Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TRIN either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any in ...

Group 1 - The article provides a market analysis covering several investment firms, including Gladstone Investment Corporation, FS KKR Capital Corp, Sixth Street Specialty Lending Inc, and Goldman Sachs BDC Closed End Fund [1] Group 2 - The analysis highlights the performance metrics and investment strategies of the mentioned companies, indicating their positions in the market [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the current state of Business Development Companies (BDCs), highlighting a seven-stock BDC portfolio with a yield of 13.5% that is expected to recover as the market stabilizes. Despite concerns over unemployment and economic slowdown, small businesses are reportedly thriving due to AI advancements [1][4]. Economic Overview - Small business profits are increasing, contradicting unemployment reports that suggest a slowdown. The Atlanta Fed's GDPNow estimates growth solidly over 3% [2]. - The current economic environment is characterized as an efficiency boom rather than a recession, driven by small businesses adopting AI to enhance operations [4]. BDC Market Dynamics - The BDC industry is competitive, with more losers than winners. Selecting individual BDCs is preferable to buying a fund that includes underperformers [6]. - Lower interest rates can reduce financing costs for small businesses, increasing demand for loans, which is beneficial for BDCs [7]. Specific BDC Analysis - **Sixth Street Specialty Lending (TSLX)**: Offers a 9.4% yield, focuses on companies with enterprise values between $50 million and $1 billion, and has a growing portfolio. It primarily deals in first-lien debt, with 96% being floating-rate [8][10][11]. - **Gladstone Investment (GAIN)**: Provides a 10.8% yield, focuses on lower-middle-market companies, and has a higher equity exposure than typical BDCs. Its supplemental distributions are variable [13][19][20]. - **Crescent Capital BDC (CCAP)**: Yields 12.3%, has a diverse portfolio of 187 companies, and is significantly affected by Fed rate changes due to its floating-rate debt [21][24]. - **Trinity Capital (TRIN)**: Offers a 13.5% yield, has a growth-focused portfolio of 178 companies, and is diversified in its investment types [25][28]. - **FS KKR Capital (FSK)**: Yields 14.5%, is one of the largest BDCs, and has a diversified portfolio but has faced challenges due to bad loans and a recent dividend cut [29][33]. - **Goldman Sachs BDC (GSBD)**: Yields 14.7%, has faced quality issues leading to a dividend cut, but is becoming more aggressive in deal-making [35][38]. - **BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. (TCPC)**: Offers a high yield of 19.6%, but has struggled with a significant loss since early 2023 and recently cut its dividend [39][42][43].

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Group 1 - Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. (TSLX) is recognized as a prominent Business Development Company (BDC), competing with established firms like Ares Capital (ARCC) and Main Street Capital (MAIN) [1] Group 2 - Roberts Berzins has over ten years of experience in financial management, assisting top-tier corporations in shaping financial strategies and executing large-scale financings [2] - He has contributed to institutionalizing the REIT framework in Latvia to enhance the liquidity of pan-Baltic capital markets [2] - His policy-level work includes developing national SOE financing guidelines and frameworks for channeling private capital into affordable housing [2] - Roberts holds a CFA Charter and an ESG investing certificate, and has interned at the Chicago Board of Trade [2] - He is actively involved in thought-leadership activities to support the development of pan-Baltic capital markets [2]

Core Insights - The article analyzes Blackstone Secured Lending's (BXSL) recent performance and compares it with 11 business development company (BDC) peers, focusing on key financial metrics and investment portfolio characteristics [1][2][3]. Group 1: Financial Metrics Analysis - BXSL's net asset value (NAV) per share decreased from $27.33 at the end of Q2 2025 to $27.15 at the end of Q3 2025, reflecting a quarterly decrease of 0.66% [10]. - The economic return for BXSL in Q3 2025 was $0.59 per share or 2.16%, with trailing 12-month and 24-month economic returns of 10.85% and 25.51%, respectively [10][11]. - BXSL's adjusted net investment income (NII) was reported at $0.882 per share for Q3 2025, with a stock price to annualized NII ratio of 8.39x, slightly below the peer average of 9.87x [21][22]. Group 2: Investment Portfolio Composition - As of September 30, 2025, BXSL's investment portfolio consisted of 97% in senior secured first-lien loans and 2% in senior secured second-lien loans, indicating a conservative investment strategy [15][16]. - The fair market value (FMV) versus cost ratio for BXSL was 0.9912x, slightly below the mean of 1.0164x among peers, indicating a minor negative trend [17]. - BXSL had only 0.1% of its portfolio on non-accrual status, which is below the peer average of 2.9%, suggesting a healthier credit profile [18]. Group 3: Comparative Performance - BXSL's cumulative realized loss per share since its IPO was ($0.13), which is more favorable compared to the peer average loss of ($0.89) per share, indicating better long-term performance [19]. - The company had a low exposure of 0.75% to the oil and gas sector, which is below the peer average of 1.45%, reflecting a cautious approach to potential credit risks [20]. - BXSL's stock price as of November 28, 2025, was $27.59, trading at a premium of 1.81% to its estimated current NAV of $27.10, which is more attractive than the peer average premium of 3.65% [25].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of a hybrid investment strategy that combines classic dividend growth stocks with Business Development Companies, REITs, and Closed End Funds to enhance investment income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds [1]. Investment Strategy - The company advocates for a balanced approach to investing, suggesting that a solid base of dividend growth stocks can be effectively supplemented with other asset types to maximize income potential [1]. - The strategy aims to achieve a total return that aligns with the performance of the S&P index, indicating a focus on both growth and income [1].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of a hybrid investment strategy that combines classic dividend growth stocks with Business Development Companies, REITs, and Closed End Funds to enhance investment income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds [1]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - The company advocates for a diversified approach to investing, focusing on high-quality dividend stocks that provide long-term growth potential [1]. - A hybrid system is proposed, blending growth and income investments to optimize total returns [1]. - The strategy aims to achieve returns on par with the S&P index, indicating a balanced risk-reward profile [1].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported an adjusted net investment income of $0.53 per share, with an annualized return on equity of 12.3%, and an adjusted net income of $0.46 per share, with an annualized return on equity of 10.8% for Q3 2025 [6][21] - The total investments increased to $3.4 billion from $3.3 billion in the prior quarter, driven by net funding activity [21] - The weighted average interest rate on average debt outstanding decreased from 6.3% to 6.1% due to a slight decline in base rates [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company provided total commitments of $388 million and total fundings of $352 million across four new investments and five upsizes to existing portfolio companies [12] - The weighted average total yield on debt and income-producing securities at amortized cost was 11.7%, down from 12% as of June 30 [19] - The company experienced total repayments of $303 million during Q3, with 75% driven by refinancings at lower spreads [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that competition in direct lending markets remained elevated, with historically tight spreads in liquid credit markets [11] - The weighted average spread on new floating-rate investments, excluding structured credit investments, was 700 basis points in Q3, compared to 549 basis points for public BDC peers in Q2 [17] - The company’s net asset value per share adjusted for the impact of the supplemental dividend was $17.11, reflecting a 1.9% growth since the start of the interest rate hiking cycle in early 2022 [7][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasized a disciplined strategy and an investor-first culture, focusing on thematic sourcing to differentiate its portfolio from conventional sponsor-backed direct lending transactions [11][12] - The leadership transition aims to maintain continuity in the company's strategic direction, with a focus on disciplined underwriting and proactive portfolio management [31] - The company anticipates continued downward pressure on BDC stocks, which may constrain further capital raising, particularly in non-traded perpetually offered vehicles [9][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the current environment underscoring the importance of manager selection in driving long-term shareholder value [10] - The company does not foresee a broad-based recovery in M&A activity in the near term and expects spreads to remain tight as the supply of capital continues to outpace demand [17] - Management indicated that credit issues are generally behind the industry, with idiosyncratic risks being manageable through disciplined credit underwriting [62] Other Important Information - The company declared a base quarterly dividend of $0.46 per share and a supplemental dividend of $0.03 per share related to Q3 earnings [6][7] - The company has significant liquidity with nearly $1.1 billion of unfunded revolver capacity at quarter end [22] - The company’s portfolio performance remains strong, with a weighted average rating of 1.12 on a scale of 1 to 5, indicating a conservative credit profile [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Importance of Leadership Transition - Management highlighted the significance of having a deep bench and strong culture for leadership evolution, emphasizing that the transition has been in process for several years [35][36] Question: Expansion into Private Wealth - Management acknowledged ongoing discussions about expanding into private wealth but noted that no conclusions have been reached yet [40][41] Question: Focus on Direct Lending - Management confirmed that day-to-day responsibilities would remain consistent, with continued focus on direct lending and investment activities [45][49] Question: Credit Quality Concerns - Management addressed concerns about credit quality, stating that general credit issues are behind and that the focus is more on pricing and supply of capital [61][62] Question: Transparency in the Industry - Management discussed the need for increased transparency in the non-traded space and expressed hope for evolution in that area [64][66] Question: Balance of Seeking Yield - Management clarified that the company has not changed its approach to credit underwriting and continues to seek risk-adjusted returns without increasing credit risk [70][73]

Company Overview - TSLX is a specialty lending company focused on providing financing solutions to US-based middle-market companies with target EBITDA between $10 million and $250 million [8, 10] - The company's market capitalization is $35 billion, with a net asset value (NAV) per share of $1714 [8] - The investment portfolio is diversified across 108 portfolio companies, with an average investment size of $303 million [10] Portfolio Composition and Strategy - The portfolio is primarily composed of secured debt investments, with 901% secured and 892% first-lien debt [10] - A significant portion of the debt investments, 963%, are floating rate [10] - The company focuses on direct, primary originations sourced through coverage of companies, financial sponsors, and intermediaries, with approximately 99% of originations from non-intermediated channels [10] Financial Performance - The annualized Return on Equity (ROE) from Net Investment Income for Q3 2025 was 125%, while the annualized ROE from Net Income was 110% [10] - As of September 30, 2025, the company had approximately $1047 million of undrawn capacity on its revolving credit facility [10] - New investment commitments for Q3 2025 totaled $3877 million, and net funding activity was $490 million [12, 21] Liquidity and Capital Management - The company maintains a strong liquidity position, with total liquidity of $11 billion, exceeding unfunded investment commitments by 64x [42] - Approximately 82% of assets are funded by unsecured debt and equity [42] - The weighted average remaining time to maturity of debt is approximately 37 years [10, 42]