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Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. (TSLX)
:TSLX
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Sixth Street Specialty Lending (TSLX) AI Stock Analysis

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TSLX

Sixth Street Specialty Lending

(NYSE:TSLX)

Rating:76Outperform
Price Target:
$27.00
â–²(11.34% Upside)
Sixth Street Specialty Lending's strong earnings call performance and attractive valuation are the most significant factors driving the score. While financial performance is solid, revenue contraction and cash flow volatility are concerns. Technical indicators are neutral, and recent corporate events are positive.
Positive Factors
Credit Quality
Non-accruals totaled 2.1% of the portfolio at cost, compared to 3.7% of the portfolio last quarter, indicating an improvement in credit quality.
Dividend Sustainability
The total dividend in Q2 was $0.52/share, with core dividend coverage at 121%, reflecting strong dividend sustainability.
Financial Performance
Sixth Street (TSLX) reported another strong quarter, highlighting its differentiated platform, strong risk management, and solid liquidity.
Negative Factors
NOI Conversion
NOI conversion overall has lagged, averaging 76% for the past four quarters.

Sixth Street Specialty Lending (TSLX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Sixth Street Specialty Lending Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. (NYSE: TSLX) is a business development company. The fund provides senior secured loans (first-lien, second-lien, and unitranche), unsecured loans, mezzanine debt, and investments in corporate bonds and equity securities and structured products, non-control structured equity, and common equity with a focus on co-investments for organic growth, acquisitions, market or product expansion, restructuring initiatives, recapitalizations, and refinancing. The fund invests in business services, software & technology, healthcare, energy, consumer & retail, manufacturing, industrials, royalty related businesses, education, and specialty finance. It seeks to finance and lending to middle market companies principally located in the United States. The fund invests in companies with enterprise value between $50 million and $1 billion or more and EBITDA between $10 million and $250 million. The transaction size is between $15 million and $350 million. The fund invests across the spectrum of the capital structure and can arrange syndicated transactions of up to $500 million and hold sizeable positions within its credits.
How the Company Makes MoneySixth Street Specialty Lending generates revenue primarily through interest income on its debt investments, which include first-lien and second-lien loans, as well as mezzanine debt. These loans typically come with higher interest rates compared to traditional bank financing, allowing TSLX to capture substantial yield. Additionally, the company may earn fees for structuring and arranging loans, and it can also generate income through equity investments in some of its portfolio companies. The firm's revenue model is supported by its strategic partnerships with private equity firms and other financial institutions, which help in sourcing quality investment opportunities and enhancing its deal flow.

Sixth Street Specialty Lending Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 30, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 04, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflected a strong financial performance with robust dividend coverage, reduced nonaccruals, and positive NAV growth, outweighing challenges such as a muted M&A environment and declining portfolio yields.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Performance
SLX reported adjusted net investment income of $0.56 per share, exceeding the base dividend by 22%, and adjusted net income of $0.64 per share, with an annualized return on equity of 15.1%.
Positive NAV Growth
Net asset value per share increased by 1.2% over the last few years and by 0.70% from the previous quarter, demonstrating resilience amidst broader sector challenges.
High Dividend Coverage
The adjusted net investment income in Q2 exceeded the base dividend by 22%, indicating robust dividend coverage.
Reduction in Nonaccruals
Improvement in nonaccruals from 1.2% to 0.6% due to successful restructuring of portfolio companies, indicating better credit quality.
Effective Capital Allocation
The company achieved a total economic return of 42.6%, significantly outperforming the average public BDC peers' return of 19.1%.
Negative Updates
M&A Market Challenges
Muted M&A activity with leveraged loan volume down 31% in the second quarter, indicating a challenging environment for growth through acquisitions.
Decline in Portfolio Yield
Weighted average total yield on debt and income-producing securities declined from 12.3% to 12.0%, reflecting competitive pressures and lower reinvestment spreads.
Elevated Repayment Activity
Third consecutive quarter of elevated payoffs, which could affect future income if high-yielding assets are not replaced efficiently.
Company Guidance
During the call, Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. provided guidance indicating robust financial performance for Q2 2025. The company reported an adjusted net investment income of $0.56 per share and an adjusted net income of $0.64 per share, translating to annualized returns on equity of 13.1% and 15.1%, respectively. Despite a challenging market environment, the firm's net asset value (NAV) per share increased by 70 basis points to $17.17 as of June 30, 2025. This growth was attributed to disciplined capital allocation and successful differentiation in sourcing investments, which led to a total economic return of 42.6% over recent years, significantly outperforming the public BDC sector average. The firm also declared a base quarterly dividend of $0.46 per share and a supplemental dividend of $0.05 per share, underscoring strong dividend coverage as adjusted net investment income exceeded the base dividend by 22%. Looking ahead, the company anticipates its quarterly earnings power to surpass the base dividend level, given stable credit conditions and target leverage range.

Sixth Street Specialty Lending Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Sixth Street Specialty Lending exhibits strong profitability with high net profit and EBIT margins. The balance sheet is stable, with a solid equity base and moderate leverage. However, revenue contraction and historical cash flow volatility pose risks.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Sixth Street Specialty Lending shows strong performance in its income statement, with a robust net profit margin of 50.13% and a high EBIT margin of 89.11% for TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). However, the revenue growth rate is negative, indicating a decrease in revenue compared to the previous year. The company maintains a healthy EBITDA margin of 81.07%.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
The company has a solid equity base with an equity ratio of 47.35% and a relatively low debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, indicating a moderate level of leverage. Return on Equity is impressive at 12.97%, signifying effective use of equity to generate profits. The balance sheet reflects a stable financial position, although there is a slight increase in total liabilities over the periods.
Cash Flow
65
Positive
Cash flow metrics reveal mixed results. The company has a positive free cash flow for TTM, demonstrating operational efficiency, but the free cash flow growth rate is unavailable due to previous negative cash flows. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.82, implying a healthy conversion of income into cash, yet historical cash flow volatility poses a risk.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue457.60M455.10M421.10M323.72M319.50M270.04M
Gross Profit254.59M364.62M328.92M259.71M236.04M270.04M
EBITDA311.15M193.12M0.0026.44M137.06M227.75M
Net Income187.60M186.57M222.02M108.05M211.78M178.11M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets3.42B3.58B3.34B2.84B2.55B2.34B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments39.17M4.97M1.22M10.21M1.57M2.46M
Total Debt1.73B1.90B1.78B1.44B1.19B1.11B
Total Liabilities1.80B1.97B1.85B1.50B1.28B1.18B
Stockholders Equity1.62B1.61B1.50B1.34B1.28B1.16B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow171.74M187.25M191.97M71.83M112.62M135.97M
Operating Cash Flow171.74M187.25M191.97M71.83M112.62M135.97M
Investing Cash Flow66.16M-232.74M-428.76M-296.37M-110.17M9.10M
Financing Cash Flow-233.38M47.62M236.34M234.21M241.00K-145.94M

Sixth Street Specialty Lending Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price24.25
Price Trends
50DMA
24.01
Positive
100DMA
22.63
Positive
200DMA
21.68
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.06
Positive
RSI
53.95
Neutral
STOCH
44.60
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TSLX, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 24.25 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 24.07, above the 50-day MA of 24.01, and above the 200-day MA of 21.68, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.06 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 53.95 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 44.60 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for TSLX.

Sixth Street Specialty Lending Risk Analysis

Sixth Street Specialty Lending disclosed 2 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Sixth Street Specialty Lending 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 1 New Risks

Sixth Street Specialty Lending 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
$17.82B11.9010.30%3.72%9.69%0.80%
66
Neutral
$1.01B9.269.42%11.56%-3.29%-16.86%
65
Neutral
$1.11B13.666.18%12.52%39.05%-32.62%
64
Neutral
$3.51B12.6612.81%9.74%-15.88%-13.91%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSLX
Sixth Street Specialty Lending
24.25
5.00
25.97%
CSWC
Capital Southwest
22.65
0.81
3.71%
HTGC
Hercules Capital
19.40
2.28
13.32%
NMFC
New Mountain Finance
10.46
-0.44
-4.04%
GSBD
Goldman Sachs BDC
11.39
-0.66
-5.48%
BCSF
Bain Capital Specialty Finance
15.57
0.36
2.37%

Sixth Street Specialty Lending Corporate Events

DividendsFinancial Disclosures
Sixth Street Reports Strong Q2 2025 Financial Results
Positive
Jul 30, 2025

On July 30, 2025, Sixth Street Specialty Lending announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2025, reporting a net investment income of $0.54 per share and a net income of $0.63 per share. The company declared a third-quarter base dividend of $0.46 per share and a second-quarter supplemental dividend of $0.05 per share. The company’s net asset value (NAV) per share increased to $17.17, driven by overearning of its base quarterly dividend and net unrealized gains from investments. The company’s portfolio saw significant investment activity, with new investment commitments totaling $297.7 million and a principal amount of new investments funded at $208.6 million. The portfolio’s fair value consisted primarily of first-lien debt investments, and the company maintained a strong position with a weighted average yield of 11.7% on debt and income-producing securities.

Executive/Board Changes
Sixth Street Appoints John D. Hershey to Board
Positive
Jul 3, 2025

On June 30, 2025, Sixth Street Specialty Lending appointed John D. Hershey to its Board of Directors, filling the vacancy left by John Ross’s retirement. Hershey, a respected figure in the alternative asset management sector with extensive experience from his tenure at Oregon State Treasury, is expected to enhance the board’s expertise and contribute to the company’s continued value creation for stakeholders.

Private Placements and FinancingShareholder Meetings
Sixth Street Approves Share Issuance Below Net Value
Neutral
Jun 20, 2025

On June 20, 2025, Sixth Street Specialty Lending held a special meeting of stockholders to vote on a proposal. The stockholders approved the proposal to allow the company to sell or issue shares of its common stock below the net asset value per share, subject to board approval and certain conditions. This decision could impact the company’s market strategy by providing flexibility in raising capital.

Shareholder Meetings
Sixth Street Specialty Lending Holds Annual Stockholder Meeting
Neutral
May 23, 2025

On May 22, 2025, Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. held its annual meeting of stockholders, where two proposals were considered. The stockholders elected Class II directors and ratified KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. Additionally, a special meeting of stockholders was convened on the same day but was adjourned due to insufficient quorum. The meeting is set to reconvene on June 20, 2025, with no changes to the proposal to be voted on.

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 19, 2025