Stellus Capital Investment Corp (SCM) Q3 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Growth ...

In This Article:

  • GAAP Net Investment Income: $0.39 per share.

  • Core Net Investment Income: $0.40 per share, excluding estimated excise taxes.

  • Net Asset Value per Share: Increased by $0.19 during the quarter.

  • Investment Portfolio at Fair Value: $908.7 million across 99 portfolio companies.

  • New Investments: $9.4 million in one new portfolio company.

  • Repayments: $8.4 million full repayment and $5.5 million other repayments at par.

  • Equity Realization Proceeds: $2.6 million with a realized gain of $2.2 million.

  • Non-Accrual Loans: Loans to six portfolio companies, comprising 4.7% of the fair value of the total loan portfolio.

  • Dividend for Fourth Quarter: $0.40 per quarter, payable monthly.

Release Date: November 08, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Stellus Capital Investment Corp (NYSE:SCM) reported a net asset value per share increase of $0.19 during the quarter due to net unrealized appreciation on its investment portfolio.

  • The company has paid over $273 million in dividends to investors since its IPO, representing $16.28 per share for initial investors.

  • Stellus Capital Investment Corp (NYSE:SCM) successfully issued $14.6 million in shares through its ATM program at an average gross price above net asset value.

  • The investment portfolio at fair value increased to $908.7 million across 99 portfolio companies, up from $899.7 million across 100 companies in the previous quarter.

  • The company increased its bank facility by $55 million, enhancing its capacity to grow the portfolio to over a billion dollars.

Negative Points

  • Net investment income was slightly below expectations and the dividend for the quarter, attributed to lower investment activity and a slight increase in non-accrual loans.

  • The company experienced a decline in base rates, which impacted the yield and net investment income.

  • There are currently loans to six portfolio companies that are non-accrual, comprising 4.7% of the fair value of the total loan portfolio.

  • The portfolio size at the end of the third quarter was below the anticipated $930 million, ending closer to $900 million.

  • The company noted a trend of spread compression in new opportunities, with spreads decreasing from the sixes to the fives, which could impact future yields.

Q & A Highlights

Q: With NII slightly below expectations and the dividend this quarter, were there any temporary factors affecting this? A: Robert Ladd, CEO: There was nothing unusual. We had a lower SOFR rate and a slight increase in non-accruals. Last quarter had more other income, which made it higher. Investment activity was lighter than expected, but we anticipate it will pick up in the fourth quarter.