Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL)

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending: These Negative Aspects Don't Change My Bullish Views

MSDL trades at a discount to NAV yet boasts a highly defensive, diversified, first-lien debt portfolio focused on non-cyclical industries. Despite a recent dip in net investment income due to lower rates and expired fee waivers, portfolio quality and credit remain strong with minimal non-accruals. I maintain a 'buy' rating, expecting double-digit total returns as MSDL remains resilient amid market volatility and benefits from improving deal flow.

5-9% Yields To Build A Low-Stress Dividend Income Stream

Building a low-stress retirement income stream requires a diversified portfolio of durable, defensive, and dividend-growing stocks or funds. I share two approaches to achieving a low-stress dividend growth portfolio that yields 5-9%. I detail which of the two approaches is my favorite, as well as some of my top big dividend growth picks for retirees right now.

The More It Tanks, The More It Stanks

High-yield stocks that trade at deep discounts to NAV often attract value-oriented income investors. However, most of the time, these investments are value traps. I share two popular stocks like this whose dividends I think are at risk and will likely deliver disappointing total returns to shareholders moving forward.

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund: I Am Downgrading To Hold

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund's total return has been flat since IPO, despite dividends being paid as expected. MSDL's share price weakness has occurred due to the shift from premium to discount-to-NAV, driven by insider selling and sector repricing. Current P/NAV of 0.96x offers neither strong upside nor downside for share price return movement.

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (NYSE:MSDL ) Q1 2025 Earnings Conference Call May 9, 2025 10:00 AM ET Company Participants Sanna Johnson – Head-Investor Relations Jeff Levin – Chief Executive Officer Michael Occi – President David Pessah – Chief Financial Officer Conference Call Participants Melissa Wedel – J.P. Morgan Heli Sheth – Raymond James Marissa Lobo – UBS Operator Welcome to Morgan Stanley Direct Lending First Quarter 2025 Earnings Call.

Earnings Preview: Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) Q1 Earnings Expected to Decline

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) doesn't possess the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.

My BDC Portfolio: 2 Months In And A Clear Alpha Performance

My BDC Portfolio: 2 Months In And A Clear Alpha Performance

My 3 Biggest BDC Investing Mistakes Worth Avoiding

I've been tracking major BDCs for over three years, achieving high total returns and dividends, and outperforming the BDC index. My investments in BDCs are motivated by high yield, diversification from traditional dividend picks, and the potential to outperform in an underexplored market. Yet, there have been many bumps in the process, and some of them quite painful.

3 High-Yielding BDCs For 2025

Despite expected volatility and potential recession, Ares Capital, Blackstone Secured Lending, and Morgan Stanley Direct Lending are likely to maintain their current dividends in 2025. Ares Capital's conservative fiscal strategy, solid dividend coverage, and investment-grade credit ratings position it well for the year ahead. Blackstone Secured Lending's defensively-positioned portfolio and robust liquidity make it a strong contender, despite lower interest rates potentially impacting the sector.

Investing In BDCs For Durable Income Amidst The Looming Recession

Rising non-accrual base is the BDC Achilles heel. The current economic conditions drive up the probability of that risk. Hence, the BDC income and NAV durability have become extremely important topics.

High-Yield Investors Rejoice: 2 Growth-Oriented BDCs Attractive On The Price Drop

Market volatility offers dividend investors a chance to buy high-quality BDCs like Blackstone Secured Lending and Morgan Stanley Direct Lending at attractive prices. Despite recession fears, BXSL and MSDL's strong fundamentals, low non-performing loans, and robust liquidity make them appealing investment opportunities. BXSL's $28 price and MSDL's discount to NAV present attractive entry points, backed by well-known asset managers and growth-focused strategies.

BDCs Are In Trouble, But In These Two I'm Increasing My Stakes

BDCs have performed worse than the S&P 500. It is logical since private credit is per definition a high-risk asset class. All in all, many BDCs are in trouble.

Very Bad News For BDCs: How To Play President Trump's Tariff Volatility

The business development company, or BDC, sector's strong run appears to be coming to an end. The dividend party may be over, and I share one sector favorite whose dividend may surprisingly be in trouble. I also share one BDC, whose dividend remains relatively safe and its stock trades at a compelling valuation.

Two 10%+ Dividends To Access Stress-Free Cash Flows

The emergence of tariffs have brought value/quality into the spotlight. Investors are flocking to value, which makes sense. However, investing in value does not necessarily have to be geared towards the lowest yielding and ultra-defensive plays.

Retirement Income: I'm Seeking Treasure In These 7-9% Yields

Income investing can be like treasure hunting in many ways. I detail 2 great income picks that offer high yields that are well-covered by cashflow. Both carry investment grade credit ratings and offer immediate diversification across strong asset classes.

My BDC Portfolio And The Strategy For Alpha Going Forward

This is my first BDC portfolio monthly performance review article. The good news is that the portfolio has done its job, outperforming the two BDC benchmarks - PBDC and BIZD. Yet, on an absolute basis, the portfolio is slightly down.

The Moment Of Truth For BDC Dividend Investors Is Close

As a structural BDC bull I have to admit that the period of BDCs consistently surprising us on the upside has come to an end. Many lower quality BDCs have already cut their dividends to sync their cash flows with less favorable private credit lending environment. I would say that the moment of truth for high quality BDCs is also very close, where we will see how really durable their base dividends are.

A $5,000 Monthly Income Portfolio For A 'SWAN' Retirement

In this article, I share a three-category portfolio approach to achieve $5,000 of durable monthly current income streams. With durable monthly distributions, I mean well-mitigated dividend cut risk and inflation-protected income. I also provide concrete investment ideas that tick the necessary boxes for being included in the portfolio.

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund: Mispriced And Solid Enough For A Buy

Q4, 2024 earnings came in much lower than what was reported in the prior quarter. Theoretically, this might indicate elevated risk and potentially unsustainable earnings. Yet, the underlying driver for the decline is something that all BDCs have experienced, including MSDL's closest peers such as BXSL and KBDC.

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (NYSE:MSDL ) Q4 2024 Earnings Conference Call February 28, 2025 10:00 AM ET Company Participants Sanna Johnson - Investor Relations Jeff Levin - Chief Executive Officer Michael Occi - President David Pessah - Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Shaoul - Head, Portfolio Management Conference Call Participants Sean-Paul Adams - Raymond James Paul Johnson - KBW Doug Harter - UBS Operator Welcome to the Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Q4 2024 Earnings Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode.

BDC Investors Beware: 3 Major Risks You Can't Ignore Right Now

BDCs have been soaring, but cracks are starting to show—here's what investors need to watch out for. We discuss why most BDCs are not worth buying now. One BDC stands out as a strong buy—find out which name offers value, safety, and sustainable dividends.

BXSL Vs. MSDL: MSDL Is A Better Buy Right Now

BXSL and MSDL are both defensive BDCs with a focus on first-lien debt, sharing several similarities. MSDL's valuation is more attractive compared to BXSL, trading closer to its NAV, making it a better value investment with a slightly higher regular dividend yield. I own both BDCs, but despite BXSL's solid performance, I see a greater risk-to-reward ratio in MSDL and will continue reinvesting in it.

5 Red-Hot Ultra-High-Yield Stocks Run by Famous Wall Street Investment Giants