In the nearly 100 years that the commercial and consumer finance firm CIT Group, Inc. (NYSE: CIT) has been in business it has launched ventures in media, banking and aerospace. On March 29, the company filed papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a new REIT called Care Investment Trust under its awning. Care Investment Trust will invest principally in healthcare-related commercial mortgage debt and real estate.

Barron’s 500 Survey On May 14, Barron’s published its list of the top 500 America’s Best Companies. The list included Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., which was ranked 223. The financial weekly’s survey ranked U.S. and Canadian companies according to cash-flow returns on investment, highlighting companies that consistently generate strong sales and growing cash flow.