Shipping container investment has become an increasingly popular alternative investment option for investors looking to generate passive income. By purchasing shipping containers and leasing them out, investors can earn attractive rental yields. However, it’s important to find reputable container investment companies to work with. In this article, we will explore the top 5 shipping container investment companies in 2023 based on factors like experience, variety of container types, lease-to-purchase options, and client satisfaction ratings.
Triton International – The largest container leasing company
With over 6 million TEU of containers, Triton International is the largest lessor of intermodal containers in the world. The company operates in over 40 countries and provides both dry freight and refrigerated containers for lease. Triton has a strong global presence and logistics capabilities that allow it to meet high customer demand. The company trades on the NYSE under the ticker TRTN. Triton offers flexible leasing terms from 12 months to 10 years and also has sale-leaseback options. Its large fleet size and scale provide investors stability and diversification.
Textainer Group – Over 2 million TEU fleet size
Founded in 1979, Textainer is one of the world’s oldest and largest container lessors with a fleet size of over 2 million TEU. The company leases standard and specialized dry freight containers, open top containers, flat rack containers, refrigerated containers, tank containers and more. Textainer trades on the NYSE under the ticker TGH. The company has an extensive global presence and partnerships. Flexible lease terms from 1-8 years are offered. Textainer also provides attractive lease-to-purchase options, giving clients the ability to own containers over time.
Seaco – Strength in refrigerated container leasing
Seaco is a privately held container leasing company that was founded in 1998. With over 1 million TEU, Seaco operates one of the largest container fleets in the world. The company’s fleet includes dry freight, refrigerated, open top and flat rack containers. One of Seaco’s strengths is its refrigerated container fleet which makes up over 30% of its total fleet, catering well to perishable food transport. The company has a global presence spanning over 90 countries. In addition to leasing, Seaco also sells used containers and offers financing services.
CAI International – Wide variety of container types
CAI International was established in 1989 and offers a highly diversified fleet of container types for lease including dry vans, refrigerated containers, open tops, flat racks, tank containers, chassis and more. The company owns over 1 million TEU of containers. CAI leases on both long-term and short-term bases ranging from 1-10 years. The company is based in San Francisco and operates in over 30 countries. CAI International trades on the NYSE under the ticker CAI. The company has good financial strength and offers flexible leasing and sale options.
Beacon Intermodal – Strong focus on used containers
Founded in 1993, Beacon Intermodal has specialized in used container sales and leasing for over 20 years. The company sells a wide variety of used dry freight and refrigerated containers to investors looking for affordable container investments. Beacon purchases used containers coming off lease from major leasing companies. All their containers are refurbished before resale. The company keeps costs low by focusing on used containers. Beacon also leases out their used container inventory to generate rental income for clients. Their focus on used containers makes Beacon a cost-effective option.
In summary, the top shipping container investment companies in 2023 are Triton International, Textainer Group, Seaco, CAI International and Beacon Intermodal based on their experience, variety of container offerings, global presence, flexible lease terms and focus on customer service. These companies enable investors to capitalize on the growing demand for container leasing by providing sale-leaseback and income-generating container investments.