At the CEF/ETF Income Laboratory , we manage ~8%-yielding closed-end fund ( CEF ) and exchange-traded fund (ETF) portfolios to make income investing easy for you. Check out what our members have to say about our service.CLO ETFs, which invest in collateralized loan obligations, offer investors above-average dividend yields, below-average risk and volatility, outstanding risk-adjusted yields, and have significantly outperformed their fixed-rate peers since inception. Although Federal Reserve cuts have led to ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the quarter ending March, the company's net investment income (NII) was $83.5 million, or $0.19 per common share, with a net asset value (NAV) of $3.2 billion, or $7.25 per common share [5] - The net debt to total assets ratio stood at 28.7%, with unsecured debt plus unsecured preferred accounting for 87.5% of total debt plus preferred [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The portfolio at fair value comprised 65.5% first lien debt, up 650 basis points from the prior year, while senior secured second lien debt decreased to 10.5%, down 410 basis points [7] - The company originated $196 million in investments during the quarter, with $149 million (76%) in first lien loans [12] - The real estate property portfolio yielded an income of 4.5% for the quarter, with an unrealized gain of $460 million as of March [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The weighted average EBITDA per portfolio company was just under $100 million, with non-accruals as a percentage of total assets at approximately 0.6% [11] - The company experienced $192 million in repayments and exits, resulting in net originations of $4.5 million for the quarter [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company focuses on lower middle market lending, prioritizing first lien senior secured loans, and aims to rotate its portfolio to enhance yields [24][26] - The strategy includes a gradual reduction of the National Property REIT Corp (NPRC) portfolio while exploring additional asset sales [21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the current operating environment is affected by macroeconomic factors, including interest rate hikes, which have slowed the pacing of exits from the real estate portfolio [21] - The company is under-levered compared to peers, with a debt to total capital ratio around 30%, allowing for potential leverage to enhance net investment income [27] Other Important Information - The company has a strong liquidity position with $1.7 billion in combined balance sheet cash and undrawn revolving credit facility commitments [13] - The weighted average cost of unsecured debt financing was 4.33% as of March [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Regarding low other income from NPRC this quarter - Management explained that the slowdown in other income is due to the pacing of exits being affected by macroeconomic conditions, but they expect normalization in the future [20][22] Question: On dividend coverage and potential levers to pull - Management indicated that they are prioritizing lower middle market lending and are exploring portfolio rotation to boost yields, while also considering leverage options [24][27] Question: Anticipation of preferreds ramping up - Management confirmed that they will prioritize both unsecured debt and preferred financing, emphasizing their diverse financing sources [29][30]