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Stellus Capital Investment(SCM)

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ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$7.65
09/25/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Advisory & Investor View for SCM

09/25/2026: SCM (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation is a Business Development Company that primarily provides debt financing to lower middle-market companies. Its main strength lies in a disciplined, experienced management team focused on senior secured debt and recurring income. The company’s growth story centers on its ability to source proprietary loans in an underserved market niche. Key risks include exposure to economic downturns that could trigger defaults and interest rate sensitivity inherent to its loan portfolio. This stock may suit income-focused investors who understand the credit risks of private lending and are looking for monthly dividend distributions while monitoring portfolio credit quality and market valuations.

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 fitAs a BDC, the primary investment thesis is income generation rather than capital appreciation.
Momentum investorWeak fitBDC stocks generally exhibit lower volatility and momentum compared to high-growth technology or cyclical sectors.
Value investorMixed fitValue investors may look at the discount or premium to NAV, though the underlying credit risk requires deep analysis.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe monthly dividend structure is specifically designed for income-focused investors.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe inherent credit risk of middle-market lending makes this unsuitable for those seeking capital preservation.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumStock prices for BDCs can fluctuate based on broader market sentiment and interest rate expectations.
Valuation riskMediumInvestors must monitor if the stock trades at a significant premium or discount to its Net Asset Value.
Competition risk (middle-market lending)HighIncreased competition for loans can pressure interest spreads and underwriting standards.
Business qualityMediumThe quality of the loan portfolio and the ability to manage credit risk are paramount.
Dividend incomeMedium / highThe dividend is dependent on the performance of the underlying loan portfolio.
Execution riskMediumSuccess relies on the external manager's ability to source and underwrite deals effectively.

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 -9.59%
Avg. Invested days 35
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 09/25/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
SCM receives a 3-star rating, supported by 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%), soft 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 14.2% and approximately 0.0% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 4.31% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

LPL Financial Corp 1.11%
CI Private Wealth LLC 1.00%
Muzinich & Co Inc 0.90%
Legal & General Group PLC 0.81%
Ethos Financial Group LLC 0.76%

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. Strong cash conversion and healthy margins support the rating, although capital efficiency remains below the highest tier.

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 219.30M USD
Price to earnings Ratio 7.55
1Y Target Price 10.12
Price to earnings Ratio 7.55
1Y Target Price 10.12
Volume (30-day avg) 141.8K shares
Beta 0.67
52 Weeks Range 6.69 - 12.38
Updated Date 09/25/2026
52 Weeks Range 6.69 - 12.38
Updated Date 09/25/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 18.94%
Basic EPS (TTM) 1.02

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Interest IncomeInterest earned on first and second lien debt investments provided to middle-market companies.The company acts like a lender, earning money from the interest payments on loans it makes to businesses.
Dividend and Fee IncomeDividends from equity co-investments and origination/servicing fees charged to borrowers.Additional income comes from equity stakes in these businesses and fees charged for structuring their loans.
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Valuation

Trailing PE 7.55
Forward PE 7.51
Enterprise Value 813.58M
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.26
Enterprise Value 813.58M
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.26
Enterprise Value to Revenue 22.16
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 11.75
Shares Outstanding 28.48M
Shares Floating -
Shares Outstanding 28.48M
Shares Floating -
Percent Insiders 4.31
Percent Institutions 14.23

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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.

About Stellus Capital Investment

Exchange NYSE
Headquarters Houston, TX, United States
IPO Launch date 2012-11-08
President, CEO & Chairman Mr. Robert Thomsen Ladd
Sector Financial Services
Industry Asset Management
Full time employees -
Full time employees -

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation is a business development company specializing in investments in private middle-market companies. It invests through first lien, second lien, unitranche, and mezzanine debt financing, often with a corresponding equity investment. The fund prefers to invest in US and Canada. The fund seeks to invest in companies with an EBITDA between $5 million and $50 million.