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Hercules Capital (HTGC)
NYSE:HTGC
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Hercules Capital (HTGC) AI Stock Analysis

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HTGC

Hercules Capital

(NYSE:HTGC)

Rating:64Neutral
Price Target:
$21.00
â–²(9.20% Upside)
Hercules Capital's overall stock score reflects strong technical momentum and valuation attractiveness, bolstered by positive earnings call sentiment and strategic corporate events. However, financial performance challenges, particularly in profitability and cash flow, weigh down the score.
Positive Factors
Earnings
HTGC offers a durable NOI profile with its earnings multiple now more in line with upper quartile peers.
Product Approval
Livmarli becomes the first approved drug for cholestatic pruritus in patients with ALGS and PFIC, marking a significant step in its global expansion.
Regulatory Approval
The FDA's approval of pruritus as a registrational endpoint for PSC and PBC reduces the regulatory risk and supports confidence in the efficacy of the next-generation IBAT inhibitor.
Negative Factors
Asset Quality
Annex Cloud was written down by 63ppt QoQ and moved to non-accrual.
Financial Performance
HTGC has been far from immune to the private markets morass with just 69% TTM NOI conversion.

Hercules Capital (HTGC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Hercules Capital Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionHercules Capital (HTGC) is a leading specialty finance company that provides debt and equity growth capital to venture capital-backed companies in the technology, life sciences, and sustainable and renewable technology sectors. Founded in 2003, the company focuses on helping innovative companies by offering customized financing solutions, including loans, structured finance, and equity investments, to support their growth and operational needs.
How the Company Makes MoneyHercules Capital generates revenue primarily through interest income from its debt investments, which include secured loans and credit facilities to growth-stage companies. The company charges interest rates that are typically higher than traditional bank loans due to the higher risk associated with lending to early-stage companies. Additionally, Hercules earns fees from structuring and origination services, as well as management fees from its investment funds. The company also benefits from equity investments in the companies it finances, allowing it to participate in the growth and success of its portfolio companies. Significant partnerships with venture capital firms and access to a network of innovative companies contribute to Hercules's ability to source high-quality investment opportunities, which further enhances its revenue potential.

Hercules Capital Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 31, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: 5.02%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 29, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted strong performance metrics, including record fundings, income, and improved credit quality, along with a robust balance sheet and talent retention. However, market volatility, a cautious approach to Q3, and reduced equity investments were noted as challenges.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Fundings and Operating Performance
Hercules Capital achieved record fundings in Q2 2025 with over $709.1 million, a 53.7% increase year-over-year. Net investment income also reached a new record of $88.7 million or $0.50 per share, a 7.7% increase year-over-year.
Strong Balance Sheet and Liquidity
The company closed a $350 million institutional investment-grade bond offering and extended its credit facility to $440 million. Hercules ended Q2 with over $1 billion in liquidity across the platform.
Growth in Managed Funds
Hercules Adviser LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary, manages four funds with approximately $1.6 billion in committed equity and debt capital.
Robust Investment and Income Growth
Total investment income for Q2 was a record $137.5 million, a 10% increase year-over-year. First half 2025 total investment income reached $257 million, and net investment income was $166.2 million, setting new records.
Improved Portfolio Credit Quality
The credit quality of the debt investment portfolio improved, with no loans rated as 5 and a decrease in nonaccrual loans.
Successful Talent Retention and Acquisition
Hercules has been successful in retaining and attracting top talent, particularly following market events like the SVB situation.
Negative Updates
Volatile Equity and Credit Markets
The equity and credit markets remained volatile, although there was a general improvement in sentiment since the last earnings call.
Cautious Approach to Q3
Hercules anticipates Q3 2025 to be seasonally slow, with a cautious approach due to current market observations and transactions not reflecting appropriate risk-adjusted returns.
Reduced Amortization and Equity Investments
There was a noted reduction in equity co-investment and principal repayment trends, with a more judicious approach to equity investments due to frothy market conditions.
Company Guidance
During the second quarter of 2025, Hercules Capital reported several record-breaking metrics, underscoring its strong financial performance and strategic positioning. The company achieved total gross fundings of $709.1 million, marking a 53.7% increase year-over-year, and total investment income of $137.5 million, a 10% rise compared to the previous year. Net investment income reached $88.7 million, or $0.50 per share, reflecting a 7.7% increase year-over-year. The firm originated over $1 billion in new commitments for the second consecutive quarter and saw its debt portfolio grow by $192.1 million. Hercules also successfully closed a $350 million institutional bond offering with a 6% interest rate due in 2030 and upsized its credit facility to $440 million. The quarter concluded with $1 billion in platform liquidity and a GAAP leverage reduction to 97%, enhancing the company's robust balance sheet and positioning it advantageously within the competitive lending landscape.

Hercules Capital Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Hercules Capital's financial performance is challenged by declining revenue and negative net income in the TTM period, indicating profitability issues. Strong equity positions and low leverage are positives, but negative cash flow is a significant concern.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Hercules Capital's income statement shows a declining trend in revenue over the recent periods, decreasing from $460.7 million in 2023 to $388.3 million in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). The net income turned negative in TTM, indicating challenges in profitability. Gross profit margin remains high, indicating efficient cost management despite revenue decline. However, the negative net income and declining revenue growth are concerning.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a strong equity position with stockholders' equity consistently high relative to total assets, resulting in a healthy equity ratio. However, the debt-to-equity ratio is low due to minimal debt levels. This indicates low leverage, which is generally positive, but it also reflects limited growth through financing. The return on equity has seen fluctuations, impacted by varying net income levels.
Cash Flow
58
Neutral
Cash flow analysis shows negative operating cash flow in TTM, indicating cash management issues. Free cash flow is also negative, reflective of operational challenges. The free cash flow to net income ratio is unfavorable, showing inefficiencies in converting earnings to cash. A positive aspect is the significant investing cash inflow in TTM, possibly from asset sales or investments.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue348.92M415.93M460.67M184.64M255.13M297.77M
Gross Profit282.97M361.69M459.07M140.79M218.16M268.78M
EBITDA247.39M263.43M405.29M250.62M213.39M224.43M
Net Income-4.29M260.13M337.48M156.83M174.16M227.26M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets4.28B3.83B3.42B3.03B2.60B2.62B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments53.30M42.68M98.90M2.90B133.12M198.28M
Total Debt2.08B1.79B1.56B1.58B1.24B1.30B
Total Liabilities2.13B1.84B1.61B1.63B1.29B1.33B
Stockholders Equity2.15B1.99B1.80B1.40B1.31B1.29B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-633.61M-118.09M67.39M-424.91M128.51M207.66M
Operating Cash Flow-633.61M-118.09M68.28M-424.80M128.62M207.80M
Investing Cash Flow329.84M-705.00K-887.00K-114.00K-106.00K-137.00K
Financing Cash Flow318.15M119.20M22.75M314.52M-229.87M-85.04M

Hercules Capital Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price19.23
Price Trends
50DMA
18.47
Positive
100DMA
17.71
Positive
200DMA
18.10
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.20
Positive
RSI
60.00
Neutral
STOCH
44.81
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HTGC, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 19.23 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 18.98, above the 50-day MA of 18.47, and above the 200-day MA of 18.10, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.20 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 60.00 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 44.81 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for HTGC.

Hercules Capital Risk Analysis

Hercules Capital disclosed 34 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Hercules Capital 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

Hercules Capital Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$2.29B12.1511.66%8.63%-6.29%-15.46%
74
Outperform
$1.12B7.1317.31%12.90%31.43%30.85%
71
Outperform
$3.89B10.339.33%11.26%32.19%-13.72%
71
Outperform
$1.28B9.059.36%15.28%-55.16%47.09%
65
Neutral
$1.11B13.746.18%12.67%39.05%-32.62%
64
Neutral
$3.48B12.7112.81%9.83%-15.88%-13.91%
61
Neutral
C$15.82B6.6615.12%5.92%28.62%-7.32%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
HTGC
Hercules Capital
19.23
2.50
14.94%
GBDC
Golub Capital Bdc
14.78
1.34
9.97%
NMFC
New Mountain Finance
10.39
-0.61
-5.55%
TSLX
Sixth Street Specialty Lending
24.09
4.91
25.60%
GSBD
Goldman Sachs BDC
11.43
-0.72
-5.93%
TRIN
Trinity Capital
15.81
3.57
29.17%

Hercules Capital Corporate Events

Private Placements and FinancingDividendsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Hercules Capital Announces Q2 2025 Cash Distribution
Positive
Jul 31, 2025

On July 29, 2025, Hercules Capital announced a second quarter cash distribution of $0.47 per share, payable in August 2025. The company reported record financial results for Q2 2025, with total gross debt and equity commitments reaching $1.0 billion and net investment income of $88.7 million, providing 125% coverage of the base cash distribution. Hercules Capital also strengthened its financial position by closing a $350 million offering of unsecured notes and increasing its credit facility with MUFG Bank to $440 million. These achievements underscore Hercules Capital’s robust growth and strategic positioning in the specialty financing industry.

The most recent analyst rating on (HTGC) stock is a Hold with a $18.75 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hercules Capital stock, see the HTGC Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Hercules Capital Holds Annual Stockholders Meeting
Neutral
Jun 20, 2025

On June 18, 2025, Hercules Capital held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders where several key decisions were made. Stockholders elected Scott Bluestein, Wade Loo, and DeAnne Aguirre as Class III directors until 2028, approved the executive officer compensation, and ratified PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent public accountant for 2025. However, they did not authorize the company to issue shares below the net asset value.

The most recent analyst rating on (HTGC) stock is a Hold with a $18.75 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hercules Capital stock, see the HTGC Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Hercules Capital Completes $350M Public Offering
Positive
Jun 16, 2025

On June 16, 2025, Hercules Capital, Inc. completed a public offering of $350 million in 6.000% Notes due 2030, which are unsecured and rank senior to subordinated debt. The company plans to use the proceeds to repay outstanding secured debt. Additionally, on June 10, 2025, Hercules Funding IV LLC, a subsidiary of Hercules Capital, amended its Loan and Security Agreement with MUFG Bank, increasing the facility size to $440 million and extending the maturity to 2029.

The most recent analyst rating on (HTGC) stock is a Hold with a $18.75 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hercules Capital stock, see the HTGC 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: Aug 11, 2025