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MSDL logo MSDL
Upturn stock rating
MSDL logo

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL)

Upturn stock rating
$16.99
Last Close (24-hour delay)
upturn advisory
PASS
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  • SELL Advisory (Profit)​
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)​
  • Profit
  • Loss
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Upturn Stock info Stock price based on last close
*as per simulation
(see disclosures)
Time period over
  • ALL
  • YEAR
  • MONTH
  • WEEK

Upturn Advisory Summary

10/15/2025: MSDL (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Upturn Star Rating

rating

Not Recommended Performance

These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.

Number of Analysts

rating

6 Analysts rated it

Limited analyst coverage, niche firm, research info may be scarce.

1 Year Target Price $18.14

1 Year Target Price $18.14

Analysts Price Target For last 52 week
$18.14 Target price
52w Low $15.7
Current$16.99
52w High $20.05

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -1.43%
Avg. Invested days 58
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Star Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation Profits based on simulation
Upturn Profits based on simulation Last Close 10/15/2025

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 1.45B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 8.68
1Y Target Price 18.14
Price to earnings Ratio 8.68
1Y Target Price 18.14
Volume (30-day avg) 6
Beta -
52 Weeks Range 15.70 - 20.05
Updated Date 10/17/2025
52 Weeks Range 15.70 - 20.05
Updated Date 10/17/2025
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 1.93

Earnings Date

Report Date -
When -
Estimate -
Actual -

Profitability

Profit Margin -
Operating Margin (TTM) -

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) -
Return on Equity (TTM) -

Valuation

Trailing PE 8.68
Forward PE 8.56
Enterprise Value -
Price to Sales(TTM) 8.41
Enterprise Value -
Price to Sales(TTM) 8.41
Enterprise Value to Revenue 20.17
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 86835012
Shares Floating -
Shares Outstanding 86835012
Shares Floating -
Percent Insiders 0.24
Percent Institutions 21.42

ai summary icon Upturn AI SWOT

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund

stock logo

Company Overview

overview logo History and Background

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that primarily invests in direct lending opportunities. Established to provide investors access to privately originated, senior secured loans to middle-market companies.

business area logo Core Business Areas

  • Direct Lending: Focuses on originating and investing in senior secured loans to middle-market companies, providing debt financing for acquisitions, growth capital, and recapitalizations.

leadership logo Leadership and Structure

Information on the specific leadership team of MSDL would be found in their public fillings. Generally, it operates under the broader Morgan Stanley Investment Management structure.

Top Products and Market Share

overview logo Key Offerings

  • Senior Secured Loans: MSDL's primary offering is direct origination and investment in senior secured loans to middle-market companies. Specific market share data is difficult to ascertain due to the private nature of direct lending but competitors include other BDCs and private credit funds.

Market Dynamics

industry overview logo Industry Overview

The direct lending industry involves non-bank lenders providing capital to middle-market companies, often filling the void left by traditional banks. The market is growing due to increased demand for flexible financing solutions.

Positioning

MSDL leverages Morgan Stanley's brand and origination capabilities to compete in the direct lending space. Their competitive advantage stems from access to a wide deal flow and expertise in credit analysis.

Total Addressable Market (TAM)

The middle-market direct lending TAM is estimated to be hundreds of billions of dollars. MSDL is positioned to capture a portion of this market through its origination and investment activities.

Upturn SWOT Analysis

Strengths

  • Strong brand reputation (Morgan Stanley)
  • Extensive origination network
  • Experienced investment team
  • Access to capital

Weaknesses

  • Reliance on market conditions for deal flow
  • Potential for credit losses in economic downturns
  • Limited liquidity compared to publicly traded securities

Opportunities

  • Growing demand for private credit
  • Expansion into new sectors or geographies
  • Partnerships with other financial institutions

Threats

  • Increased competition from other direct lenders
  • Economic recession leading to borrower defaults
  • Changes in regulations affecting private credit

Competitors and Market Share

competitor logo Key Competitors

  • BXSL
  • ARCC
  • TPVG
  • PFLT
  • CSWC

Competitive Landscape

MSDL competes with other BDCs and private credit funds in the direct lending space. Its competitive advantage lies in its strong brand, origination capabilities, and experienced investment team.

Growth Trajectory and Initiatives

Historical Growth: Historical growth can be evaluated by reviewing past financial statements and analyzing trends in assets under management and revenue.

Future Projections: Analyst estimates for future growth are not readily available. Projections depend on market conditions, origination activity, and investment performance.

Recent Initiatives: Recent strategic initiatives of MSDL can be found in company press releases, investor presentations, and regulatory filings.

Summary

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund leverages the parent company's strength to originate and invest in middle-market loans. While it benefits from a strong brand and origination network, it faces competition and credit risk. Growth depends on market conditions, origination activity, and managing potential borrower defaults. Access to a large amount of capital is key to its success.

Peer Comparison

Sources and Disclaimers

Data Sources:

  • Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund SEC Filings
  • Company Website
  • Industry Reports
  • Analyst Reports (where available)

Disclaimers:

This analysis is based on publicly available information and should not be considered financial advice. Market share data is estimated and may not be precise.

Upturn AI Summarization AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.

Upturn AI Summarization Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.

Upturn AI Summarization Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.

Upturn AI Summarization AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.

About Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund

Exchange NYSE
Headquaters New York, NY, United States
IPO Launch date 2024-01-24
CEO & Director Mr. Michael Occi Jr.
Sector Financial Services
Industry Asset Management
Full time employees -
Website
Full time employees -
Website

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund is a business development company. The fund chiefly invests in riskier bonds, issued by middle-market companies or by private equity firms looking to finance their acquisitions.