Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp. (NCDL) AI Stock Analysis
NCDL AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchNuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp. (NCDL) is an externally managed business development company investing primarily in senior secured loans of private equity-backed U.S. middle market companies. In FY2025, revenue grew 8.5% to $201.8M while net income reached $65.6M. The stock trades at a price-to-book ratio of 0.7x and offers a 14.31% forward dividend yield with total debt standing at $1.09B.
- Market cap
- $524.5M
- Revenue (TTM)
- $0
- P/E
- 11.2x fwd 8.4x
- 1Y return
- -10.9% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $13.70 29.0% vs last close
Bull case
- The stock provides an annual forward dividend of $1.52 per share, representing a high yield of 14.31%.
- Shares trade at a price-to-book ratio of 0.7x and a forward P/E of 8.4x, below the US-listed Financial Services median of 10.8x.
- Free cash flow grew to $194.2M in FY2025 alongside an 84.9% gross margin.
Bear case
- Total debt stands at $1.09B against cash and short-term investments of $5.0M, generating net debt of $1.08B.
- Analyst consensus forecasts revenue to decline to $179.0M in FY2026 and further fall 1.5% to $176.3M in FY2027.
- Net income decreased from $116.3M in FY2024 to $65.6M in FY2025, reducing EPS from $2.27 to $1.86.
What Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending does
Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp. operates as a business development company focused on achieving favorable risk-adjusted returns and generating ongoing income. The company's investment strategy centers on deploying capital predominantly into senior secured loans extended to U.S. middle market companies that are privately owned by private equity firms. Founded on prudent investment management principles, the company strategically assesses financing opportunities tailored to middle market companies. By emphasizing senior secured positions, it seeks to mitigate investment portfolio risks while optimizing returns. The company is headquartered in the United States and works to enhance shareholder value through prudent capital allocation.
Growth and profitability
From FY2021 to FY2025, revenue expanded from $39.3M to $201.8M, representing a 5-year compound annual growth rate of 87.5%. In FY2024, revenue climbed 29.2% to $186.0M with net income of $116.3M and an operating margin of 62.6%. For FY2025, revenue reached $201.8M, reflecting 8.5% annual growth, while the gross margin rose to 84.9% and operating margin reached 71.2%. However, FY2025 net income contracted to $65.6M, yielding a net margin of 32.5% and diluted earnings per share of $1.86, down from $2.27 in FY2024. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, diluted EPS stood at $0.95.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, the company held $5.0M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $1.09B, resulting in net debt of $1.08B. Total assets stood at $1.99B against shareholders' equity of $849.0M, corresponding to a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. In FY2025, operating cash flow and free cash flow were both $194.2M. During FY2025, cash capital deployment included $102.3M paid in dividends and $65.7M directed toward share buybacks, while the share count increased 175.2% over five years.
Valuation and performance
At a share price of $10.62, Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp. has a market capitalization of $524.5M. The stock trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 11.2x and a forward P/E of 8.4x, both lower than the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers, which are 12.1x and 10.8x, respectively. Its price-to-book ratio is 0.7x, while its price-to-sales ratio of 9.8x sits above the peer median of 3.2x. Over the past year, the shares fell 10.9%, trailing the S&P 500 benchmark return of 16.8%.
NCDL dividend
Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp. offers an annual forward dividend of $1.52 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 14.31% as of October 16, 2026. The company pays dividends quarterly and has maintained payments for 3 consecutive years. Its payout ratio stands at 95.3%, and the most recent ex-dividend date occurred on September 30, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage includes 5 analyst ratings: 3 Strong Buy, 1 Hold, and 1 Strong Sell. The consensus mean price target is $13.70, representing a potential upside of 29.0% over the last close of $10.62. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts forecast revenue of $179.0M and EPS of $1.58, indicating a projected EPS decline of 14.9%. Over the last four quarters, the company beat EPS estimates 2 times. The next earnings date is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- With a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28 and $1.09B in total debt, high leverage could pressure performance if borrowers face stress.
- The dividend payout ratio reached 95.3% while earnings per share are projected to decline 14.9% to $1.58 in FY2026.
- The share price fell 10.9% over the past year, significantly lagging the S&P 500 benchmark return of 16.8%.
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 NCDL AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp. (NCDL). 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: NCDL income statement, NCDL balance sheet, NCDL key metrics, NCDL analyst forecast, NCDL chart. See the NCDL stock overview for the latest quote and news.
NCDL AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp.'s dividend yield?
NCDL offers an annual forward dividend of $1.52 per share, delivering a dividend yield of 14.31%. The company distributes dividends quarterly and holds a payout ratio of 95.3%.
What is NCDL's debt level and leverage?
As of June 30, 2026, the company carried total debt of $1.09B against $5.0M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $1.08B. This represents a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28 on shareholders' equity of $849.0M.
What are Wall Street analysts forecasting for NCDL's earnings?
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $1.58, representing an earnings decline of 14.9% on revenue of $179.0M. For the following fiscal year, analysts anticipate EPS to drop 3.0% to $1.54.
When will Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending report its next earnings?
The company is scheduled to report its next earnings results on November 3, 2026. In the trailing four quarters, it met or exceeded consensus EPS expectations 2 times.