+- Dividend Growth Forum (http://DividendGrowthForum.com)
+-- Forum: Dividend Growth Investing (http://DividendGrowthForum.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=15)
+--- Forum: The Economy (http://DividendGrowthForum.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=19)
+--- Thread: Subprime auto loan bubble (/showthread.php?tid=620)
Subprime auto loan bubble - earthtodan - 07-19-2014
It seems to me that this is a trend worth keeping an eye on.
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/in-a-subprime-bubble-for-used-cars-unfit-borrowers-pay-sky-high-rates/?ref=business
http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2014/06/25/u-s-regulator-flags-concerns-about-growing-auto-loan-market/
I've seen WFC flagged as the biggest mover in the subprime car loan business. It makes me want to allocate my funds to USB instead, since it has a nearly sterling reputation and record, but unfortunately the second article identifies both of them.
Presumably it's driven by the demand for yield, and thus if interest rates rise, maybe the pressure to lend subprime will fizzle out. Not sure what the consequences of all this will be, or if it will matter at all.
RE: Subprime auto loan bubble - earthtodan - 07-19-2014
I looked at USB's Q2 presentation and it shows their auto loans customers have a weighted average FICO score of over 750 (including indirect loans), so I guess I can still feel good about them.
WFC's presentation doesn't contain that information, except to say auto lending is a strong growth driver. Their income stream is very diversified so I'm sure the risk is minimal. Still, it's troublesome from the perspective of "buying the management."