Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved record total investment income of $12,500,000 in Q1 2025, a 37% increase from the previous quarter and over 40% year-over-year growth [7] - Net investment income (NII) per share doubled to $0.40 from $0.20 in the prior quarter, primarily due to increased total investment income [7] - The first quarter distribution increased to $0.37 per share, a 5.7% rise from the previous quarter's $0.35 per share [7][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The CLO joint venture (JV) contributed significantly to the income, with cash distributions of $3,800,000 in Q1 2025, compared to $5,000,000 in Q4 2024 [10][36] - The corporate portfolio grew to nearly $250,000,000, with first lien loans comprising 71% of this portfolio as of March 31 [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company's net assets as of March 31, 2025, were $132,000,000, down from $136,000,000 as of December 31, 2024 [13] - The NAV per share decreased to $11.46 from $11.79 over the same period [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing portfolio strength by increasing secured debt positions and targeting high teens to 20% returns from the CLO JV [16] - A $100,000,000 at-the-market equity program was filed to provide additional capital flexibility [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to generate sustainable returns and deliver increasing value to shareholders despite market volatility [12][20] - The company anticipates that NII in Q2 2025 will exceed Q1 levels, supported by ongoing capital raising and deployment initiatives [8][36] Other Important Information - The company has zero positions on non-accrual as of March 31, 2025, indicating strong portfolio performance [19] - The company maintains a cautious approach to capital deployment, prioritizing credit quality and seeking investments with minimal risk of permanent capital loss [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the portfolio and funds NAV perform with the widening loan market and private credit spreads? - Management noted modest markdowns in the portfolio but expressed confidence in the overall health of the portfolio, expecting unrealized losses to reverse as market conditions stabilize [26][28] Question: What is the expected ROE on the CLO investment? - The company targets high teens to 20% returns on the CLO investments [59] Question: What is the impact of tariffs on the portfolio? - Initial analysis suggests limited direct exposure to tariffs, with a predominantly domestic focus and minimal exposure to China [20][51] Question: How is the consumer segment of the portfolio characterized? - The largest exposure in the consumer space is to companies with private label products, which are expected to benefit from trade-down effects during economic downturns [54]

Group 1 - The article presents a bullish perspective on investing in high-quality Business Development Companies (BDCs), highlighting their attractive double-digit yields and uncorrelated income streams [1] - Roberts Berzins has over a decade of experience in financial management, focusing on helping top-tier corporates with financial strategies and large-scale financings [1] - Berzins has contributed to the institutionalization of the REIT framework in Latvia, aiming to enhance the liquidity of pan-Baltic capital markets [1] Group 2 - The article mentions Berzins' involvement in developing national SOE financing guidelines and frameworks to channel private capital into affordable housing [1] - Berzins holds a CFA Charter and an ESG investing certificate, indicating a strong background in investment analysis and sustainable investing [1] - His experience includes an internship at the Chicago Board of Trade, showcasing a diverse financial background despite residing in Latvia [1]

Earnings season has reached the business development sector and one of the first BDCs that reported earnings for Q1 2025 was Ares Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: ARCC ) , the biggest BDC in the industry by market capitalization.A financial researcher and avid investor with a keen eye for innovation and disruption, as well as growth buy-outs and value stocks. Keeping an eye on the pace of high tech and early growth companies, I write about current events and the biggest news surrounding the industry, and strive to pr ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted net investment income of $0.58 per share, with an annualized return on equity of 13.5%, and adjusted net income of $0.36 per share, with an annualized return on equity of 8.3% for Q1 2025 [9] - Total investments decreased to $3.4 billion from $3.5 billion in the prior quarter due to net repayment activity [29] - The weighted average yield on debt and income-producing securities decreased slightly from 12.5% to 12.3% quarter over quarter [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1, the company provided total commitments of $154 million and total funding of $137 million across six new portfolio companies and upsizes to four existing investments [15] - The company experienced $270 million of repayments from seven full and four partial investment realizations, resulting in $133 million of net repayment activity [15] - 89% of total funding this quarter was into new investments, with 11% supporting upsizes to existing portfolio companies [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The supply and demand dynamics in the US direct lending market have been characterized by an imbalance, with the supply of capital outpacing demand [14] - The company anticipates that current uncertainty and volatility will moderate the supply and demand imbalance by slowing inflows into non-traded vehicles [15] - The weighted average spread over reference rate of new investment commitments in Q1 was 700 basis points, compared to 541 basis points for public BDC peers in Q4 [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to remain highly selective and disciplined in capital allocation, focusing on risk-adjusted returns [16] - The company believes that periods of heightened volatility often present the most attractive investment opportunities and is well-positioned with significant liquidity [12] - The company has a disciplined capital allocation strategy, with a focus on maintaining higher portfolio yields than sector averages [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management believes the business remains well protected on the asset side with limited direct exposure to tariffs and is positioned well on the liability side [8] - The company anticipates a quarterly earnings power of approximately $0.50 per share, with potential upside if activity-based fees return to historical averages [10] - Management expressed confidence in the portfolio's credit quality, with non-accruals representing only 1.2% of the portfolio at fair value [24] Other Important Information - The board approved a base quarterly dividend of $0.46 per share and a supplemental dividend of $0.06 per share [12] - The company has approximately $1 billion of unfunded revolver capacity against $175 million of unfunded portfolio company commitments [31] - The company has entered an ATM program to expand its capital raising toolkit, with no shares issued to date [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of downward pressure on spreads due to non-traded BDC fundraising - Management noted that retail flows have likely slowed due to market volatility and emphasized their resilience through a diversified capital allocation strategy [41][44] Question: Pricing risk in a volatile environment - Management indicated that the private markets are not effectively pricing risk, but their deep fundamental investment approach allows them to navigate volatility [55][58] Question: Outlook for lane two and lane three investments - Management expects to see more opportunities as stress increases in the market, particularly in the broadly syndicated loan market [81][84] Question: Impact of banks going risk-off on the liability side - Management expressed confidence in their balance sheet management and noted that recent amendments and issuances have strengthened their position [100][102]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted net investment income of $0.58 per share, with an annualized return on equity of 13.5%, and adjusted net income of $0.36 per share, with an annualized return on equity of 8.3% for Q1 2025 [8][32] - Total investments decreased to $3.4 billion from $3.5 billion in the prior quarter due to net repayment activity [32] - The weighted average yield on debt and income-producing securities decreased slightly from 12.5% to 12.3% quarter over quarter [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1, the company provided total commitments of $154 million and total funding of $137 million across six new portfolio companies and upsizes to four existing investments [16] - The company experienced $270 million of repayments from seven full and four partial investment realizations, resulting in $133 million of net repayment activity [16] - 89% of total funding this quarter was into new investments, with 11% supporting upsizes to existing portfolio companies [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. direct lending market has seen an imbalance with the supply of capital outpacing demand, primarily due to the growth of retail investor-oriented perpetual non-traded BDC structures [14] - The company anticipates that current uncertainty and volatility will moderate the supply and demand imbalance by slowing inflows into non-traded vehicles [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasizes a disciplined capital allocation strategy, with portfolio yields significantly higher than the sector average, at a weighted average yield of 12.5% compared to 11.6% for peers [11] - The company is well-positioned with significant liquidity and capital to invest in what is expected to be a more interesting investment environment [12] - The company plans to maintain a conservative approach to new investments, focusing on risk-adjusted returns and avoiding participation in deals that do not align with shareholder interests [22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management believes the business remains well protected on the asset side with limited direct exposure to tariffs and is positioned well on the liability side [7] - The company anticipates a quarterly earnings power of approximately $0.50 per share, with potential upside if activity-based fees return to historical averages [10] - Management expressed confidence in the portfolio's credit quality, with non-accruals representing only 1.2% of the portfolio at fair value [26] Other Important Information - The board approved a base quarterly dividend of $0.46 per share and a supplemental dividend of $0.06 per share [12][13] - The company completed two capital market transactions in Q1, including a $300 million issuance of long five-year notes [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of downward pressure on spreads due to non-traded BDC fundraising - Management noted that retail flows have likely slowed due to market volatility, and the company has a resilient business model that is not solely dependent on sponsor deals [42][44] Question: Outlook for M&A activity - Management is negative on the return of M&A activity in the near term, citing overvaluation of assets and the need for time and growth [51][52] Question: Pricing risk in a volatile environment - Management indicated that the private markets are not effectively pricing risk, but the company uses a fundamental approach to assess asset value and required returns [59] Question: Deployment opportunities in lane two and lane three investments - Management is starting to see more opportunities in these areas but anticipates that more stress is needed across sectors for significant deployment [80] Question: Frequency of capital raises with the ATM program - Management confirmed that there will be no change in the frequency of capital raises, emphasizing that any issuance must be accretive to shareholders [84]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported GAAP net income per share of $0.56 for Q1 2025, down from $0.76 in Q1 2024 and $0.55 in the previous quarter [19] - Core earnings per share were $0.50, compared to $0.59 a year ago and $0.55 in the prior quarter, primarily due to a decline in portfolio yields [19][20] - The total portfolio at fair value increased to $27.1 billion from $26.7 billion in the previous quarter and $23.1 billion a year ago [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company originated $3.5 billion in new investment commitments during Q1 2025, with approximately 60% coming from existing borrowers [26] - The weighted average yield on debt and other income-producing securities at amortized cost was 11.1% at the end of Q4 2024, down to 10.1% by the end of Q1 2025 [20] - The average debt to EBITDA ratio for portfolio companies was 5.7 times, the lowest since Q1 2020, indicating improved leverage [29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - New transaction activity in the liquid loan market dropped significantly as banks became more cautious, while the direct lending market remained stable [10][11] - The company noted increased volatility and widening spreads in secondary loan markets, with banks transitioning to a risk-off position [10][11] - The company has a significant amount of available capital totaling nearly $6.8 billion, positioning it well for new investments [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to capitalize on opportunities arising from market volatility, leveraging long-standing relationships to source deals [12][13] - The focus remains on service-oriented businesses that are more insulated from tariff impacts, with proactive engagement with portfolio companies to mitigate risks [15][17] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.48 per share, marking the 63rd consecutive quarter of stable or increasing dividends [17][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating future market conditions, citing a strong investment team and a healthy portfolio [12][13] - The company anticipates a slower M&A environment but believes long-term drivers for M&A remain intact [11] - Management highlighted the importance of proactive communication with market participants to ensure readiness for new opportunities [12] Other Important Information - The company has a low non-accrual rate of 1.5% at cost, down from 1.7% in the previous quarter, indicating strong credit quality [29] - The company has a significant taxable income spillover estimated at $883 million or $1.29 per share available for distribution in 2025 [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of private BDCs on pricing and competitive position - Management noted that spreads have already begun to widen, indicating a shift in the market dynamics, and expressed confidence in outperforming competitors [35][36] Question: Analysis of tariff exposure - Management conducted a thorough analysis of portfolio companies' exposure to tariffs, finding a mid-single-digit percentage of companies potentially impacted [39][41] Question: Outlook on M&A deal volume - Management acknowledged the slowdown in M&A activity but emphasized their ability to capture market share in the current environment [45][47] Question: Strategies for managing rising costs of liabilities - Management highlighted their historical ability to maintain consistent ROE and mentioned potential strategies such as leveraging and utilizing spillover income [51][54] Question: Backlog and deal closure uncertainty - Management indicated that while there may be some uncertainty regarding the backlog due to market volatility, they remain optimistic about closing existing deals [75][77]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported GAAP net income per share of $0.60 for Q1 2025, down from $0.76 in Q1 2024 and $0.55 in the previous quarter [19] - Core earnings per share were $0.50, compared to $0.59 a year ago and $0.55 in the prior quarter, primarily due to a decline in portfolio yields [19][20] - The total portfolio at fair value increased to $27.1 billion from $26.7 billion in the previous quarter and $23.1 billion a year ago [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company committed $3.5 billion in gross commitments during the first quarter, a 54% increase compared to the same period last year [9][10] - The weighted average yield on debt and other income-producing securities at amortized cost was 11.1% at the end of Q4 2024, down to 10.1% by the end of Q1 2025 [20] - The portfolio companies reported a 12% weighted average LTM EBITDA growth, up from 11% in the prior quarter [28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - New transaction activity in the liquid loan market dropped significantly as banks became more cautious, leading to increased volatility and widening spreads in secondary loan markets [10][11] - The direct lending market remained stable, with certain transactions shifting from the syndicated loan market to private credit solutions [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage its strong liquidity and conservative balance sheet leverage to capitalize on potential investment opportunities in a potentially improving spread environment [10][14] - The focus remains on domestic service-oriented businesses, which are believed to be more insulated from the impacts of higher tariffs [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate future market conditions, citing a seasoned investment team and strong relationships in the market [12][13] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.48 per share, marking the 63rd consecutive quarter of stable or increasing dividends [17][24] Other Important Information - The company has nearly $6.8 billion in total available liquidity, positioning it well for future investments [22] - The non-accrual rate at cost ended the quarter at 1.5%, down from the previous quarter, indicating strong portfolio health [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Will private credit provide similar or lower pricing than banks? - Management noted that spreads have already started to widen, indicating a shift in the market dynamics [35][36] Question: What is the exposure to tariffs for portfolio companies? - The company conducted a thorough analysis and found a mid-single-digit exposure to companies importing from high-tariff countries, emphasizing that this is an exposure analysis, not an impact analysis [39][41] Question: How does the company plan to manage earnings against rising costs of liabilities? - Management highlighted the ability to adjust leverage and utilize spillover income to manage costs effectively [50][54] Question: Is there a trend in portfolio stress or sectors experiencing issues? - Management indicated that there are no significant trends observed in portfolio stress at this time [102] Question: What is the outlook for new investment opportunities? - Management expressed optimism about the potential for larger deals in the private credit market, indicating a readiness to pivot as market conditions change [84][85]

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Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of dividend investing in quality blue-chip stocks, BDCs, and REITs for building a sustainable retirement income [1][2]. Group 1 - The author is a Navy veteran focused on long-term investment strategies, particularly in high-quality, dividend-paying companies [1]. - The goal is to assist lower and middle-class workers in constructing investment portfolios that can lead to financial independence [1]. - The author expresses a preference for a buy-and-hold investment approach, valuing quality over quantity in stock selection [1]. Group 2 - The article does not provide specific financial performance data or metrics related to the companies mentioned [2][3]. - There is a disclosure of a beneficial long position in shares of BXSL and ARCC, indicating a personal investment interest in these companies [2].