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Stellus Capital Investment(SCM)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$6.64
10/23/2026
(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 SCM

10/23/2026: SCM (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Stellus Capital Investment (SCM) is a business development company (BDC) that provides debt and equity financing to lower middle-market companies. The company is primarily suited for income-focused investors who prioritize steady, monthly dividend distributions over high capital appreciation. Its strengths include a disciplined approach to lending and an experienced management team capable of navigating complex credit cycles. However, investors should be mindful of risks including portfolio concentration, potential economic downturns impacting borrower defaults, and the inherent leverage associated with the BDC model. Monitoring the company's net investment income coverage and the stability of its net asset value is essential for assessing long-term investment viability.

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 fitBDCs are primarily income vehicles rather than high-growth capital appreciation stocks.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum may be inconsistent; treat as conditional on positive yield spreads and sector trends.
Value investorMixed fitThe stock often trades relative to its NAV, providing opportunities when the discount is wide.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe monthly dividend structure is designed specifically for income-oriented portfolios.
Low-risk investorWeak fitBDC investing involves inherent credit and leverage risks that may exceed low-risk tolerance.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highBDC share prices can fluctuate based on interest rate sentiment and perceived credit quality.
Valuation riskMediumTrading at a significant premium or discount to NAV impacts the total return for investors.
Competition risk (private credit)HighExcess capital chasing middle-market deals can compress yield spreads.
Business qualityMediumPortfolio performance depends on the underwriting discipline of the external manager.
Dividend incomeMedium / highDividends are sensitive to NII and the ability to avoid credit losses.
Execution riskMediumThe manager must effectively manage leverage and portfolio credit risk through economic cycles.

Price Behavior

Steep Decline
PRICE PATH

Steep Decline

The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -10.99%
Avg. Invested days 30
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 10/23/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
SCM receives a 3-star rating based on the available scored pillars. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
SCM has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and soft ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong profitability (net margin 40.4%) is partially offset by negative earnings growth (-41.0%), weak cash generation (FCF margin -36.5%), negative revenue growth (-19.1%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
SCM's financial health is supported by strong profitability, including gross margin of 47.8% and operating margin of 42.8%. Liquidity is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is SCM's strongest growth driver at +14.7% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, while revenue growth (-19.1%, negative) and earnings growth (-41.0%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 14.0% (soft) and 0.0% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable (soft). Insider ownership of 4.31% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

CI Private Wealth LLC 1.00%
LPL Financial Corp 0.92%
Muzinich & Co Inc 0.90%
Legal & General Group PLC 0.84%
Advisors Asset Management 0.77%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
SCM generates approximately $478 of gross profit, $428 of operating income, and $-365 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 weak.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 5.52%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
SCM 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 189.11M USD
Price to earnings Ratio 6.51
1Y Target Price 10.12
Price to earnings Ratio 6.51
1Y Target Price 10.12
Volume (30-day avg) 122.7K shares
Beta 0.71
52 Weeks Range 6.54 - 12.25
Updated Date 10/24/2026
52 Weeks Range 6.54 - 12.25
Updated Date 10/24/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 21.78%
Basic EPS (TTM) 1.02

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Interest IncomeInterest earned on first-lien, second-lien, and unitranche loans provided to lower middle-market companies.The company acts like a lender, earning interest from the loans it makes to businesses.
Dividend and Fee IncomeIncome from equity co-investments and advisory or structuring fees from portfolio companies.Additional income is generated through fees and potential value gains from equity stakes in borrowers.
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Valuation

Trailing PE 6.51
Forward PE 12.14
Enterprise Value 783.39M
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.95
Enterprise Value 783.39M
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.95
Enterprise Value to Revenue 22.65
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 11.75
Shares Outstanding 28.48M
Shares Floating -
Shares Outstanding 28.48M
Shares Floating -
Percent Insiders 4.31
Percent Institutions 14.03

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.