Saratoga Investment Corp. (SAR) AI Stock Analysis
SAR AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchSaratoga Investment Corp. (SAR) is a business development company focused on lower middle market investments. Over the trailing twelve months, the company generated $124.7M in revenue with an operating margin of 68.7% and net EPS of -$0.28. The stock carries a forward dividend yield of 19.58% alongside a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.51.
- Market cap
- $238.4M
- Revenue (TTM)
- $124.7M
- P/E
- — fwd 11.7x
- 1Y return
- -18.3% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $20.00 30.5% vs last close
Bull case
- The stock offers an annual forward dividend of $3.00, equating to a 19.58% dividend yield.
- Shares trade at a price-to-book ratio of 0.7x, below total book equity value.
- Analyst consensus sets a mean price target of $20.00, representing 30.5% upside over the last close of $15.32.
Bear case
- Total debt stands at $886.1M against $95.9M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.51.
- The company posted negative operating cash flow of -$88.0M in FY2026 and trailing twelve-month EPS of -$0.28.
- EPS for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2027 is projected to decline 19.9% to $1.90.
What Saratoga Investment does
Saratoga Investment Corp., based in New York, New York, operates as a specialized business development company focusing on investment opportunities in the lower middle market segment. Established as GSC Investment Corp. and rebranded as Saratoga Investment Corp., the firm specializes in a diverse array of financial transactions including leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, acquisition financings, growth financings, recapitalizations, debt refinancing, and transitional financings. It structures investments through debt and equity instruments, such as first and second lien loans, mezzanine debt, co-investments, high yield bonds, senior secured bonds, unsecured bonds, and equity. The firm typically invests between $5 million to $50 million in companies with EBITDA of $2 million or greater and revenues ranging from $8 million to $250 million.
Growth and profitability
Saratoga Investment Corp. grew revenue from $70.7M in FY2022 to $143.9M in FY2024 before experiencing a decline of 34.6% to $94.2M in FY2025. In FY2026, revenue increased 5.4% to $99.2M, with net income reaching $36.6M, representing a net margin of 36.9% and EPS of $2.38. Across the 5-year period from FY2021 to FY2026, revenue achieved a CAGR of 11.5%. For the trailing twelve months ended August 31, 2026, revenue stood at $124.7M with an operating margin of 68.7% and a net profit margin of -3.4%. In the latest quarter, quarterly revenue grew 1.8% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings expanded by 16.3%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of August 31, 2026, Saratoga Investment Corp. held $95.9M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $886.1M, resulting in net debt of $790.3M. Total assets were $1.26B, shareholders' equity was $352.6M, and the current ratio stood at 7.61, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.51. In FY2026, operating cash flow and free cash flow were both -$88.0M, with capital expenditures of $2. During FY2026, capital deployment included $52.4M paid in dividends and $54,314 in share buybacks, while the share count increased 41.1% over 5 years.
Valuation and performance
SAR trades at a forward P/E of 11.7x, compared to 10.8x for the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers. Its price-to-sales multiple is 1.9x, below the peer median of 3.2x, while its price-to-book ratio is 0.7x. Over the 1-year period, the stock declined 18.3%, trailing the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year horizon, SAR declined 7.3%, compared to an 83.0% return for SPY.
SAR dividend
Saratoga Investment Corp. offers a forward annual dividend of $3.00, representing a dividend yield of 19.58% and a payout ratio of 48.3%. Dividends are distributed monthly, and the company has paid dividends for 20 consecutive years. Its 5-year annualized dividend growth rate is 16.9%, with the last ex-dividend date listed as December 3, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage includes 1 Buy and 6 Hold ratings, with 0 Strong Buy, Sell, or Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target is $20.00, which is 30.5% above the last close of $15.32. For the current fiscal year ending February 28, 2027, consensus estimates project revenue of $126.9M and EPS of $1.90, reflecting a 19.9% decline in EPS. Saratoga Investment Corp. beat EPS estimates in 1 of the last 4 quarters.
Key risks and what to watch
- Total debt of $886.1M and net debt of $790.3M leave the company with high leverage relative to $352.6M in shareholders' equity.
- Free cash flow has been negative in four of the last five fiscal years, including -$88.0M in FY2026.
- Shares are down 22.3% versus their 200-day average, signaling ongoing negative price momentum.
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 SAR AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Saratoga Investment Corp. (SAR). 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: SAR income statement, SAR balance sheet, SAR key metrics, SAR analyst forecast, SAR chart. See the SAR stock overview for the latest quote and news.
SAR AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Saratoga Investment Corp.'s dividend yield and payment schedule?
SAR pays a monthly dividend with an annual forward payout of $3.00, which yields 19.58%. It has paid consecutive dividends for 20 years.
What is the consensus analyst price target for SAR?
The mean analyst price target is $20.00, indicating an upside of 30.5% compared to the last close of $15.32.
How much debt does Saratoga Investment Corp. carry?
As of August 31, 2026, Saratoga Investment Corp. carried $886.1M in total debt and $790.3M in net debt, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.51.
What are the revenue expectations for the current fiscal year?
For the fiscal year ending February 28, 2027, analysts estimate revenue of $126.9M and an EPS of $1.90.