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MSDL
Upturn stock ratingUpturn stock rating

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL)

Upturn stock ratingUpturn stock rating
$17.67
Last Close (24-hour delay)
upturn advisory
PASS
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)​
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)​
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • Pass (Skip investing)
Upturn Stock infoUpturn Stock info Stock price based on last close
*as per simulation
(see disclosures)
Time period over
  • ALL
  • YEAR
  • MONTH
  • WEEK

Upturn Advisory Summary

08/14/2025: 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 $19.4

1 Year Target Price $19.4

Analysts Price Target For last 52 week
$19.4 Target price
52w Low $17.13
Current$17.67
52w High $20.67

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -1.39%
Avg. Invested days 58
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Star Rating Upturn stock ratingUpturn stock rating
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance 4.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulationUpturn Profits based on simulation Profits based on simulation
Upturn Profits based on simulationUpturn Profits based on simulation Last Close 08/14/2025

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

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 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.

business area logo 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 logo 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

overview logo 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 logo 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

competitor logo 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.

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

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

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

Upturn AI SummarizationUpturn 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.