Great Elm Capital (US:GECC)2025-05-06 13:32Financial 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]