Here is how Belden (BDC) and Powell Industries (POWL) have performed compared to their sector so far this year.
Golub Capital BDC delivered a strong quarterly result with a 4.8% total NAV return, trading at an 11.3% dividend yield and a 3% discount to book. The company's diversified loan portfolio focuses on floating-rate first-lien loans, with top sectors in software and healthcare. Despite a 6% drop in adjusted net investment income, GBDC's shareholder-friendly fee structure and consistent NAV growth make it an attractive investment.
SLRC has a portfolio of $2.1 billion, diversified amongst 800 unique issuers. SLRC is trading at a 15% discount to net asset value and with a current yield of 10.6%. 64% of the portfolio is asset-based (ABL) or equipment finance.
We take a look at the action in business development companies through the first week of September and highlight some of the key themes we are watching. BDCs were down around 1% this week, with lower valuation BDCs like MRCC, PSEC, and WHF outperforming. Investors should be cautious about NII figures, as preferred dividends can reduce the actual income available to common shareholders, impacting perceived dividend coverage.
Hercules Capital is a top-tier BDC with a strong track record, focusing on first-lien debt investments across five sectors from the 'new economy'. HTGC's floating-rate loans benefit from high-interest rates, but potential rate cuts could impact income while lowering debt costs and improving deal sourcing. Rising non-accruals and tighter liquidity are concerns, reflecting broader economic challenges and increasing risks in the BDC sector.
Hercules Capital is my only VC-focused BDC with a buy rating, mainly due to its disciplined credit underwriting and defensive yield. Since my initial January 2024 thesis, HTGC has delivered significant alpha relative to the BDC index, clearly validating my investment stance. Despite a sharp decline post-Q2 2024 earnings, HTGC's fundamentals remain strong, warranting continued confidence in its cash generation and dividend coverage.
Part 2 of this article compares GBDC's recent dividend per share rates, yield percentages, and several other highly detailed (and useful) dividend sustainability metrics to 14 other BDC peers. This includes a comparative analysis of GBDC's cumulative undistributed taxable income ratio, percentage of floating-rate debt investments, recent weighted average annualized yield, and weighted average interest rate on outstanding borrowings. GBDC's “base” dividend sustainability remains strong. When comparing/analyzing all metrics (including additional metrics not mentioned), GBDC is currently deemed to be undervalued (BUY).
Golub Capital BDC's merger with Golub Capital 3 BDC significantly increased its portfolio value and net investment income, enhancing its investment appeal. The BDC's net investment income comfortably covers its dividend, offering a moderately safe 12% yield for income investors. Despite a slight increase in non-accrual percentage, the long-term trend shows a considerable improvement in asset quality over the past year.
It is very likely that for most BDCs, the earnings have peaked and the direction of travel is unfavorable. There are both structural and transitory headwinds that put a pressure on earnings, rendering the dividend coverage levels potentially unsustainable. In this article, I share three pillars that have to be in place in BDC dividend investor portfolio to mitigate the risk of experiencing a cut in their income streams.
We take a look at the Q2 numbers from Barings BDC. The stock trades at a 12% discount to book and a 10.4% dividend yield. The company's portfolio quality remains fairly strong, with low non-accruals and modest net realized losses.
We take a look at the action in business development companies through the last week of August and highlight some of the key themes we are watching. BDCs saw a 1% total return last week but ended August down 2%; six of our eight holdings were top performers. Private lenders, including major BDCs, are injecting $275m into Pluralsight, converting existing debt to equity.
Barings BDC operates as a business development company that generates its earnings through a portfolio of debt investments. BBDC's portfolio is highly diversified, with 66% in first lien senior secured debt and 87% in floating rate investments. Despite solid net investment income and a strong dividend yield of 10.6%, BBDC's NAV growth has been lackluster, limiting future growth appeal.