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Business development companies are an overlooked corner of private credit and a chance for individual investors. Market fear has pushed some high-yield BDCs well below their net asset value, despite solid fundamentals. I highlight two discounted BDCs with strong balance sheets, healthy loan books, and well-covered dividends.
Five major BDCs—Blue Owl Technology Finance Corp., FS KKR Capital Corp, Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund, Blue Owl Capital Corporation, and Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation—trade at steep discounts to NAV, implying extreme loan losses not reflected in credit performance. Current market prices require annualized loan losses far exceeding historical peaks, despite portfolios of senior secured, diversified loans and low non-accruals. Buybacks at deep discounts signal management confidence in loan valuations, with OTF and FSK notably active in repurchasing shares.
Higher rates have created winners and losers across income strategies. Classic dividend growth investing faces new headwinds. Pairing value with predictable growth may offer a better risk-reward balance.
BDC valuations have dropped to levels seen only a few times in the sector's history, which creates a rare entry point for patient investors. The usual household names may not be the safe haven many assume, especially as a credit cycle looms. I highlight 2 lesser-known BDCs that come out ahead on fees, portfolio quality and leverage.
Double-digit dividend yields typically signal serious risks. However, occasionally, the market offers rare opportunities to lock in enormous income without sacrificing long-term growth. I highlight two deeply discounted dividend stocks yielding over 10% that I believe offer surprisingly sustainable payouts backed by resilient cash flows.
A $1.02 million 401(k) rollover sounds like enough to fund a comfortable retirement paycheck, but the math exposes a brutal tradeoff between yield, growth, and the risk of outliving your own income stream.
Higher rates have created a rare chance to buy quality dividend payers at yields not seen in years, well beyond the usual high-yield niches. Two dividend machines with 20+ years of payouts have pulled back sharply. I think the drop is about interest rates, not weaker businesses. One is an infrastructure fund with an exceptional payout record. The other is a cash-generative blue chip that covers its dividend with room to spare.
VanEck BDC Income ETF offers a ~12% yield but remains a hold due to sector-specific risks and portfolio construction concerns. BIZD's heavy allocation to ARCC and MAIN is positive, but exposure to riskier BDCs and underweighting of strong internally managed names limits appeal. Sector-wide issues like weak dividend coverage, declining NAVs, and rising non-accruals highlight the importance of selective BDC investing over broad ETF exposure.