Carlyle Secured Lending(US:CGBD)2025-08-06 16:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated $0.39 per share of net investment income for the quarter on both a GAAP basis and after adjusting for asset acquisition accounting [6][12] - Total investment income for the second quarter was $67 million, significantly up from the prior quarter due to a higher investment portfolio balance [11] - Net asset value as of June 30 was $16.43 per share, down from $16.63 per share as of March 31 [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - CGBD funded $376 million of investments into new and existing borrowers, the highest level since its IPO in 2017 [7] - Total investments at CGBD increased from $2.2 billion to $2.3 billion during the quarter after adjusting for $150 million of investments sold to a joint venture [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that spreads in the private credit space remain at historically tight levels, which may present a headwind to near-term earnings [9] - Less than 5% of the portfolio has material direct risk from tariffs, indicating a stable exposure to trade policy changes [8][9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains focused on overall credit performance and portfolio diversification while maintaining target leverage [9] - The management is optimistic about rebuilding the pipeline for a busier end of the year and remains focused on sourcing transactions with significant equity cushions and conservative leverage profiles [8][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about increased deal activity in the second half of the year, particularly in Q4 and into 2026 [23][45] - The company is confident in its ability to invest in quality companies despite current market uncertainties [25][26] Other Important Information - The Board of Directors declared a third-quarter dividend of $0.40 per share, representing an attractive yield of over 11% based on the recent share price [12] - The company has an estimated $0.89 per share of spillover income generated over the last five years, supporting its ability to maintain the quarterly dividend [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: What has driven the tighter spreads over the past year? - Management indicated that deal activity was not as robust in the first half as hoped, but they are optimistic about increased deal activity in the second half of the year [22] Question: Are there concerns about the US economic environment going forward? - Management noted that certainty in tariff policy would be positive for the markets, and they are happy with the companies they are investing in [25][26] Question: What about the unrealized losses recorded in the quarter? - The unrealized losses were primarily company-specific, with a mix of credit issues and market technical factors [28][29] Question: How does the company view potential share buybacks? - Management is considering share buybacks based on stock trading relative to NAV but remains focused on growth [30] Question: What is the timeline for fully deploying the current credit fund? - The goal is to fully utilize the current credit fund within the next two to three quarters [56] Question: Is there a change in the quality of opportunities entering the pipeline? - Management stated that there has not been a material change in the quality of the companies they are able to invest in [62]