Oaktree Specialty Lending Corp logo

Oaktree Specialty Lending Corp(OCSL)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
2-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$12.13
10/29/2026
(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 OCSL

10/29/2026: OCSL (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Oaktree Specialty Lending Corp is a business development company that focuses on providing customized debt financing to middle-market businesses. Backed by the institutional credit expertise of Oaktree Capital Management, the company has successfully transitioned its portfolio away from legacy assets toward higher-quality, diversified investments. The primary growth opportunity lies in capitalizing on the ongoing shift of middle-market lending from banks to private credit providers. However, investors must monitor risks related to macroeconomic volatility, competitive pressure on interest spreads, and the performance of underlying borrowers. OCSL remains a relevant option for income-focused investors, though it carries the standard risks associated with BDC leverage.

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 investorWeak fitOCSL is primarily an income-oriented vehicle rather than a capital appreciation play.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum is generally weak as the stock price is often range-bound, tied more to NAV and interest rate trends.
Value investorStrong fitValue investors may find interest in buying at or near NAV, assessing the quality of the underlying loan portfolio.
Dividend investorStrong fitOCSL is specifically designed to provide consistent income distributions to shareholders.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe company carries inherent credit and leverage risks common to business development companies.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highBDC prices are sensitive to macro interest rate shifts and investor appetite for private credit.
Valuation riskMediumPortfolio valuations are internally determined by the board and may contain subjective appraisals.
Competition risk (Private Credit competition)Medium / highIncreased entry of alternative asset managers into direct lending can compress spreads.
Business qualityMediumWhile managed by a top-tier firm, the portfolio is still exposed to the creditworthiness of middle-market borrowers.
Dividend incomeMediumDividends are dependent on the NII generated, which can fluctuate based on portfolio performance.
Execution riskMediumManagement must successfully rotate into, and maintain, high-quality assets to preserve capital.

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 -32.16%
Avg. Invested days 31
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/29/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
OCSL receives a 4-star rating, supported by strong unit economics, and solid company fundamentals. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
OCSL has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, solid growth momentum, and moderate ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong cash generation (FCF margin 47.5%) and strong revenue growth (+60.9%) are partially offset by negative earnings growth (-41.4%), very low insider ownership of 0.30%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
OCSL's financial health is supported by solid profitability, including gross margin of 87.2% and operating margin of 50.4%. Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is OCSL's strongest growth driver at +646.5% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, revenue growth (+60.9%, strong) is also strong, while earnings growth (-41.4%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 50.3% (solid) and 0.0% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable (soft). Insider ownership is only 0.30%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Oaktree Capital Management LLC 8.94%
Private Management Group Inc 4.39%
Royal Bank of Canada 3.32%
Bruni J V & Co 2.81%
Morgan Stanley - Brokerage Accounts 2.73%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
OCSL generates approximately $872 of gross profit, $504 of operating income, and $475 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong margins and strong cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains weak.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 3.57%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
OCSL has a relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedLow VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap Risk

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 1.05B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 24.9
1Y Target Price 12.5
Price to earnings Ratio 24.9
1Y Target Price 12.5
Volume (30-day avg) 464.7K shares
Beta 0.58
52 Weeks Range 10.06 - 12.98
Updated Date 10/29/2026
52 Weeks Range 10.06 - 12.98
Updated Date 10/29/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 12.71%
Basic EPS (TTM) 0.48

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Interest IncomeInterest earned on first and second lien debt investments in portfolio companies.The company acts like a bank, collecting interest payments from the businesses it lends to.
Dividend and Fee IncomeDividends from equity-like holdings and recurring origination/structuring fees.The company earns extra cash through investment dividends and one-time fees from lending activities.

Valuation

Trailing PE 24.9
Forward PE 8.58
Enterprise Value 2.45B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.6
Enterprise Value 2.45B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.6
Enterprise Value to Revenue 46.07
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 88.09M
Shares Floating -
Shares Outstanding 88.09M
Shares Floating -
Percent Insiders 0.3
Percent Institutions 50.25

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.