Earlier in April, this year, I circulated a bullish piece on Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC ), outlining the key reasons why it is worth buying ARCC before it jumps back in the premium territory. Roberts Berzins has over a decade of experience in the financial management helping top-tier corporates shape their financial strategies and execute large-scale financings. He has also made significant efforts to institutionalize REIT framework in Latvia to boost the liquidity of pan-Baltic capital markets. Other polic ...

Group 1 - Golub Capital BDC (NASDAQ: GBDC) has maintained a premium to its net asset value for most of 2024, indicating strong market performance [1] - The company is highlighted as a favorite position in the sector, suggesting confidence in its investment potential [1] - The focus on dividend investing is emphasized as a key strategy for achieving financial freedom, reflecting the company's commitment to providing steady income [1] Group 2 - The author has a beneficial long position in GBDC and other related stocks, indicating a personal investment interest that aligns with the analysis presented [2] - The article expresses personal opinions and insights, reinforcing the subjective nature of the analysis [2]

Core Insights - Business Development Companies (BDCs) are favored for high income during periods of inflated interest rates, but not all BDCs are equal in quality [1] Group 1: Investment Strategy - A hybrid investment strategy combining classic dividend growth stocks with BDCs, REITs, and Closed End Funds can enhance investment income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds like the S&P [1]

Group 1 - The article provides a weekly review of market activity in the Business Development Company (BDC) sector, focusing on both individual news and broader market trends [1] - It highlights the importance of yield and risk management in investment strategies, particularly in the context of BDCs [1] - The article encourages the use of Interactive Investor Tools for navigating various investment markets, including BDCs, Closed-End Funds (CEFs), and preferred securities [1] Group 2 - The article promotes investor guides related to CEFs and preferred securities, indicating a resource for potential investors [2] - It offers a no-risk trial for new users, suggesting an accessible entry point for investors interested in exploring these financial products [2]

分组1 - Belden reported quarterly earnings of $1.60 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.48 per share, and up from $1.24 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 8.11% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $624.86 million for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.94%, and an increase from $535.68 million year-over-year [2] - Belden has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates over the last four quarters, indicating strong performance [2] 分组2 - The stock has underperformed the market, losing about 8.4% since the beginning of the year compared to the S&P 500's decline of 5.3% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.70 on revenues of $663 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $7.07 on revenues of $2.69 billion [7] - The Wire and Cable Products industry, to which Belden belongs, is currently ranked in the top 11% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable industry outlook [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the first quarter totaled $625 million, up 17% year over year, exceeding the high end of guidance [7][14] - Earnings per share (EPS) came in at $1.60, up 29% compared to the prior year [7][17] - Gross margins were 39.8%, an increase of 140 basis points year over year [16] - Adjusted EBITDA margins improved to 16.6%, up 80 basis points year over year [7][17] - Free cash flow for the trailing twelve months was $220 million, representing 9% of total revenue [20][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Automation Solutions revenue grew 16% year over year, with orders up 22% [14][18] - Smart Infrastructure Solutions revenue increased by 17% year over year, with orders up 13% [19] - Broadband revenue was up year over year, driven by a 9% organic growth in fiber [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic growth for the overall business was 11%, with The Americas showing 14% organic growth [8][14] - Orders were up 18% year over year, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.05 [8][14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on solutions transformation, which is expected to drive future growth opportunities [7][10] - There is a strategic emphasis on acquisitions that support the solutions transformation and returning capital to shareholders through buybacks [9][10] - The company aims to bridge the gap between industrial and enterprise applications, enhancing customer relationships and driving repeat business [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about long-term growth driven by trends such as reindustrialization, digitization, and automation [27][30] - There is an expectation of continued uncertainty in the near term due to trade policy, but a positive long-term outlook remains [27][28] - Signs of recovery in global manufacturing PMIs were noted, indicating potential for broader industrial recovery [29] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet with a cash position of $259 million and a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.0 times [20] - The next debt maturity is not until 2027, with all debt fixed at an average rate of 3.5% [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on reshoring interest among manufacturers - Management noted increased confidence among large customers regarding reshoring manufacturing capacity to the US, with a growing interest in IT and OT convergence solutions [36][38] Question: Insights on book-to-bill in Smart Infrastructure - Smart Buildings orders were up about 8%, while Broadband orders were up 18%, indicating stronger performance in the broadband segment [40][41] Question: Quantifying discussions on reshoring - Management indicated that discussions related to reshoring have increased significantly, with a portion of the sales funnel related to these solutions in the high teens percentage [49] Question: Demand pull forward observations - No significant demand pull forward was observed, but there is increased interest and discussions about potential quick deployments [51] Question: Exposure to tariffs and sourcing changes - The largest exposure is to Mexico, with most products having exemptions under USMCA, and efforts are being made to adjust sourcing from China [57][58] Question: Margin performance between segments - Strong performance in Industrial Solutions was noted, while Smart Infrastructure experienced a sequential step down due to revenue leverage impacts [62][64] Question: Free cash flow management - The focus remains on improving supply chain management and inventory turns, with a goal to increase free cash flow margin closer to 10% [73]

Core Insights - The establishment of a separate investment account for BDC investments aims to enhance tracking and performance measurement of BDCs [1] Group 1: Investment Strategy - The investment account is designed to share progress and insights regarding BDC investments with stakeholders [1] Group 2: Analyst Background - Roberts Berzins has over a decade of experience in financial management, focusing on corporate financial strategies and large-scale financings [1] - Significant contributions include institutionalizing the REIT framework in Latvia to improve liquidity in pan-Baltic capital markets [1] - Involvement in developing national SOE financing guidelines and frameworks for private capital in affordable housing [1] - Holds a CFA Charter and an ESG investing certificate, with experience from an internship at the Chicago Board of Trade [1] - Actively participates in thought-leadership activities to support the development of pan-Baltic capital markets [1]

Q1 2025 Performance Highlights - Adjusted EPS reached $1.60, a 29% increase year-over-year[10, 17] - Adjusted Gross Margin improved to 39.8%, up 140 bps year-over-year[11, 17] - Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 16.6%, an increase of 80 bps year-over-year[11, 17] - Revenue reached $625 million, exceeding the high end of guidance[13] - Organic Revenue Growth was +11% overall, with +14% in the Americas year-over-year[13] - Orders increased by 18% year-over-year[13, 18] Cash Flow and Capital Deployment - Free Cash Flow for the trailing twelve months was $220 million[12, 13] - The company repurchased 1.0 million shares for $100 million year-to-date through April 2025[13] Segment Performance - Automation Solutions organic revenue increased by 16% year-over-year[20] - Smart Infrastructure Solutions organic revenue increased by 6% year-over-year[20] Q2 2025 Guidance - Total Revenue is projected to be between $645 million and $660 million[29] - Adjusted EPS is expected to be between $1.67 and $1.77[29]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the first quarter totaled $625 million, up 17% year over year, exceeding the high end of guidance [7][14] - Earnings per share (EPS) came in at $1.60, up 29% compared to the prior year [7][17] - Gross margins were 39.8%, an increase of 40 basis points year over year, marking the highest since the strategic transformation began in 2020 [7][16] - Adjusted EBITDA margins improved to 16.6%, up 80 basis points year over year [7][17] - Free cash flow for the trailing twelve months was $220 million, representing 9% of total revenue [9][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Automation Solutions revenue grew 16% year over year, with orders up 22% [14][18] - Smart Infrastructure Solutions revenue increased by 17% year over year, with orders up 13% [14][19] - Broadband revenue was up year over year, driven by a 9% organic growth in fiber [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic growth for the overall business was 11%, with The Americas leading at 14% [8][14] - Orders were up 18% year over year, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.05 [8][14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a solutions transformation that enhances customer relationships and drives repeat business [10][12] - There is a strategic emphasis on acquisitions that support the solutions transformation and returning capital to shareholders through buybacks [9][10] - The company aims to bridge the gap between industrial and enterprise applications, leveraging its broad product portfolio [12][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about long-term growth driven by trends such as reindustrialization, digitization, and automation [27][30] - There is an expectation of continued uncertainty in the near term due to trade policy, but a positive long-term outlook remains [27][28] - Signs of recovery in global manufacturing PMIs were noted, indicating potential for broader industrial recovery [29][30] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet with a cash position of $259 million and a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.0 times [20] - The next debt maturity is not until 2027, with all debt fixed at an average rate of 3.5% [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on reshoring interest among manufacturers - Management noted increased confidence among large customers regarding reshoring manufacturing to the US, with discussions around long-term plans and IT/OT convergence [36][38] Question: Insights on book-to-bill in Smart Infrastructure - Smart Buildings orders were up about 8%, while Broadband orders were up 18%, indicating stronger performance in Broadband [40][41] Question: Demand pull forward and its impact - Management has not seen significant demand pull forward but noted increased interest and discussions from customers about deploying solutions [51][52] Question: Exposure to tariffs and sourcing strategies - The largest exposure is to Mexico, with most products having exemptions under USMCA, and no manufacturing in China for the US market [57][58] Question: Long-term EPS growth targets - The company is still targeting a 10% to 12% EPS CAGR but did not provide further updates on the $8 EPS goal for 2025 [59][60] Question: Margin performance between segments - Strong performance in Industrial Solutions was noted, while Smart Infrastructure experienced a sequential drop due to revenue leverage [62][64] Question: Free cash flow management - The focus remains on improving supply chain management and inventory turns, with a goal to increase free cash flow margin closer to 10% [74][75]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the first quarter totaled $625 million, up 17% year over year, exceeding the high end of guidance [7][14] - Earnings per share (EPS) came in at $1.60, up 29% compared to the prior year [7][14] - Gross margins were 39.8%, an increase of 40 basis points year over year, marking the highest since the strategic transformation began in 2020 [7][15] - Adjusted EBITDA margins improved to 16.6%, up 80 basis points year over year [7][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Automation Solutions revenue increased by 16% year over year, with orders up 22% [14][17] - Smart Infrastructure Solutions revenue grew by 17% year over year, with orders up 13% [14][18] - Organic growth for the overall business was 11%, with The Americas leading at 14% [8][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Orders were up 18% year over year, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.05 [8][14] - The Americas and APAC regions showed strong growth, while EMEA was the slowest growing region but still achieved organic growth [17][18] - Broadband revenue increased year over year, driven by a 9% organic growth in fiber [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on solutions transformation, which is expected to drive future growth opportunities [7][10] - There is a strategic emphasis on reshoring and IT/OT convergence, with increased interest from customers in investing in these areas [38][39] - The company aims to maintain a disciplined capital allocation strategy, targeting acquisitions and share repurchases [9][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about long-term growth driven by trends such as reindustrialization, digitization, and automation [27][31] - There is an expectation of continued uncertainty in the near term due to trade policy, but a positive long-term outlook remains [28][29] - Signs of recovery in global manufacturing PMIs were noted, indicating potential for broader industrial recovery [30] Other Important Information - The company generated strong free cash flow of $220 million, representing 9% of total revenue [9][20] - The balance sheet remains strong, with a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.0 times [20] - The next debt maturity is not until 2027, with all debt fixed at an average rate of 3.5% [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on reshoring interest among manufacturers - Management noted increased confidence among large customers regarding reshoring manufacturing to the US, with discussions around long-term plans [36][38] Question: Insights on book-to-bill in smart infrastructure - Smart Buildings orders were up about 8%, while Broadband orders were up 18%, indicating stronger performance in broadband [40][41] Question: Quantifying discussions on reshoring - Management indicated that discussions around reshoring have increased significantly, with a sales funnel growth in the high teens [47][50] Question: Demand pull forward observations - No significant demand pull forward was observed, but there is increased interest and discussions from customers about future deployments [51][52] Question: Exposure to tariffs and sourcing changes - The largest exposure is to Mexico, with most products having exemptions under USMCA, and efforts are ongoing to adjust sourcing from China [56][57] Question: Long-term EPS growth target - The company reiterated its target of 10% to 12% EPS CAGR but did not provide updates on the specific $8 EPS goal for 2025 [58][59] Question: Margin performance between segments - Strong performance in Industrial Solutions was noted, while Smart Infrastructure experienced a sequential drop due to seasonal impacts [61][63] Question: Learnings from combined sales force - The transition to autonomous systems is seen as a multi-step journey, with customers increasingly seeking digitization and integration of IT and OT [66][68] Question: Free cash flow management - The focus remains on improving supply chain efficiency and managing working capital to enhance free cash flow margins [71][73]