Core Viewpoint - Business Development Companies (BDCs) are often overlooked by investors despite their potential as solid long-term investments, particularly for income-focused investors [1]. Group 1: Investment Perspective - BDCs are perceived as riskier due to their sensitivity to interest rates, yet they can provide substantial returns for long-term investors [1]. - The article emphasizes the importance of BDCs for income-focused investors, suggesting they can be a valuable addition to investment portfolios [1]. Group 2: Author's Background - The author is a Navy veteran with a focus on dividend investing in quality blue-chip stocks, BDCs, and REITs, aiming to supplement retirement income through dividends in the next 5-7 years [2]. - The author aspires to assist lower and middle-class workers in building high-quality, dividend-paying investment portfolios [2].

Core Insights - The article discusses the investment analysis process using Seeking Alpha, focusing on Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) and the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) as examples of income-focused investments. Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) - ARCC has an attractive dividend yield of 8.56%, which is appealing for income-focused investors [2] - The stock trades at 1.13 times its book value, indicating a 13% premium to the private market value of its underlying assets [3] - Compared to peers, ARCC trades at an 11.73% discount, while the sector median trades at a 1.28 times premium [4] - ARCC's current valuation is at a 6.2% premium to its five-year average of 1.06 times, suggesting it may be expensive relative to its historical valuation [4] - The qualitative factors of ARCC and its peers should be considered for a comprehensive evaluation [5] - The stock has shown high total returns since its public offering over 20 years ago, indicating it is a strong long-term investment [7] - ARCC's dividend yield is slightly lower than its five-year average, aligning with its premium book value [6] Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) - SCHD has a low expense ratio, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious investors [9] - The ETF has 103 total holdings, indicating good diversification, but over 40% of the portfolio is concentrated in the top 10 holdings [11] - SCHD has a D rating for momentum due to poor recent performance, but it maintains an A+ rating for expense ratios and dividend track record [13][14] - The ETF offers a trailing 12-month dividend yield of 3.71% and has a 13-year streak of dividend growth, showcasing its reliability as a dividend growth investment [15] - SCHD's expense ratio is among the best in its sector, and its long-term total return performance is commendable despite recent underperformance [16]

Core Insights - Fidus Investment (NASDAQ: FDUS) has been consistently ranked among the top three Business Development Companies (BDCs) since March 2024, indicating strong performance and investor confidence [1] Company Overview - Fidus Investment has shown improvement across various metrics, suggesting a positive trend in its operational and financial performance [1] Analyst Background - The analyst, Roberts Berzins, has over a decade of experience in financial management, focusing on corporate financial strategies and large-scale financings [1] - Berzins has contributed to the institutionalization of the REIT framework in Latvia, aimed at enhancing liquidity in pan-Baltic capital markets [1] - His work includes developing national financing guidelines for state-owned enterprises and frameworks for channeling private capital into affordable housing [1] - Berzins holds a CFA Charter and an ESG investing certificate, and has experience with the Chicago Board of Trade [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 - A solid base of classic dividend growth stocks can be complemented with other asset types to create a balanced portfolio [1]. - The hybrid system developed allows for capturing total returns that align with the performance of the S&P index [1]. Group 2: Investment Focus - The focus is on high-quality dividend stocks and assets that provide potential for long-term growth and significant income generation [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. Group 1: Investment Strategy - A solid base of classic dividend growth stocks can be complemented with other asset types to create a balanced portfolio that maximizes income potential [1] - The hybrid system developed allows for capturing total returns that align with the performance of the S&P index [1] Group 2: Market Opportunities - The focus is on identifying high-quality dividend stocks and assets that provide long-term growth potential, which can significantly contribute to bill-paying capabilities [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q3 GAAP net investment income and core NII was $6.1 million, or $0.263 per share, compared to Q2 GAAP and core NII of $6.6 million, or $0.282 per share, reflecting a decrease in earnings [4][18] - NAV per share at the end of Q3 was $11.41, representing a 3.6% decrease from the prior quarter [4][18] - The company reported a net decrease in net assets resulting from operations of $0.6 million [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross deployments in Q3 were $19.3 million, offset by repayments and sales of $50.5 million, resulting in net repayments of $31.2 million [8] - The weighted average effective yield on income-producing debt investments decreased to 11.6% as of the end of Q3, down from 11.9% in Q2 [9] - The weighted average effective yield on the overall portfolio also decreased slightly to 9.5% at the end of Q3, compared to approximately 9.8% at the end of Q2 [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - M&A activity has not picked up significantly, although there has been a steady trickle of improvement [14] - In the mid-market, pricing for sponsor deals is in the SOFR 450-500 range, while lower mid-market sponsor deals are pricing in the 475-575 spread over SOFR [15][16] - Non-sponsor deals are generally pricing at SOFR plus 600 and above, indicating a significant pricing premium compared to sponsor deals [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has reset its quarterly distribution to $0.25 per share, representing an implied 8.8% annualized yield based on the company's ending NAV per share [5][21] - A share buyback program of up to $15 million has been approved due to the stock price discount relative to its book value [7][8] - The company continues to focus on the non-sponsor market, where there are better risk returns and less competition [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed that recent results were disappointing due to interest rate cuts and pressure on market spreads [3] - The turnaround of troubled assets is expected to take at least 12-24 months, with ongoing efforts to optimize performance [32][34] - The board will evaluate the quarterly distribution based on core earnings power and other relevant factors [23] Other Important Information - The company recognized $1.8 million in net realized losses and approximately $4.9 million of net unrealized losses in Q3, totaling $6.7 million [11] - Non-accrual investments now represent 2.7% of the debt portfolio at fair value, an improvement from 4.9% in the prior quarter [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Understanding the new base dividend level of $0.25 per share - Management indicated that the new base dividend is set to be a long-term level based on interest rates and earnings power projections [27] Question: Details on the fee waiver reduction from 20% to 17.5% - The board agreed to waive the 2.5% amount for the next two quarters, with future discussions based on BDC performance [29] Question: Long-term expectations for fair value recovery from troubled assets - Management expects a significant period of time, at least 12-24 months, for troubled assets to recover, with ongoing management efforts [32][34] Question: Performance track record between sponsor and non-sponsor deals - Historically, non-sponsor deals have shown fewer defaults compared to sponsor deals, indicating stronger performance in the non-sponsor market [36] Question: Impact of competition on pricing in the mid-market - Pricing compression in the mid-market is attributed to larger players entering the market due to insufficient volume, affecting spreads [44]

Company Overview - WhiteHorse Finance's portfolio fair value was $568.4 million as of September 30, 2025[9, 13] - The company's investments are diversified across 125 positions in 66 portfolio companies as of September 30, 2025[13] - The average investment size is $3.8 million, while the average debt investment size is $5.2 million[13] - Since its IPO in December 2012, the company has invested $2,825 million in 265 transactions[13, 14] Financial Performance - The Q3 2025 Net Investment Income (NII) and Core NII was $6.1 million, or $0.263 per share[17] - The company received dispositions and principal repayments of $50.5 million in Q3 2025[17] - As of September 30, 2025, STRS JV had total assets of $364.3 million, with the company's return on its investment at 13.8%[17] - The Net Asset Value (NAV) per share at the end of Q3 2025 was $11.41, compared to $11.82 in Q2 2025[17] Portfolio Composition - As of Q3 2025, 99.1% of the debt investments were floating rate[27] - First lien secured loans accounted for 74.7% of the total portfolio composition by fair value[27] - Investments on non-accrual status represented 2.2% of the portfolio based on fair value of debt investments[27]

Company Overview - Ares Capital is a business development company (BDC) that provides loans to smaller businesses, distributing a significant portion of its cash flows as dividends [2] - The company operates under a specific corporate structure designed for tax-efficient income distribution to shareholders, similar to real estate investment trusts (REITs) [2] Business Model and Risks - Ares Capital's loans generally carry high interest rates, with an average yield of 10.6% in Q3 2025, indicating that clients often seek these loans due to the unavailability of cheaper capital options [3] - The companies receiving loans from Ares Capital are typically smaller, which inherently carries more risk, especially during economic downturns [4] - The BDC model means that Ares Capital will face challenges with troubled loans even in strong economic conditions, but the risk escalates during recessions when many businesses may struggle simultaneously [6][10] Dividend Insights - Ares Capital has a high dividend yield of 9.4%, but the dividend is subject to volatility, particularly during economic downturns, making it less reliable as a consistent income stream [1][10] - Historical data shows that dividend fluctuations are common, especially during periods of broad economic distress [7] - Despite the risks, Ares Capital is recognized as a well-respected BDC and has successfully navigated past economic challenges, including acting as an industry consolidator during the Great Recession [9] Market Position - Ares Capital is one of the largest BDCs by market capitalization, supported by Ares Management, which oversees its daily operations [9] - The company is positioned for long-term success, but investors should not rely solely on its dividends for consistent income [11]

Core Insights - The article discusses updates on companies during earnings season, highlighting specific performance metrics and strategic developments in the business development company (BDC) sector and consumer staples industry. Group 1: Business Development Companies (BDCs) - Hercules Capital (HTGC) reported a strong third-quarter performance with total investment income of $138.1 million, bringing the year-to-date figure to a record $395.1 million, up 6.4% from the same period in 2024 [6] - Third-quarter net investment income reached $88.6 million, contributing to a year-to-date total of $254.7 million, which is up 4.1% compared to the previous year [6] - HTGC's third-quarter originations hit $846 million, totaling $2.87 billion for the first three quarters, positioning the company to exceed the 2024 record of $3.12 billion [7] - The net asset value (NAV) of HTGC is currently $12.05, reflecting a 1.8% increase from the previous quarter, despite challenges in the BDC sector [10] - HTGC achieved 122% coverage of its $0.40 quarterly base distribution, indicating strong financial health and the potential for supplemental payments [11] Group 2: Consumer Staples - Kimberly-Clark (KMB) announced an unexpected acquisition of Kenvue (KVUE), aiming to create a global health and wellness leader, which led to a 12.5% drop in KMB's shares while KVUE's shares rose by 17% [13] - The acquisition is seen as a strategic move to enhance market penetration similar to Proctor & Gamble, with both companies highlighting expected synergies [14] - The volatility in KMB's shares is anticipated to continue until the deal closes in the second half of 2026, but the recommendation is to hold KMB shares despite the recent drop [15]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of a hybrid investment strategy that combines classic dividend growth stocks with other asset classes like 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 diversified approach to investing, suggesting that a solid base of dividend growth stocks can be complemented by other investment vehicles to create a balanced portfolio [1]. - The strategy aims to boost investment income while still capturing total returns that align with the performance of the S&P 500 index [1]. Performance Insights - The article highlights that the hybrid investment system can yield a total return that is competitive with traditional index funds, indicating a potential for long-term growth and income generation [1].