Fairholme Fund lists 10 stocks, with no new stocks, in a portfolio valued at $5.9 billion, and a quarter-over-quarter turnover of 0%.
Try the GuruFocus Value Screen to find 52-Week Lows and discover potentially deep value stocks held by billionaire Guru investors.
GuruFocus "Real Time Picks" reports the stock purchases and sales that Gurus have made within the prior 2 weeks. The report time lag can be as short as 2 days after the date of the transaction. This feature is for Premium Members only. If you are not a Premium Member, we invite you for a 7-day Free Trial.
