Equus Total Return Closed Fund(EQS)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$0.79
10/23/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for EQS

10/23/2026: EQS (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Equus Total Return Closed Fund (EQS) is a closed-end investment company that manages a diversified portfolio of equity and debt securities to generate capital growth and income. Its strengths lie in a flexible mandate and the potential for investors to purchase shares at a discount to Net Asset Value. The primary growth opportunity rests on the advisor's ability to optimize the portfolio and narrow the valuation gap. However, the fund faces risks including low trading liquidity, a persistent discount to NAV, and competition from low-cost ETFs. This stock may suit investors interested in speculative, managed asset strategies, provided they monitor the fund's management performance and discount trends.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorWeak fitThe fund's historical performance does not consistently align with high-growth equity benchmarks.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe fund typically lacks the short-term price volatility and trend strength favored by momentum strategies.
Value investorMixed fitValue investors may be attracted to the fund's tendency to trade at a discount to NAV, provided the underlying assets are undervalued.
Dividend investorMixed fitThe fund provides income potential, but payouts are irregular and dependent on realized gains.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe closed-end structure and reliance on small-cap securities introduce risks unsuitable for low-risk portfolios.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highThe share price is subject to market sentiment and the fund's discount to NAV.
Valuation riskHighThe illiquidity of underlying assets can make accurate valuation challenging.
Competition risk (closed-end funds)HighThe fund faces stiff competition from lower-cost and more liquid investment vehicles.
Business qualityMediumPerformance relies heavily on the external advisor's selection strategy.
Dividend incomeMediumDistributions are inconsistent and depend on investment performance rather than fixed income generation.
Execution riskMedium / highThe ability to execute on investment strategies is critical to closing the gap between market price and NAV.

Price Behavior

Steep Decline
PRICE PATH

Steep Decline

The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 12.37%
Avg. Invested days 41
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 2.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/23/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
EQS receives a 2-star rating, reflecting soft or weak scores across the available pillars. The rating is constrained by weak unit economics, soft analyst coverage, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
EQS has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with soft financial health, moderate growth momentum, and moderate ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid earnings growth (+24.6%) and strong revenue growth (+109.7%) are partially offset by weak cash generation (FCF margin -169.6%), weak profitability (net margin -1031.6%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
EQS's financial health is soft, with the relatively strongest area being moderate efficiency, including operating-expense and cost-of-revenue discipline (opex 368.6% of revenue). Cash strength is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 2-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Revenue growth is EQS's strongest growth driver at +109.7% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, earnings growth (+24.6%, solid) is also solid, while free-cash-flow growth (-106.1%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 0.9% (soft) and 41.2% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable (moderate). Insider ownership of 58.82% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Morgan Stanley - Brokerage Accounts 0.26%
Shufro Rose & CO LLC 0.22%
Citadel Advisors Llc 0.15%
Schwarz Dygos Wheeler Investment Advisors LLC 0.14%
Blue Bell Private Wealth Management, LLC 0.06%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
EQS generates approximately $1,000 of gross profit, $-2,686 of operating income, and $-1,696 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Operating losses and cash burn explain the 1-star rating, with weak cash conversion and weak capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 0.00%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
EQS has a relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Low VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap Risk

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 10.97M USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price -
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price -
Volume (30-day avg) 15.1K shares
Beta 0.09
52 Weeks Range 0.77 - 2.05
Updated Date 10/24/2026
52 Weeks Range 0.77 - 2.05
Updated Date 10/24/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) -1.34

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Investment Portfolio ManagementIncome from debt and equity holdings, and capital gains from the sale of securities.The fund earns money by holding stocks and bonds that pay dividends or interest, and by selling assets for a profit.
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Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE -
Enterprise Value 13.03M
Price to Sales(TTM) 8.36
Enterprise Value 13.03M
Price to Sales(TTM) 8.36
Enterprise Value to Revenue 5.09
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 13.97M
Shares Floating 5.75M
Shares Outstanding 13.97M
Shares Floating 5.75M
Percent Insiders 58.82
Percent Institutions 0.88

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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