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Prospect Capital (PSEC)
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Prospect Capital (PSEC) AI Stock Analysis

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PSEC

Prospect Capital

(NASDAQ:PSEC)

Rating:58Neutral
Price Target:
Prospect Capital's overall score is driven by mixed financial performance with strong current profitability but historical volatility. Technical analysis points to bearish momentum, which is a significant concern. The high dividend yield is a positive, but the negative P/E ratio indicates potential sustainability issues. Overall, the stock presents a balanced risk-reward profile, with strengths in cash flow management and dividend yield, but significant technical and valuation challenges.
Positive Factors
Acquisition
The acquisition of QC Holdings is expected to complement PSEC's existing consumer lending franchises.
Repayments and Leverage
PSEC saw strong repayments this quarter and was able to bring the revolver down a touch ahead of its March '25 convert.
Negative Factors
Capital Returns
The ongoing wind down of CLOs with significant realized losses poses a challenge to capital returns.
Dividend Challenges
The anticipated dividend reset to a lower amount reflects challenges in maintaining current dividend levels.
Earnings Risk
A levered path forward with nearly full revolver headroom could result in a negative earnings trajectory even without the incentive fee.

Prospect Capital (PSEC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Prospect Capital Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionProspect Capital Corporation is a business development company. It specializes in middle market, mature, mezzanine finance, later stage, emerging growth, leveraged buyouts, refinancing, acquisitions, recapitalizations, turnaround, growth capital, development, capital expenditures and subordinated debt tranches of collateralized loan obligations, cash flow term loans, market place lending and bridge transactions. It also makes real estate investments particularly in multi-family residential real estate asset class. The fund makes secured debt, senior debt, senior and secured term loans, unitranche debt, first-lien and second lien, private debt, private equity, mezzanine debt, and equity investments in private and microcap public businesses. It focuses on both primary origination and secondary loans/portfolios and invests in situations like debt financings for private equity sponsors, acquisitions, dividend recapitalizations, growth financings, bridge loans, cash flow term loans, real estate financings/investments. It also focuses on investing in small-sized and medium-sized private companies rather than large public companies. The fund typically invests across all industry sectors, with a particular expertise in the energy and industrial sectors. It invests in aerospace and defense, chemicals, conglomerate services, consumer services, ecological, electronics, financial services, machinery, manufacturing, media, pharmaceuticals, retail, software, specialty minerals, textiles and leather, transportation, oil and gas production, coal production, materials, industrials, consumer discretionary, information technology, utilities, pipeline, storage, power generation and distribution, renewable and clean energy, oilfield services, healthcare, food and beverage, education, business services, and other select sectors. It prefers to invest in the United States and Canada. The fund seeks to invest between $10 million to $500 million per transaction in companies with EBITDA between $5 million and $150 million, sales value between $25 million and $500 million, and enterprise value between $5 million and $1000 million. It fund also co-invests for larger deals. The fund seeks control acquisitions by providing multiple levels of the capital structure. The fund focuses on sole, agented, club, or syndicated deals.
How the Company Makes MoneyProspect Capital makes money through interest income, dividends, and capital gains generated from its diverse portfolio of debt and equity investments in middle-market companies. The company earns interest income from its investments in secured and unsecured loans, while its equity investments provide dividend income. Additionally, Prospect Capital may realize capital gains through the appreciation and eventual sale of its equity stakes. The firm also engages in partnerships and leverages its expertise in structuring and managing investments to enhance returns for its shareholders. The company's revenue model is driven by its ability to effectively manage and grow its investment portfolio, ensuring a steady flow of income from its financial products.

Prospect Capital Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 26, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 05, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong net investment income, substantial shareholder distributions, and a robust investment portfolio with high interest yields. However, there are concerns about decreased payment in kind income, low yields on the real estate portfolio, and potential challenges in maintaining dividend coverage with changing market conditions.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Net Investment Income
Net Investment Income (NII) for the March quarter was $83.5 million, equating to $0.19 per common share.
Significant Shareholder Distributions
Prospect Capital announced monthly common shareholder distributions of $0.45 per share for May, June, July, and August, with total distributions since inception reaching over $4.5 billion or $21.57 per share.
Robust Investment Portfolio
As of March 2025, the portfolio comprised 114 companies across 33 industries with a fair value of $6.9 billion, with 65.5% in first lien debt, up 650 basis points from the prior year.
Strong Risk-Adjusted Yields
Performing interest-bearing investments generated an annualized yield of 11.5% as of March, with interest income comprising 93% of total investment income.
Substantial Liquidity and Strong Balance Sheet
Prospect's cash and undrawn revolving credit facility commitments stood at $1.7 billion, with 63% of assets unencumbered.
Negative Updates
Decreased Payment in Kind Income
Payment in kind income for the March quarter was $19.5 million, down nearly 50% from June 2024.
Low Yield on Real Estate Portfolio
The real estate property portfolio yielded only 4.5% for the March quarter, which is relatively low compared to other investment strategies.
Reduced Subordinated Structured Notes
The subordinated structured notes portfolio decreased to 4.2% of the investment portfolio, down 310 basis points from March 2024.
Concerns Over Dividend Coverage
There is concern about dividend coverage beyond August due to potential decreases in SOFR and other income sources remaining subdued.
Company Guidance
During the Prospect Capital Third Fiscal Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call, several key financial metrics were highlighted. For the March quarter, the net investment income (NII) was reported at $83.5 million, equating to $0.19 per common share. The net asset value (NAV) stood at $3.2 billion, translating to $7.25 per common share. The company's net debt to total assets ratio was 28.7%, with unsecured debt plus unsecured preferred accounting for 87.5% of total debt plus preferred. Prospect Capital announced monthly shareholder distributions of $0.45 per share for May, June, July, and August. As of March 2025, the company held 114 portfolio companies with an aggregate fair value of $6.9 billion. The portfolio consisted of 65.5% first lien debt, 10.5% senior secured second lien debt, 4.2% subordinated structured notes, and 19.8% unsecured debt and equity investments. The firm also reported $196 million in investment originations, with $149 million allocated to first lien senior secured loans. The company's real estate property portfolio generated an income yield of 4.5% for the quarter, and their performing interest-bearing investments yielded an annualized rate of 11.5%. Prospect Capital's financial strategy includes a focus on first lien senior secured loans and an emphasis on maintaining substantial liquidity and diversified funding sources.

Prospect Capital Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Prospect Capital presents a mixed financial performance. The income statement shows strong profitability in the TTM, but historical volatility in revenue and margins raises concerns. The balance sheet is robust with moderate leverage and a strong equity position, though ROE remains low. Cash flows have improved significantly, indicating better liquidity management. Overall, while current financials show strength, historical inconsistencies suggest areas needing attention for sustained performance.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Prospect Capital has shown a mixed performance in its income statement. The TTM data indicates a gross profit margin of approximately 77.17% and a net profit margin of 7.91%, reflecting strong profitability. However, the revenue growth has been inconsistent, with fluctuations across the years. EBIT margin stands at 69.03% for the TTM, which is robust, but the EBITDA margin is only 13.75%, suggesting high non-cash expenses or depreciation impacting the margins. Overall, while the company shows strong profitability in the latest period, historical volatility in revenue and margins presents a concern.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet of Prospect Capital indicates a stable financial position with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31 in the TTM, suggesting moderate leverage, which is a positive sign for financial stability. The equity ratio stands at 70.09%, indicating a strong equity base relative to total assets. Return on equity is 0.79% in the TTM, which is low, pointing to inefficiencies in generating returns for shareholders. While the capital structure appears solid, the low ROE suggests potential inefficiencies in utilizing equity.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
The cash flow statement shows a strong recovery in operating cash flow in the TTM at $586.87 million compared to previous periods. The free cash flow also mirrors this positive trend, indicating improved liquidity and cash-generating capabilities. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is high, reflecting strong cash conversion from earnings. Free cash flow growth has rebounded, suggesting effective cash management, although past periods show significant fluctuations.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue595.21M770.31M811.17M697.72M1.02B18.98M
Gross Profit880.77M861.66M568.65M477.86M631.97M-157.99M
EBITDA-206.69M0.00-101.64M897.27M1.12B-16.22M
Net Income-244.44M262.83M-101.64M582.58M963.81M-16.22M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets7.00B7.86B7.86B7.66B6.30B5.30B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments52.20M85.87M90.57M31.17M63.61M44.56M
Total Debt2.03B2.43B2.58B2.74B2.23B2.14B
Total Liabilities3.75B2.56B2.71B3.54B2.36B2.24B
Stockholders Equity3.25B5.30B5.15B4.12B3.95B3.06B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.04B279.98M-220.85M-795.34M31.02M429.44M
Operating Cash Flow1.04B279.98M-220.85M-795.34M31.02M429.44M
Investing Cash Flow92.29M-2.12M-505.51M-1.11B-154.81M264.46M
Financing Cash Flow-657.54M-289.76M281.13M767.09M-11.97M-491.98M

Prospect Capital Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price2.90
Price Trends
50DMA
3.04
Negative
100DMA
3.17
Negative
200DMA
3.56
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.07
Negative
RSI
48.72
Neutral
STOCH
23.33
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For PSEC, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 2.9 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2.82, below the 50-day MA of 3.04, and below the 200-day MA of 3.56, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.07 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 48.72 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 23.33 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for PSEC.

Prospect Capital Risk Analysis

Prospect Capital disclosed 110 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Prospect 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

Prospect Capital Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$2.28B12.0111.66%8.58%-6.29%-15.46%
74
Outperform
$1.26B14.079.74%10.14%12.82%-5.37%
71
Outperform
$1.30B9.119.36%15.34%-55.16%47.09%
68
Neutral
$17.84B12.0310.32%3.73%9.70%0.76%
66
Neutral
$1.01B9.269.42%11.56%-3.29%-16.86%
65
Neutral
$1.11B13.666.18%12.52%39.05%-32.62%
58
Neutral
$1.60B-9.48%19.66%-54.81%-472.20%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
PSEC
Prospect Capital
2.90
-1.43
-33.03%
CSWC
Capital Southwest
22.65
0.81
3.71%
NMFC
New Mountain Finance
10.46
-0.44
-4.04%
TSLX
Sixth Street Specialty Lending
24.25
5.00
25.97%
GSBD
Goldman Sachs BDC
11.39
-0.66
-5.48%
BCSF
Bain Capital Specialty Finance
15.57
0.36
2.37%

Prospect Capital Corporate Events

DividendsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Prospect Capital Reports Q4 Financial Results 2024
Positive
Feb 10, 2025

On February 10, 2025, Prospect Capital announced its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024, reporting a net investment income of $86.4 million. The company declared monthly dividends for various classes of preferred stock and common shareholders for February to April 2025, emphasizing its focus on middle market lending and portfolio optimization strategies, including investments in Taos Footwear and other companies.

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