Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a net investment income (NII) of $0.26 per share, consisting of $0.39 per share of net investment income offset by $0.13 of realized capital losses [4] - Recurring cash flows totaled $17 million or $0.67 per share, consistent with the prior quarter [4] - NAV increased to $14.21 per share as of September 30, up from $14.08 per share at the end of June [5] - GAAP return on equity for the third quarter was 3% [5] - The company recorded GAAP net income of $11.43 per share for the third quarter, with investment income of $16 million and unrealized gains of $5 million [16][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company deployed $60 million into new investments during the quarter, with a weighted average effective yield of 16.6% on new CLO equity purchased [5] - Three resets and four refinancings of CLO equity positions were completed, lowering debt costs and extending reinvestment periods [6] - The company repurchased $21 million of common stock at an average discount to NAV of 8.3%, resulting in NAV accretion of $0.07 per share [7][8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The S&P UBS Leveraged Loan Index returned 1.6% for the quarter, with a trailing 12-month default rate of 1.5%, up from 1.1% as of June 30 [11] - CLO new issuance volume was $53 billion during the quarter, slightly up from $51 billion in the second quarter [13] - The company had $52 million of cash and undrawn revolver capacity available for investment as of September 30 [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to capitalize on opportunities in the CLO investing market, leveraging its scale and experience [4] - The board increased the common share repurchase authorization to $60 million, reflecting a commitment to enhancing shareholder value [8] - The company plans to continue aggressive share buybacks when shares are trading at a discount to NAV [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the Fed's rate cuts have impacted earnings power, leading to a reduction in monthly distributions to $0.11 per share for the first quarter of 2026 [9] - The company believes junior CLO debt continues to offer compelling risk-adjusted returns compared to comparably rated corporates [9] - Management expressed optimism about credit quality, citing positive revenue and EBITDA trends among below investment-grade companies [24][26] Other Important Information - The company announced the scheduled redemption of 100% of its 7.75% Series B Term Preferred Stock to optimize capital structure [6] - As of October month-end, the company's NAV was estimated to be between $13.94 and $14.04 per share [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Future expectations for credit quality given recent revenue and EBITDA trends - Management indicated that positive revenue and EBITDA trends among below investment-grade companies are credit positives, and defaults are not expected to increase materially [24][26] Question: Drivers behind the increase in annual trading volume - Increased recognition of premium yields and low credit expenses in CLOs has driven trading volume, along with the advent of ETFs [28][29] Question: Impact of dividend reduction on earnings power - Management acknowledged that the reduction in dividends is primarily due to Fed rate cuts affecting earnings power, but they are making rotations within the CLO equity portfolio to offset some of that [31] Question: Activity regarding asset rotation and cash holdings - The company has seen paydowns in investments due to refinancings and resets, leading to a build-up in cash, which will be used for both paying down preferred stock and buying back common shares [35][40] Question: Industry concentration in software and technology - Most of the concentration is in enterprise software, which is considered stickier and has performed well historically [43] Question: Investment focus in CLOs - The company generally follows market trends in industry concentrations, with technology and healthcare being the highest [44]