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Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL)



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Upturn Advisory Summary
08/14/2025: MSDL (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
1 Year Target Price $19.4
1 Year Target Price $19.4
0 | Strong Buy |
1 | Buy |
5 | Hold |
0 | Sell |
0 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -1.39% | Avg. Invested days 58 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance ![]() | Stock Returns Performance ![]() |
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Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 1.53B USD | Price to earnings Ratio 9.16 | 1Y Target Price 19.4 |
Price to earnings Ratio 9.16 | 1Y Target Price 19.4 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 6 | Beta - | 52 Weeks Range 17.13 - 20.67 | Updated Date 08/15/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 17.13 - 20.67 | Updated Date 08/15/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 1.93 |
Earnings Date
Report Date 2025-08-07 | When - | Estimate 0.53 | Actual 0.41 |
Profitability
Profit Margin - | Operating Margin (TTM) - |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) - | Return on Equity (TTM) - |
Valuation
Trailing PE 9.16 | Forward PE 8.53 | Enterprise Value - | Price to Sales(TTM) 9.07 |
Enterprise Value - | Price to Sales(TTM) 9.07 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 20.81 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA - | Shares Outstanding 86835000 | Shares Floating - |
Shares Outstanding 86835000 | Shares Floating - | ||
Percent Insiders 0.23 | Percent Institutions 27.26 |
Upturn AI SWOT
Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund
Company Overview
History and Background
Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that invests primarily in privately negotiated, directly originated senior secured loans of U.S. middle market companies. It was formed to originate and invest in direct lending opportunities, providing capital to companies that may have limited access to traditional financing sources.
Core Business Areas
- Direct Lending: Providing senior secured loans to U.S. middle market companies, typically with EBITDA between $10 million and $150 million.
Leadership and Structure
Information on the specific leadership team and organizational structure of the fund can be found in its SEC filings and investor relations materials, as it is managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Senior Secured Loans: Provides senior secured loans to middle-market companies. Market share data specific to MSDL is not publicly available; market share is typically fragmented amongst many direct lending funds. Competitors include Ares Capital, Owl Rock Capital, and Golub Capital BDC.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The direct lending market has grown significantly as banks have retreated from lending to smaller companies. This market provides alternative sources of capital for middle-market businesses.
Positioning
MSDL positions itself as a direct lender with the backing and expertise of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, providing a competitive advantage through origination capabilities and capital access.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The estimated TAM for private credit/direct lending is in the trillions of dollars globally. MSDL is positioned to capture a portion of this TAM, focusing on the U.S. middle market.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Strong origination capabilities via the Morgan Stanley platform
- Experienced management team
- Access to capital
- Focus on senior secured debt
Weaknesses
- Reliance on middle-market loan performance
- Potential illiquidity of investments
- Concentrated investment strategy
Opportunities
- Increased demand for direct lending as banks retrench
- Expansion into new sectors and geographies
- Partnerships with other financial institutions
Threats
- Economic downturn leading to increased defaults
- Increased competition from other direct lenders
- Regulatory changes impacting lending practices
- Rising interest rates
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- ARCC
- MAIN
- ORCC
- GOLUB CAPITAL BDC (GBDC)
Competitive Landscape
MSDL benefits from the Morgan Stanley brand and origination capabilities. It competes with other BDCs and direct lending funds based on loan terms, risk appetite, and investment expertise.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: MSDL's growth is tied to the overall direct lending market and its ability to originate and manage loans effectively.
Future Projections: Future growth projections would be found in analyst reports and company presentations, which are not directly accessible in parsable JSON format.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives would be announced in press releases and investor updates. These might include new partnerships or investment strategies.
Summary
Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund offers investors exposure to the direct lending market through its focus on senior secured loans to middle-market companies. Its strengths include its strong origination capabilities and experienced management team. However, it faces risks related to the performance of its loan portfolio and competition in the direct lending space. Keeping an eye on regulatory changes is also important.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- SEC Filings
- Company Investor Relations
- Financial Data Providers
Disclaimers:
This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Market share is estimated and may not be precise. Financial data should be verified with official company filings.
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.
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.

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