Oaktree Specialty Lending (US:OCSL)2026-02-04 17:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted Net Investment Income for Q1 2026 was $36.1 million, or $0.41 per share, a modest increase from $35.4 million or $0.40 per share in the prior quarter [3][20] - NAV per share decreased to $16.30 from $16.64 in the previous quarter due to unrealized depreciation on certain investments [20] - Adjusted total investment income decreased to $74.5 million from $76.9 million, primarily due to lower interest income [20][21] - Net leverage ratio increased to 1.07 times from 0.97 times, reflecting strong deployments during the quarter [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New funded investments totaled $314 million, up from $220 million in the prior quarter, indicating a 42% sequential increase [5][16] - Non-accruals represented 3.1% of the total debt portfolio, stable sequentially and down nearly 85 basis points year-over-year [5][19] - The weighted average yield on debt investments was 9.3%, with first lien senior secured debt comprising 85% of the total portfolio [15][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The private credit market is experiencing a bifurcation, with companies of scale and profitability having ample access to capital, while struggling companies face limited access [8] - Spreads in private credit have bottomed out at SOFR plus 450-475 basis points, with expectations for stability in 2026 [9][10] - Median portfolio EBITDA increased from $150 million to $190 million sequentially, driven by new originations of larger companies [33] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on disciplined capital deployment into income-generating assets and reducing non-accruals to improve earnings power [4][5] - There is a commitment to strong alignment with shareholders while navigating an evolving credit landscape [6] - The company is prioritizing loans to businesses with resilient models and defensible market positions, particularly in the software sector [10][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding the middle-market M&A activity improving over the year, despite current lower volumes [8] - The impact of AI on private credit is being closely monitored, with expectations of uneven outcomes across different players [10][11] - The company remains constructive on the long-term outlook for private credit, emphasizing disciplined underwriting and active portfolio management [12] Other Important Information - The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per share, payable on March 31, 2026 [4] - The company ended the quarter with over $576 million in available liquidity, including $81 million in cash [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide insight into the portion of the portfolio that is underperforming? - Management indicated that underperforming assets include non-accruals and positions trading below par, with most stress observed in public positions [26][27] Question: What drove the increase in median portfolio EBITDA? - The increase was primarily driven by new originations funded in the fourth quarter, which were larger companies, contributing to a mix shift [33] Question: Can you elaborate on the unrealized appreciation and markdowns in the quarter? - The largest driver of unrealized depreciation was Pluralsight, accounting for about 38% of the total mark, with some smaller marks in other private positions [35] Question: How does the company view top-line growth and EBITDA trends in the software sector? - Management noted that it is too early to see performance degradation in software names, but concerns exist regarding long-term refinanceability due to potential AI disruption [39][40]