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Upturn AI Summary - About
Equus Total Return Closed Fund(EQS)
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)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for EQS
09/25/2026: EQS (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Equus Total Return Closed Fund is a US-listed closed-end investment company that targets capital appreciation and income through a diverse portfolio of equity and debt. The fund has a flexible mandate, allowing it to navigate various market conditions, which is its primary operational strength. Its investment story centers on the potential for NAV growth and the opportunity to capitalize on undervalued assets. Investors face risks including potential share price volatility, the persistent discount to Net Asset Value, and intense competition from larger, lower-cost investment vehicles. It may suit investors looking for value or alternative exposure, provided they closely monitor 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 style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | The fund provides exposure to growth-oriented assets, but its structural constraints limit high-growth acceleration. |
| Momentum investor | Weak fit | The fund's asset-heavy nature and closed-end structure rarely provide the rapid price trends sought by momentum strategies. |
| Value investor | Strong fit | Value investors may find appeal if the fund trades at a significant discount to its underlying Net Asset Value. |
| Dividend investor | Mixed fit | Income is dependent on portfolio performance and realized gains, making dividends less predictable than standard income funds. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | The volatility of underlying small-cap holdings and potential for NAV discounts make this unsuitable for risk-averse portfolios. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | High | The share price is subject to market sentiment and wider-than-average fluctuations common in closed-end funds. |
| Valuation risk | Medium / high | Significant deviations between market price and NAV can lead to sudden price corrections for investors. |
| Competition risk (Asset Management) | High | The fund faces stiff competition from low-fee ETFs and larger scale asset managers for capital. |
| Business quality | Medium | The fund's performance is strictly tied to the investment expertise of its management team. |
| Dividend income | Medium | Distributions are not guaranteed and fluctuate based on realized portfolio gains. |
| Execution risk | Medium | Failure to identify and exit profitable investments directly impacts shareholder value. |
Price Behavior
Steep Decline
The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.
Choppy
The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 11.58% | Avg. Invested days 41 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  2.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/25/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 13.95M USD | Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price - |
Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price - | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 12.4K shares | Beta 0.11 | 52 Weeks Range 0.94 - 2.43 | Updated Date 09/26/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 0.94 - 2.43 | Updated Date 09/26/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) -1.34 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Investment Portfolio Management | Income from debt/equity holdings and capital gains from asset sales. | The company earns money by making successful investments in other companies and collecting interest, dividends, or profits from their sales. |
Valuation
Trailing PE - | Forward PE - | Enterprise Value 16.02M | Price to Sales(TTM) 10.64 |
Enterprise Value 16.02M | Price to Sales(TTM) 10.64 | ||
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 |
Upturn AI Summary
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
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)
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)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
About Equus Total Return Closed Fund
Exchange NYSE | Headquarters Houston, TX, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 1992-09-11 | CEO & Director Mr. John A. Hardy | ||
Sector Financial Services | Industry Asset Management | Full time employees - | Website https://www.equuscap.com |
Full time employees - | Website https://www.equuscap.com | ||
Equus Total Return, Inc. is a business development company (BDC) specializing in leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, corporate partnerships/joint ventures, growth and expansion capital, acquisition financing, roll-up acquisition strategies, operational turnarounds, recapitalizations of existing businesses, special situations, equity and equity-oriented securities issued by privately owned companies, debt securities including subordinate debt, debt convertible into common or preferred stock, or debt combined with warrants and common and preferred stock, and preferred equity financing. It invests in middle market companies and acts as a lead investor. It invests in technology, telecommunication, financial services, natural resource and industrial manufacturing and services. It invests in companies engaged in the alternative energy, real estate, healthcare, education, e-learning, leisure and entertainment, and foreign investment sector in the United States, China, India, and Europe. It investments include common and preferred stock, debt convertible into common or preferred stock, debt combined with warrants and options, and other rights to acquire common or preferred stock. It seeks to invest in companies between $1 million and $25 million with revenues between $5 million and $150 million with EBITDA between $2 million and $50 million. It seeks to take control and non-control equity positions. Equus Total Return, Inc. was founded in 1991 and is based in Houston, Texas with additional office in Vancouver, Canada.
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