Oaktree Specialty Lending

OCSL

Market cap $1.12B

I have gathered 20 BDC short interest statistics. What I found out surprised me - i.e., my top (quality) BDC picks are among the most shorted ones. In the article I've unpacked this situation and explained the potential drivers from the short sellers' perspective.

Currently, BDCs provide very high-yield opportunities. The fact that additional interest rate cuts are unlikely to happen this year should theoretically support the existing levels. Yet for most BDCs, the damage has already been done.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (NASDAQ:OCSL) (“Oaktree Specialty Lending” or the “Company”) today announced that it will report its financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026 before the opening of the Nasdaq Global Select Market on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Management will host a conference call to discuss the results on the same day at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time / 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The conference call may be accessed by dialing (800.

Retirement income portfolios should prioritize meaningful dividend yields to avoid principal drawdown. Predictable and frequent cash flows, ideally monthly, are essential for reliable retirement income. Stress-free investments are key to minimizing worry during adverse economic conditions and avoiding income cuts.

Oaktree Specialty Lending trades at its steepest discount to NAV, now 32.88%, offering potential upside if the gap narrows. OCSL maintains a 14.63% dividend yield with a $0.40 per share quarterly payout, but dividend coverage is tight at 105%, leaving little margin for slippage. Portfolio diversification is healthy, with a 23% exposure to software & services, which the market sees as a risk from possible AI-driven disruption.

Two popular BDCs offer sky-high yields and deep discounts to NAV after the recent sector-wide sell-off. One is a very attractive "Buy," while I am avoiding the other one. I detail how to sort the wheat from the chaff when analyzing deep value BDC opportunities like GBDC and FSK.

I see compelling value in floating-rate preferred shares and baby bonds, especially as credit spreads widen and many now trade at discounts to call value. Recent market volatility and higher interest rates have created attractive entry points in select REITs, BDCs, preferred shares, and baby bonds. I've allocated a significant portion of my portfolio to preferred shares and baby bonds in March 2026.

There is no shortage of BDC bear arguments. Yet, as a BDC bull, I have to say that, arguably, the most critical risk remains overlooked. In the article I discuss this risk in detail (it might make you bearish).

System-wide BDC dividend cuts have already started. Even high-quality names have not been isolated from this. While we have still many cuts in front of us, we have to separate interest rate driven cuts from those that stem from aggressive risk taking.

High-quality BDCs warrant selective buying, but indiscriminate accumulation exposes investors to hidden portfolio risks and potential impairments. Weighted average portfolio metrics, like interest coverage and LTV, can mask concentrated risks in smaller, weaker holdings. Valuations of portfolio companies, especially SaaS, often rely on intangible assets with questionable recovery values in distress scenarios.