Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (CGBD) AI Stock Analysis
CGBD AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchCarlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (CGBD) is a business development company focused on middle-market secured debt investments. For the trailing twelve months, the company generated $259.6M in revenue with an operating margin of 74.0%. However, quarterly revenue fell 7.7% year-over-year in the latest quarter ending June 30, 2026, while its forward dividend yield stands at 13.47%.
- Market cap
- $714.9M
- Revenue (TTM)
- $259.6M
- P/E
- 20.8x fwd 7.9x
- 1Y return
- -2.7% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $12.36 18.9% vs last close
Bull case
- CGBD offers a high forward dividend yield of 13.47% backed by 10 consecutive years of dividend payments.
- The stock trades at a price-to-book multiple of 0.7x and a forward P/E of 7.9x, lower than the US-listed Financial Services peer median of 10.8x.
- Analysts maintain a mean price target of $12.36, indicating 18.9% upside potential from the last close of $10.39.
Bear case
- In the quarter ended June 30, 2026, earnings fell 40.5% and revenue declined 7.7% year-over-year.
- Operating cash flow and free cash flow turned negative at -$204.6M in FY2025, alongside an elevated dividend payout ratio of 106.4%.
- Shares have underperformed the broader market over the past year, returning -2.7% versus 16.8% for the S&P 500.
What Carlyle Secured Lending does
Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. operates as a specialized business development company targeting secured lending and debt investments. The firm focuses on direct investments in middle-market companies, primarily offering first lien debt, senior secured loans, second lien senior secured loans, mezzanine debt, and other debt instruments. It generally targets portfolio companies with EBITDA between $25 million and $100 million. Carlyle Secured Lending invests across various sectors, including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, aerospace and defense, high-tech, business services, software, food and beverage, hospitality and leisure, banking, insurance, and real estate, operating across the United States, Luxembourg, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom.
Growth and profitability
Revenue rose from $169.9M in FY2021 to $197.8M in FY2025, reflecting a 5-year revenue CAGR of 63.1%. Over that span, net income moved from $160.4M in FY2021 to $70.0M in FY2025, bringing net margin from 94.4% down to 35.4%. In FY2025, revenue increased 17.9% year-over-year with an operating margin of 86.2%. Trailing twelve months revenue stands at $259.6M with EPS of $0.50. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue fell 7.7% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings declined 40.5%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Carlyle Secured Lending held $25.9M in cash and short-term investments against $1.30B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $1.28B. Total assets were $2.44B and shareholders' equity was $1.08B. The current ratio stood at 0.45, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. In FY2025, free cash flow was -$204.6M. Capital allocation in FY2025 included $104.0M in dividends paid and $13.9M directed to share buybacks.
Valuation and performance
CGBD trades at a trailing P/E of 20.8x, compared to the median of 12.1x for its US-listed Financial Services peers, while its forward P/E of 7.9x sits below the peer median of 10.8x. The company's enterprise value is $1.99B, carrying an EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 22.6x versus the peer median of 11.7x. Its price-to-book ratio is 0.7x. Over the past year, CGBD declined 2.7%, trailing the S&P 500 (SPY) gain of 16.8%. Over five years, the stock rose 16.3% compared to an 83.0% gain for the S&P 500.
CGBD dividend
CGBD pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward payout of $1.40 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 13.47%. Carlyle Secured Lending has paid dividends for 10 consecutive years, delivering a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 2.3%. The current payout ratio is 106.4%, and the stock's last ex-dividend date was September 30, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage includes 1 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, 5 Holds, and 1 Sell rating. The mean price target is $12.36, representing an 18.9% premium over the last close of $10.39. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $1.43 on revenue of $252.8M. The company beat EPS estimates in 1 of the last 4 quarters, with the next earnings announcement scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Total debt of $1.30B significantly exceeds cash of $25.9M, producing a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21.
- A current ratio of 0.45 highlights short-term liquidity constraints.
- The payout ratio of 106.4% indicates that regular distributions exceed current trailing earnings.
- The company has beaten analyst EPS estimates in only 1 of the last 4 quarters.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this CGBD AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (CGBD). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: CGBD income statement, CGBD balance sheet, CGBD key metrics, CGBD analyst forecast, CGBD chart. See the CGBD stock overview for the latest quote and news.
CGBD AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Carlyle Secured Lending's dividend yield?
CGBD has an annualized forward dividend of $1.40 per share, yielding 13.47%. It distributes dividends quarterly and has paid them for 10 consecutive years.
What is CGBD's current debt position?
As of June 30, 2026, the company held $1.30B in total debt and $25.9M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $1.28B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21.
What are analysts forecasting for CGBD's earnings?
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates expect EPS of $1.43 on revenue of $252.8M. For the subsequent fiscal year, analysts estimate EPS of $1.43 on revenue of $256.2M.
When does Carlyle Secured Lending report its next earnings?
The company's next earnings report is scheduled for November 3, 2026.