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Carlyle Secured Lending Inc (CGBD)
NASDAQ:CGBD

Carlyle Secured Lending Inc (CGBD) AI Stock Analysis

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CGBD

Carlyle Secured Lending Inc

(NASDAQ:CGBD)

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Neutral 60 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:60Neutral
Price Target:
$12.00
â–²(5.54% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/25/26
Score is held back primarily by financial-statement uncertainty and cash-flow volatility (notably the 2025 operating cash flow outflow and inconsistent latest-year figures), plus weak technical momentum. These are partially offset by an attractive valuation/income profile (low P/E and high yield) and a generally positive earnings-call read-through highlighting dividend support, JV-driven longer-term accretion potential, and stable credit indicators.
Positive Factors
Conservative portfolio composition
A portfolio concentrated in senior‑secured loans across 165 companies and 25+ industries with low nonaccruals and healthy median EBITDA underpins durable credit resilience. This structurally lowers loss severity and supports stable interest income through multiple economic cycles.
Accretive, fee‑efficient JV strategy
Scaling fee‑efficient JV vehicles (MMCF, SCP) leverages Carlyle’s origination platform to generate higher, fee‑free returns that accrete to equity. Over time this diversifies income sources, improves ROE potential, and creates durable fee‑free carry versus traditional fee structures.
Improved funding and active capital allocation
Lowered funding costs and matched floating‑rate debt reduce interest expense risk on floating assets, while modest leverage preserves balance‑sheet flexibility. Ongoing buybacks and expanded authorization indicate disciplined capital allocation and potential NAV accretion over multiple quarters.
Negative Factors
Operating cash‑flow volatility
Large swings in operating cash flow, including a substantial 2025 outflow, signal that reported investment income may not reliably convert to cash. Persistent cash volatility can constrain distributions, limit reinvestment, and increase sensitivity to funding shocks over the medium term.
2025 financial reporting inconsistencies
Inconsistent 2025 reporting (e.g., zeroed net income/debt and ROE collapse) undermines visibility into underlying earnings quality and leverage. Reduced transparency raises modelling risk for cash returns and impairs confidence in assessing durable capital adequacy and dividend coverage.
Yield pressure and dividend reliance
Structural rate cuts and tight spreads compress portfolio yields, reducing recurring NII. Declared dividends exceeding recent GAAP NII and reliance on spillover income raise sustainability questions; persistent yield compression could stress distributable cash over several quarters.

Carlyle Secured Lending Inc (CGBD) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Carlyle Secured Lending Inc Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionTCG BDC, Inc. is business development company specializing in first lien debt, senior secured loans, second lien senior secured loan unsecured debt, mezzanine debt and investments in equities. It specializes in directly investing. It specializes in middle market. It targets healthcare and pharmaceutical, aerospace and defense, high tech industries, business services, software, beverage food and tobacco, hotel gamming and leisure, banking finance insurance and in real estate sector. The fund seeks to invest across United States of America, Luxembourg, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, and United Kingdom. It invests in companies with EBITDA between $25 million and $100 million.
How the Company Makes MoneyTCG BDC generates revenue primarily through interest income and capital gains from its investment portfolio. The company makes money by charging interest on its loans to middle-market companies, which forms the core of its revenue stream. Additionally, it earns income from dividends on equity investments and may realize gains from the sale of investments. TCG BDC's earnings are significantly influenced by its ability to source high-quality debt investments with favorable terms. The company may also engage in strategic partnerships to enhance its investment opportunities and expand its portfolio.

Carlyle Secured Lending Inc Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Fair Value of Investments by Type
Fair Value of Investments by Type
Assesses the current market value of the company's investment portfolio, highlighting potential gains or losses and providing insight into asset quality and market positioning.
Chart InsightsTCG BDC's First Lien Debt investments surged in 2025, reflecting a strategic shift towards senior secured loans, aligning with the company's record $2 billion in originations. Despite this growth, challenges persist with increased nonaccruals and a decline in net asset value. The earnings call highlighted strong deployment and a solid dividend yield, but also pointed to unrealized losses and higher expenses, indicating a mixed outlook. The focus remains on diversification and credit performance, crucial for navigating tight market spreads and maintaining investor confidence.
Data provided by:The Fly

Carlyle Secured Lending Inc Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 24, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 12, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call highlighted multiple positive operational and strategic developments — record origination and platform deployments, accretive JV initiatives (MMCF and SCP) with attractive expected yields, conservative portfolio composition, low nonaccruals, active share repurchases, and improved funding profile — which outweigh near-term headwinds such as lower yields from rate cuts, modest valuation markdowns (notably in software), a small aggregate net loss in the quarter, and an expected earnings trough in H1 2026. Management emphasized confidence in portfolio credit quality, diversification, and long-term accretion opportunities from fee-free JV structures, while acknowledging short-term pressure on earnings and valuations.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Origination and Deployment
CGBD deployed over $1.2 billion in 2025 and closed over $7.0 billion of commitments at the Carlyle Direct Lending platform; Q4 was a record quarter with >$400 million of investment fundings and net investment activity of $193 million. Total investments at CGBD rose from $2.4 billion to $2.5 billion during the quarter (~4.2% quarter increase).
Strong Platform JV Performance and Yield
Middle Market Credit Fund (MMCF) achieved a ~15% dividend yield on >$950 million of investments with no JV fees; CGBD committed $150 million to new Structured Credit Partners (SCP) JV, a $600 million equity-capitalized vehicle expected to be fee-free and accretive with a potential 400–500 basis point uplift versus traditional fee structures.
Solid Quarterly Earnings Metrics
Q4 total investment income was $67 million with GAAP net investment income of $24 million or $0.33 per share; adjusted NII was $0.36 per share. Board declared Q1 2026 dividend of $0.40 per share and management estimates $0.74 per share of spillover income to support dividends.
Conservative Portfolio Profile and Credit Stability
Portfolio comprised of 165 companies across >25 industries with 94% of investments in senior secured loans; median EBITDA $97 million; average exposure to any single company <1% of investments; nonaccruals remained stable at 5 names representing 1.2% of investments at fair value (1.8% at amortized cost).
Robust Software Track Record
Carlyle Direct Lending originated >$6 billion in software commitments over 5 years with 0 defaults; software borrowers in the book averaged ~8% revenue growth and ~20% EBITDA growth YoY, and the weighted average loan-to-value of the software book is ~40% lower than the rest of the portfolio.
Active Capital Allocation and Share Repurchases
Repurchased $14 million of shares in Q4 at an average discount of ~23% (accretion ~$0.06 NAV); an additional $14 million repurchased in Q1-to-date (~$0.06 accretion). Board expanded repurchase program from $200 million to $300 million.
Improved Financing Profile and Interest Rate Positioning
Issued a new 5-year $300 million unsecured bond at SOFR +2.31%, redeemed higher-cost legacy indebtedness, lowered weighted average cost of borrowing by ~10 basis points, and positioned the debt stack as 100% floating to match floating-rate assets; adjusted leverage ~1.1x (statutory 1.3x).
Negative Updates
Pressure on Yields from Rate Cuts and Tight Spreads
Management cited lower investment yields driven by lower base rates and historically tight spreads on new originations; expect earnings to trough in H1 2026 primarily due to base rate cuts.
Higher Expenses and One-Time Charges
Total expenses increased to $43 million in Q4 versus prior quarter, driven by higher interest expense from a larger average debt balance and acceleration of debt issuance costs related to prior note repayments.
Modest Valuation Losses and Expected Software Markdowns
Aggregate realized and unrealized net loss for the quarter was about $7 million (~$0.09 per share), and management expects modest markdowns on select software names due to market volatility and AI-related uncertainty.
NAV Decline Quarter-to-Quarter
Net asset value decreased from $16.36 per share at 9/30 to $16.26 per share at 12/31 (a decline of $0.10, ~0.6%), reflecting markdowns and the quarter's performance.
Dependence on Spillover Income and Dividend Exceeding Quarterly GAAP NII
Declared dividend ($0.40) is above GAAP Q4 NII ($0.33 per share); management cites $0.74 of spillover income available to support dividends, indicating reliance on supplemental income sources to sustain distributions.
Market Uncertainty Around Software/AI Risk
While management reported no material near-term AI disruption risk after re-underwriting the portfolio, they noted elevated market volatility and potential valuation gaps in software due to AI concerns and high prior purchase multiples.
Stock Trading at Significant Discount to NAV
Management highlighted that CGBD shares continue to trade at a compelling discount (prompting active repurchases), signaling persistent market skepticism despite positive portfolio metrics.
Company Guidance
Management guided that CGBD will pay a Q1 2026 dividend of $0.40 per share (backed by an estimated $0.74 per share of spillover income), expects 2026 earnings to trough in H1 2026 from base‑rate cuts with earnings rising thereafter as JV portfolios ramp, and anticipates an active M&A/ origination year with pipeline pickup; they highlighted JV growth (MMCF equity upsize from $175M to $250M per partner, MMCF >$950M deployed and achieving a 15% dividend yield) and the new SCP JV (total $600M equity commitments, CGBD $150M commitment, targeting ~4 CLO issuances/year and ~$6–7B fee‑free assets over time with historical CLO returns of 10–12% and a potential 400–500 bps uplift). Quarter and balance‑sheet metrics supporting the guidance included Q4 total investment income $67M, total expenses $43M, GAAP NII $24M ($0.33/share) and adjusted NII $0.36/share, Q4 net investment activity $193M, total investments rising to ~$2.5B (CGBD deployed >$1.2B in 2025; platform closed >$7B), NAV $16.26 (vs. $16.36 at 9/30), statutory leverage 1.3x (adjusted ~1.1x), a new 5‑year $300M unsecured bond at SOFR+2.31% (lowering WACB ~10 bps), $28M of share repurchases to date (~$14M Q4 and $14M Q1) yielding ~$0.12/share accretion and an expanded $300M buyback authorization, aggregate Q4 realized/unrealized net loss ~$7M ($0.09/share), nonaccruals of 5 names (1.2% of investments at fair value), 165 portfolio companies across >25 industries, 94% senior secured, and median portfolio EBITDA $97M.

Carlyle Secured Lending Inc Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Historically strong profitability and generally stable capitalization (moderate leverage in 2020–2024), but the latest year shows major inconsistencies (net income and debt shown as 0) alongside a sharp deterioration in operating cash flow (2025: -$204.6M). These issues reduce confidence in the durability and quality of the reported rebound.
Income Statement
58
Neutral
Revenue trends are volatile: after declines in 2022 and a flat 2024, 2025 shows a sharp rebound (+55.9% YoY). Profitability was very strong in 2021–2024 (net margins roughly 53%–81%), but 2025 profitability is not reported (net income and margin shown as 0), which creates uncertainty around the sustainability/quality of the latest growth.
Balance Sheet
66
Positive
Leverage looks moderate for a credit-focused manager/BDC-like profile in 2020–2024, with debt-to-equity around ~1.07–1.17 and equity generally stable (~$0.9B). However, 2025 balance sheet data appears inconsistent (total debt shown as 0 alongside higher assets/equity), and returns on equity drop to 0 in 2025 versus ~9%–10% in 2022–2024 (and ~17% in 2021), reducing confidence in the latest reported strength.
Cash Flow
41
Neutral
Cash generation is inconsistent: operating cash flow ranged from strong positives (e.g., 2023–2024) to a large outflow in 2025 (-$204.6M). While prior periods showed solid cash coverage versus earnings (roughly ~2.4x to ~4.9x in 2022–2024), the swing to negative cash flow in 2025 is a key risk and suggests higher volatility in underlying cash realization.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue255.57M167.76M172.80M138.63M198.72M
Gross Profit0.0099.28M101.09M94.67M167.96M
EBITDA5.30M91.72M94.72M87.47M161.13M
Net Income0.0088.98M92.28M85.64M160.35M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.79B1.93B1.94B2.04B2.03B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments76.49M29.67M60.45M16.09M22.99M
Total Debt0.00967.65M980.18M1.08B1.04B
Total Liabilities1.62B1.02B1.03B1.12B1.08B
Stockholders Equity1.17B905.20M912.81M917.42M948.80M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-204.56M104.27M230.61M71.47M69.37M
Operating Cash Flow-204.56M104.27M230.61M71.47M69.37M
Investing Cash Flow-334.56M0.000.00-56.96M6.06M
Financing Cash Flow224.48M-108.14M-200.67M-77.08M-50.78M

Carlyle Secured Lending Inc Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price11.37
Price Trends
50DMA
12.37
Negative
100DMA
12.38
Negative
200DMA
12.82
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.29
Positive
RSI
35.17
Neutral
STOCH
22.48
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CGBD, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 11.37 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 11.91, below the 50-day MA of 12.37, and below the 200-day MA of 12.82, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.29 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 35.17 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 22.48 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for CGBD.

Carlyle Secured Lending Inc Risk Analysis

Carlyle Secured Lending Inc disclosed 71 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Carlyle Secured Lending Inc reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Carlyle Secured Lending Inc Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
66
Neutral
$1.14B6.8716.18%13.53%33.44%25.22%
62
Neutral
$852.37M9.148.18%13.18%-26.08%-27.65%
61
Neutral
$841.75M59.915.43%14.17%36.15%-38.59%
60
Neutral
$834.74M11.307.03%13.63%-8.23%-35.72%
60
Neutral
$818.55M23.673.44%13.64%36.91%-48.79%
58
Neutral
$799.23M8.649.07%10.80%-6.30%-6.92%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CGBD
Carlyle Secured Lending Inc
11.37
-5.00
-30.54%
NMFC
New Mountain Finance
7.83
-2.52
-24.35%
PFLT
Pennantpark
8.44
-1.42
-14.36%
SLRC
SLR Investment Corp.
15.14
-0.42
-2.70%
BCSF
Bain Capital Specialty Finance
13.27
-3.27
-19.77%
TRIN
Trinity Capital
15.40
1.27
9.01%

Carlyle Secured Lending Inc Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyDividendsFinancial Disclosures
Carlyle Secured Lending Reports Strong 2025 Results, Dividend
Positive
Feb 24, 2026

On February 24, 2026, Carlyle Secured Lending reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025, highlighting net investment income of $0.33 per share for the quarter and $1.48 per share for the year. Adjusted net investment income reached $0.36 per share for the quarter and $1.51 per share for 2025, while net asset value per share slipped 0.6% in the fourth quarter to $16.26 as the total fair value of investments rose to $2.5 billion.

The board declared a first-quarter 2026 dividend of $0.40 per common share on February 18, 2026, payable on April 16 to shareholders of record on March 31, signaling continued income distribution despite modest NAV pressure. Management emphasized record 2025 origination volumes, the expansion of its direct lending and origination platform, and the use of non-GAAP adjusted metrics and recent debt redemption to better reflect underlying portfolio economics and support its positioning in a more active middle-market lending environment.

The most recent analyst rating on (CGBD) stock is a Buy with a $14.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Carlyle Secured Lending Inc stock, see the CGBD Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Carlyle Secured Lending Forms Structured Credit Partners JV
Positive
Feb 13, 2026

Carlyle Secured Lending, Carlyle Credit Solutions, Sixth Street Specialty Lending, and Sixth Street Lending Partners have formed Structured Credit Partners JV, LLC, a joint venture focused on investing in broadly syndicated first lien senior secured loans financed with long-term, non-mark-to-market CLO debt. The vehicle will be initially capitalized with $600 million of equity commitments, giving the participating business development companies highly diversified, actively managed corporate credit exposure and the potential for enhanced risk-adjusted returns without management or incentive fees at the CLO or JV level.

SCP will be governed jointly by Carlyle and Sixth Street, with each controlling roughly half of the CLOs, all of which will be wholly owned by the JV and managed by affiliates of the two firms under board oversight. By combining more than 35 years of CLO management experience and over $60 billion in CLO assets under management across more than 130 vehicles, the partners aim to use their scale and expertise to improve diversification, expand investment flexibility, and support accretive returns on equity for shareholders of the participating BDCs.

The most recent analyst rating on (CGBD) stock is a Buy with a $14.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Carlyle Secured Lending Inc stock, see the CGBD Stock Forecast page.

Financial Disclosures
Carlyle Secured Lending Schedules Fourth-Quarter 2025 Earnings Call
Neutral
Jan 27, 2026

On January 27, 2026, Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. announced that it will release its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025 on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, and will host a public conference call and webcast on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results. The scheduled earnings release and call will give investors and other stakeholders detailed insight into the company’s recent performance in the middle‑market lending space and provide an opportunity to assess how its senior secured lending strategy and portfolio are progressing heading into 2026.

The most recent analyst rating on (CGBD) stock is a Buy with a $14.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Carlyle Secured Lending Inc stock, see the CGBD Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 25, 2026