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Fidus Investment Corp(FDUS)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
3-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$19.09
10/28/2026
(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 FDUS

10/28/2026: FDUS (3-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Fidus Investment Corp is a business development company (BDC) that focuses on providing customized debt and equity financing to lower middle-market U.S. businesses. Its primary strength lies in its disciplined underwriting approach and ability to generate consistent income, which is often distributed to shareholders via dividends. The main investment story centers on capturing yield in the private credit market while maintaining a defensive portfolio. However, investors face risks related to credit quality, interest rate sensitivity, and competition in the private lending space. Fidus is generally well-suited for income-oriented investors, though they should carefully monitor portfolio credit performance and the impact of the external management fee structure.

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 investorMixed fitFidus prioritizes income generation and capital preservation over aggressive capital appreciation.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum investors may find better opportunities in higher-growth tech sectors, though positive market sentiment for BDCs can influence this.
Value investorStrong fitThe company often trades at valuations that value-oriented investors find attractive relative to its underlying asset base.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe BDC structure is specifically designed to provide high levels of recurring income through dividends.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile BDCs offer steady income, they are subject to credit and market risks inherent in lending to smaller private companies.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumBDC stock prices can fluctuate based on interest rate expectations and broader market credit concerns.
Valuation riskMediumThe valuation of the underlying private loan portfolio involves estimates that may differ from realized market values.
Competition risk (Private credit competition)Medium / highIncreased capital flowing into private credit can compress spreads and pressure yield targets.
Business qualityMediumThe quality is tied to the financial health of the lower middle-market borrowers in the portfolio.
Dividend incomeMedium / highDividends are dependent on the portfolio's ability to generate sufficient NII and avoid credit losses.
Execution riskMediumSuccessful management depends on the ability to originate quality loans and effectively manage portfolio risk.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 29.77%
Avg. Invested days 79
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 5.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/28/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
FDUS receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
FDUS has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and soft ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, moderate earnings growth (+5.2%) and strong revenue growth (+40.1%) are partially offset by weak cash generation (FCF margin -92.3%), very low insider ownership of 0.81%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
FDUS's financial health is supported by strong profitability, including gross margin of 72.6% and operating margin of 76.1%. Liquidity is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Revenue growth is FDUS's strongest growth driver at +40.1% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, while earnings growth (+5.2%, moderate) and free-cash-flow growth (-335.7%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 30.2% (moderate) and 0.0% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable (soft). Insider ownership is only 0.81%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Van Eck Associates Corporation 2.34%
UBS Group AG 1.26%
Baird Financial Group, Inc. 1.05%
Muzinich & Co Inc 0.93%
Legal & General Group PLC 0.78%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
FDUS generates approximately $726 of gross profit, $761 of operating income, and $-923 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Weak margins and weak cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is soft.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 7.08%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
FDUS has a high-quality, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltLow VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap Risk

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 755.24M USD
Price to earnings Ratio 9.13
1Y Target Price 21.5
Price to earnings Ratio 9.13
1Y Target Price 21.5
Volume (30-day avg) 266.4K shares
Beta 0.73
52 Weeks Range 15.95 - 20.32
Updated Date 10/28/2026
52 Weeks Range 15.95 - 20.32
Updated Date 10/28/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 9.21%
Basic EPS (TTM) 2.08

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Debt InvestmentsInterest income from senior secured and unitranche loans to lower middle-market companies.The company acts as a bank for small businesses, earning interest on loans it makes.
Equity InvestmentsDividends and capital gains from minority equity stakes held in portfolio companies.The company occasionally owns a small slice of its borrowers, profiting if those businesses succeed.

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-11-05
When After Market
Estimate 0.51
Actual -

Profitability

Profit Margin 45.36%
Operating Margin (TTM) 68.28%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 5.46%
Return on Equity (TTM) 10.81%

Valuation

Trailing PE 9.13
Forward PE 9.53
Enterprise Value 1.41B
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.43
Enterprise Value 1.41B
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.43
Enterprise Value to Revenue 15.59
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 10.87
Shares Outstanding 39.77M
Shares Floating -
Shares Outstanding 39.77M
Shares Floating -
Percent Insiders 0.81
Percent Institutions 30.2

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.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.