Blue Owl Capital Corporation·Financial Services

April net investment activity reached a multi-year low as rising stock valuations and BDC sector weakness prompted a cautious approach and selective BDC purchases. Focused April allocations on Ares Capital, Blue Owl Capital, and Hercules Capital, yielding a 7.5% average on new investments despite sector headwinds. Dividend income set a modest April record at $990, up 3% year-over-year, with BDCs contributing 27% of Q2 year-to-date dividends but facing potential further cuts.

The BDC sector has been hit hard since July 2025. However, I think the tide may be about to turn with a bright future ahead for some companies in the sector. I share which BDC names I think are poised to outperform moving forward.

The market is sleeping on two high-yielding opportunities that trade at deep discounts to fair value. Both companies have strong balance sheets, sound fundamentals, fully covered dividends, and are buying back stock. However, the market has recently sold off both of these opportunities, creating a great buy-the-dip opportunity for long-term-oriented income investors.

More than 1,500 stocks have reported earnings since the current season began in mid-April, and the average stock that has reported has seen an average absolute one-day share price reaction of roughly 7%. The last time we saw earnings vol spike was during the Financial Crisis bear market, when stocks were tanking. This time around, we're seeing earnings vol increase during a strong AI-driven bull market. Tech stocks are seeing record earnings day volatility as investors and traders presumably make snap judgements about AI's future impact on the bottom line.

BDC sector Q1 2026 earnings reveal widespread NAV contractions, impacting both discounted and premium BDCs. Despite NAV declines and negative price reactions, these adjustments are logical and not a signal to exit the BDC space. Price-to-NAV ratios remain attractive, with several BDCs trading at significant discounts post-earnings.

Blue Owl Capital Corporation (OBDC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Owl Rock Capital Corporation is a business development company. The fund makes investments in senior secured or unsecured loans, subordinated loans or mezzanine loans and also considers equity-related securities including warrants and preferred stocks also pursues preferred equity investments and common equity investments. Within private equity, it seeks to invest in growth, acquisitions, market or product expansion, refinancings and recapitalizations. It seeks to invest in middle market companies based in the United States, with EBITDA between $10 million and $250 million annually and/or annual revenue of $50 million and $2.5 billion at the time of investment.
Financial Services
Financial - Credit Services
2019-07-18
0.69