Capital Southwest(US:CSWC)2026-02-03 17:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pre-tax net investment income was $34.6 million, or $0.60 per share, an increase from the previous quarter [16] - Total investment income rose to $61.4 million from $56.9 million, driven by increases in PIK income, fees, and dividend income [16][18] - Undistributed taxable income (UTI) increased to $1.02 per share, up from $0.68 per share in December 2024 [3][17] - NAV per share increased to $16.75 from $16.62 in the prior quarter [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Closed $244 million in total new commitments across eight new portfolio companies and 16 existing portfolio companies [4] - The weighted average spread on new commitments was approximately 6.4% [5] - The on-balance sheet credit portfolio ended at $1.8 billion, representing a 19% year-over-year growth [10] - 100% of new portfolio company debt originations were first lien senior secured [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately 93% of the credit portfolio is sponsor-backed, providing strong governance and operational support [10] - The credit portfolio generated a weighted average yield of 11.3% with a weighted average leverage of 3.6x EBITDA [12] - Cash flow coverage improved to 3.4 times, up from 2.9 times during peak base rates [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company announced a joint venture to enhance competitiveness in the lower middle market, allowing participation in larger, higher-quality deals [7] - The joint venture is expected to generate low to mid-teens equity returns for the company [7] - The company aims to maintain disciplined growth and create long-term value for shareholders [21][73] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the competitive position in the lower middle market despite challenges faced by peers [25] - The company is focused on executing its strategy and maintaining a conservative leverage cushion to mitigate capital market volatility [19][73] - Management noted that the lower middle market remains active, with private equity sponsors still looking for deals [32] Other Important Information - The company has a robust liquidity position with approximately $438 million in cash and undrawn leverage commitments [19] - Non-accruals represented just 1.5% of the investment portfolio at fair value [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expand on the competitive dynamics in the lower middle market? - Management noted that while regional banks have fluctuated in their lending, the competitive landscape remains stable with fewer BDCs currently trading at book value [24][25] Question: What is the outlook for spreads in the coming quarters? - Management indicated that spreads have stabilized, with expectations to remain between 7% and 7.25% over the next 12 months [26] Question: What is the breakdown of the portfolio between sponsored and non-sponsored deals? - The portfolio consists of approximately 93% sponsored and 7% non-sponsored deals [30] Question: How are sponsors behaving in the current market environment? - Sponsors are still looking for deals, although last year was considered weak for deployment [31] Question: How is AI disruption risk being evaluated in the portfolio? - The company has formed an AI committee to assess AI risks in existing and new investments, indicating a proactive approach to potential disruptions [68]