Core Viewpoint - Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC) is a business development company that provides capital to middle-market companies, facing financial challenges but competing effectively in its sector [1] Financial Performance - On February 9, 2026, PSEC reported earnings per share of $0.19, surpassing the estimated $0.10, indicating better-than-expected profitability for the quarter [2][5] - The company reported revenue of $176 million, exceeding the estimated $154.3 million, suggesting strong operational performance [2][5] Shareholder Returns - PSEC declared dividends through April 2026, with distributions based on shares outstanding as of February 6, 2026 [3] - Since its inception, PSEC has distributed $21.93 per share to original common shareholders, totaling approximately $4.7 billion in cumulative distributions, highlighting its commitment to shareholder returns [3][5] Cash Flow Generation - PSEC's enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio is around 6.99, indicating that the company is generating cash flow relative to its enterprise value, which is crucial for sustaining operations and supporting future growth [4]

Core Insights - Small-cap stocks present lucrative investment opportunities due to frequent mispricings resulting from limited analyst coverage [1] - The article identifies three small-cap stocks to avoid and suggests alternatives for investment [2] Company Summaries Valley National Bank (VLY) - Market Cap: $6.13 billion, providing commercial, consumer, and wealth management banking services [3] - Currently trading at $10.78 per share, which is 0.8x forward price-to-book (P/B) ratio [5] BankUnited (BKU) - Market Cap: $3.04 billion, offering commercial lending, deposit services, and treasury solutions primarily in Florida and New York [6] - Trading at $39.96 per share, equivalent to 1x forward P/B ratio [8] Prospect Capital (PSEC) - Market Cap: $1.18 billion, one of the largest publicly traded business development companies in the U.S., providing debt and equity financing to middle-market companies [9] Concerns Regarding Valley National Bank (VLY) - The article suggests there are better investment opportunities than VLY [5] Concerns Regarding BankUnited (BKU) - The article indicates caution is warranted regarding BKU, although specific reasons are not detailed [8] Concerns Regarding Prospect Capital (PSEC) - Sales stagnation over the last two years indicates a need for new growth strategies [11] - Net interest margin of 2.9% is low, necessitating increased loan originations to maintain profitability [11] - Earnings per share have decreased by 17% annually over the last two years, with flat revenue indicating reduced profitability per sale [11] Additional Financial Metrics for Prospect Capital (PSEC) - Net interest income growth of 5.5% over five years is below typical banking firms [12] - A net interest margin of 2.8% is significantly lower than other banks, suggesting unprofitable loans [12] - An expected worsening of the efficiency ratio by 17.5 percentage points in the coming year [12] Sales Performance of Prospect Capital (PSEC) - Annual sales have declined by 8.1% over the past two years, indicating market disconnect [13] - Earnings per share fell by 66.3% annually despite revenue growth, highlighting profitability issues [13] - Tangible book value per share has decreased by 4.3% annually over the last five years due to loan losses and capital returns [13]

Core Insights - Gladstone Capital reported steady net investment income per share at $0.50, slightly above expectations, while GAAP revenue was $21.7 million, just below the consensus of $21.88 million [1][2] - The company experienced significant realized losses of $3.62 million, marking an $11.33 million swing from the previous quarter's gain [1][7] - Net Asset Value (NAV) per share decreased by 0.7% quarter over quarter, indicating pressure on asset values [1][2] Financial Performance - Net investment income remained stable at $11.3 million, with a slight increase of 0.9% from the previous quarter [2] - Total investments at fair value decreased by $11.38 million, or 1.5%, despite a $72.95 million investment in new portfolio companies, a 60% increase from the prior quarter [5][7] - The weighted average yield on interest-bearing investments rose to 12.8% from 12.6% in the prior quarter, reflecting improved portfolio returns [6] Dividend Policy - The quarterly dividend distribution was maintained at $0.495 per share, resulting in a 100% payout ratio, indicating a commitment to income stability for shareholders [12][13] - Monthly distributions of $0.165 per share were declared for Q4 FY2025, showing consistency in shareholder returns [13] Business Overview - Gladstone Capital focuses on providing debt and equity financing to lower middle market companies, primarily through secured first lien and second lien loans [3][10] - The company emphasizes credit quality, with over 70% of debt investments being first lien loans, which offer a layer of protection against credit losses [4][10] Strategic Developments - Management expanded its credit facility to $320 million to enhance flexibility and support future investments [8] - Following the quarter-end, the company closed $76.7 million in new investments and $16.6 million in add-ons, indicating confidence in capital redeployment [9][8] Future Outlook - Management did not provide explicit forward guidance but highlighted a strong deal pipeline and the expectation of reduced portfolio repayments, which could support future earnings growth [14]