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Cion Investment Corp. (CION)
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CION Investment Corp (CION) AI Stock Analysis

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CION

CION Investment Corp

(NYSE:CION)

Rating:58Neutral
Price Target:
CION Investment Corp's overall stock score reflects strong revenue growth and efficient cost management, though tempered by high leverage and cash flow inconsistencies. The technical analysis shows bearish trends, suggesting caution. However, the attractive valuation with high dividend yield and positive earnings call sentiment provide a balanced outlook.
Positive Factors
Distribution
CION signaled confidence in its NOI trajectory, declaring another $0.36 distribution for the second quarter.
Equity Marks
Eagletree was marked up slightly through improved equity marks on American Clinical and CTS Ultimate.
Net Operating Income
CION reported NOI of $0.36 per share, above the $0.32 estimate, as ~$1.16 of FV marks resulted in a GAAP loss of $0.80.
Negative Factors
Credit Quality
Below-95 credits account for 43% of NAV, most of which is still on accrual and below 90.
Market Value Impact
CION's NAV and market value are likely to be dragged around by quarterly marks on David's Bridal, which was written down following a new round of investment by third parties.
Portfolio Risk
The portfolio risk still warrants a discount in the net operating income.

CION Investment Corp (CION) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

CION Investment Corp Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCION Investment Corporation is a business development company. It specializes in investments in senior secured loans, including unitranche loans, First Lien, second lien loans, long-term subordinated loans, and mezzanine loans; equity interests such as warrants or options; and corporate bonds; and other debt securities in middle-market companies. The firm invests in growth capital, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, market/product expansion, refinancing and recapitalization. The fund also invests up to 30 percent of their assets opportunistically in other types of investments, including the securities of larger public companies and foreign securities. It also makes investments in the secondary loan market. The fund does not invest in start-up companies, turnaround situations, or companies with speculative business plans. The fund prefers to invest in high tech industries, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, business services, media, chemicals, plastic, rubber, telecommunication, consumer services, advertising, printing and publishing, consumer goods, durables, diversified financials, and other industries. It also invests in homebuilding, restaurants, beverage and tobacco bars, broadcasting, distributors, Non-durable good distribution, food beverage and tobacco, energy, oil gas and consumables fuels, insurance, aerospace and defense, industrial machinery, paper and forest product machinery, information technology, metals and mining, and real estate. It primarily seeks to invest in the United States. The fund seeks to invest between $5 million and $50 million in companies with an EBITDA between $25 million and $75 million with average targeted hold of $25 million. It also purchases minority interests in the form of common or preferred equity in the target companies, typically in conjunction with its debt investments or through a co-investment with a financial sponsor. The fund seeks to exit its investments through an initial public offering of common stock, a merger, a sale, or other recapitalization.
How the Company Makes MoneyCION Investment Corp generates revenue primarily through the interest income and fees earned on the loans it provides to middle-market companies. As a business development company, CION is required to distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to shareholders in the form of dividends, which means it focuses on generating consistent and high-interest income from its loan portfolio. The company may also earn money through capital gains on the sale of investments, though this is a secondary objective. CION's earnings are influenced by factors such as the credit quality of its borrowers, interest rate fluctuations, and overall economic conditions. The company may also engage in strategic partnerships or co-investments to enhance its investment opportunities and returns.

CION Investment Corp Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 07, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: 6.99%|
Next Earnings Date:Nov 06, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed picture with both positive and negative aspects. While there were notable achievements such as an increase in NAV, expansion of the share repurchase program, and positive market conditions, there were also challenges like a decrease in net investment income and slight increase in nonaccruals.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Increase in Net Asset Value
Net asset value increased by 1.5% quarter-over-quarter to $14.50, driven by fair value increases in equity positions and share repurchases.
Share Repurchase Program Expansion
The Board authorized a $20 million upsize to the share repurchase program, indicating strong alignment with shareholders.
Strong Portfolio Credit Performance
Nonaccruals remain low at 1.37% of the portfolio at fair value, with 98% of the portfolio risk rated 3 or better.
Positive Market Conditions
Improved economic indicators and reduced tariff concerns boosted overall sentiment and equity markets.
Expected Accretive Recapitalization
A recapitalization of a larger portfolio company is expected to close in Q3, anticipated to be highly accretive to both earnings and NAV.
Negative Updates
Decrease in Net Investment Income
Net investment income decreased to $0.32 per share from $0.36 per share in the prior quarter due to restructuring impacts.
Nonaccrual Increase
Nonaccruals increased slightly from 1.2% to 1.37% due to the classification of a new investment in Anthem Sports.
Interest Income Decline
Total investment income decreased by 7% quarter-over-quarter due to lower interest income and transaction fees.
Mark-to-Market Decline in 4Wall Entertainment
Decline driven by lower earnings due to the 2023 Writers Guild strike and LA fire activity affecting TV and film production.
Company Guidance
During the second quarter of 2025, CION Investment Corporation reported a quarterly net investment income of $0.32 per share, affected by the restructuring of Anthem Entertainment and hospital loan exits. Excluding these impacts, the income would have surpassed their base dividend of $0.36 per share, which they are maintaining. The net asset value (NAV) increased by 1.5% to $14.50, up from $14.28, driven by fair value increases in equity positions, notably in Longview Power, which saw improved valuation due to strong financial performance. Nonaccruals remained low at 1.37%, with investments risk-rated 4 or 5 representing less than 2% of the portfolio's fair value. CION also repurchased approximately 699,000 shares at an average price of $9.37, with the board authorizing a $20 million upsize to the share repurchase program. Total investment income decreased by 7% to $52.2 million, while operating expenses decreased to $35.3 million. The portfolio's fair value was $1.8 billion, with a weighted average yield of 12.4% at amortized cost. The company declared a third-quarter base distribution of $0.36 per share, maintaining the previous quarter's level.

CION Investment Corp Financial Statement Overview

Summary
CION Investment Corp demonstrates strong revenue growth and efficient cost management, but faces challenges with high leverage and inconsistent cash flows. While profitability metrics show potential, the reliance on debt financing and cash flow volatility may pose risks to long-term stability.
Income Statement
67
Positive
CION Investment Corp has shown strong revenue growth with a significant increase from 2022 to 2023. The gross profit margin remains high at 100%, demonstrating efficient cost management. However, the net profit margin has shown inconsistency over the years, indicating volatility in net income relative to revenue. Despite this, EBIT margins are solid, pointing to effective operational management.
Balance Sheet
45
Neutral
The company shows a relatively high debt-to-equity ratio in recent years, indicating a higher reliance on debt financing, which could pose a financial risk. The equity ratio has decreased, reflecting a lower proportion of assets financed by equity. ROE has been positive, suggesting profitability from equity, but the high liabilities could be a concern for financial stability.
Cash Flow
55
Neutral
Operating cash flow has seen fluctuations, with significant negative cash flow in 2023, which may indicate operational challenges. Free cash flow has improved in the latest year, but historical volatility presents concerns. The operating cash flow to net income ratio suggests that cash flow generation is inconsistent compared to reported earnings.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue63.41M142.82M251.01M61.14M131.98M-2.20M
Gross Profit-19.79M45.95M251.01M11.72M90.89M-44.13M
EBITDA12.84M34.01M-9.71M0.000.000.00
Net Income11.67M33.90M95.31M50.14M118.76M-11.02M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets62.23M1.95B2.00B1.87B1.78B1.61B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments5.00K7.67M121.86M82.74M3.77M19.91M
Total Debt0.001.10B1.08B951.32M822.37M719.96M
Total Liabilities39.09M1.12B1.12B988.78M852.17M736.54M
Stockholders Equity23.14M820.81M879.56M883.63M930.51M878.26M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow69.40M88.19M-97.15M35.28M-49.25M198.73M
Operating Cash Flow69.40M88.19M-97.15M35.28M-49.25M198.73M
Investing Cash Flow48.98M0.000.00-487.95M-660.99M-282.00M
Financing Cash Flow-61.24M-88.94M22.83M43.69M33.11M-184.95M

CION Investment Corp Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price10.56
Price Trends
50DMA
9.85
Positive
100DMA
9.57
Positive
200DMA
10.14
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.22
Negative
RSI
62.72
Neutral
STOCH
60.88
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CION, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 10.56 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 10.22, above the 50-day MA of 9.85, and above the 200-day MA of 10.14, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.22 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 62.72 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 60.88 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CION.

CION Investment Corp Risk Analysis

CION Investment Corp disclosed 1 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. CION Investment Corp reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

CION Investment Corp Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
$543.10M6.5616.54%10.69%33.75%6.20%
70
Neutral
$598.22M7.9516.23%8.96%47.88%-5.08%
68
Neutral
$17.52B11.7210.43%3.85%9.75%2.39%
61
Neutral
$561.85M12.725.98%12.79%-7.13%-56.63%
58
Neutral
$550.56M15.47-1.27%14.58%-11.83%-108.11%
58
Neutral
$608.01M-1.48%19.05%-48.53%73.29%
48
Neutral
$466.87M33.212.89%13.60%-35.46%-67.15%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CION
CION Investment Corp
10.57
-0.07
-0.66%
GLAD
Gladstone Capital
26.59
5.89
28.45%
GAIN
Gladstone Investment
14.07
2.98
26.87%
PNNT
Pennantpark Investment
7.09
1.07
17.77%
TCPC
BlackRock TCP Capital
7.10
-0.65
-8.39%
CCAP
Crescent Capital BDC
15.14
-1.20
-7.34%

CION Investment Corp Corporate Events

Financial Disclosures
CION Investment Corp to Announce Q1 2025 Results
Neutral
Apr 2, 2025

CION Investment Corporation announced that it will release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, on May 8, 2025, before the markets open. The company will also hold an earnings conference call at 11:00 a.m. ET on the same day to discuss these results, with a webcast and recording available for those unable to attend the live call.

Private Placements and FinancingDividendsFinancial Disclosures
CION Investment Corp Reports Strong Q4 2024 Results
Positive
Mar 13, 2025

CION Investment Corporation reported strong financial results for the fourth quarter and year ending December 31, 2024, with net investment income of $1.79 and total shareholder distributions of $1.52. The company declared a first quarter 2025 base distribution of $0.36 per share. Despite a slight decrease in net asset value per share due to mark-to-market adjustments, CION maintained a robust investment portfolio and completed significant investment activities, including a public bond offering and a new credit facility agreement, enhancing its financial flexibility and shareholder returns.

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: Apr 22, 2025