Oaktree Specialty Lending (NASDAQ:OCSL) Upgraded by Zacks Research to Hold Rating

Key Points

• Oaktree Specialty Lending has been upgraded by Zacks Research from a "strong sell" to a "hold" rating, while Weiss Ratings also maintains a "hold (c-)" rating.
• The stock currently has an average target price of $15.00 based on ratings from nine equities research analysts.
• In its most recent quarterly earnings report, Oaktree reported an EPS of $0.37, which was below the consensus estimate of $0.45, and had a revenue of $75.27 million, missing expectations of $79.14 million.

Oaktree Specialty Lending (NASDAQ:OCSL - Get Free Report) was upgraded by stock analysts at Zacks Research from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a note issued to investors on Thursday,Zacks.com reports.

Separately, Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c-)" rating on shares of Oaktree Specialty Lending in a research note on Wednesday. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $15.00.

Oaktree Specialty Lending Price Performance

Shares of Oaktree Specialty Lending stock opened at $12.60 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 0.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. Oaktree Specialty Lending has a twelve month low of $12.44 and a twelve month high of $16.66. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $13.43 and a 200 day moving average price of $13.91. The firm has a market cap of $1.11 billion, a PE ratio of 22.50 and a beta of 0.66.

Oaktree Specialty Lending (NASDAQ:OCSL - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 5th. The credit services provider reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.45 by ($0.08). Oaktree Specialty Lending had a return on equity of 10.94% and a net margin of 13.84%.The firm had revenue of $75.27 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $79.14 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.55 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Oaktree Specialty Lending will post 2.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Private Management Group Inc. raised its position in Oaktree Specialty Lending by 10.1% in the second quarter. Private Management Group Inc. now owns 2,406,670 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $32,875,000 after purchasing an additional 221,664 shares during the period. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR raised its position in Oaktree Specialty Lending by 74.2% in the second quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR now owns 1,888,566 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $25,798,000 after purchasing an additional 804,422 shares during the period. Claret Asset Management Corp raised its position in Oaktree Specialty Lending by 11.8% in the second quarter. Claret Asset Management Corp now owns 1,700,738 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $23,232,000 after purchasing an additional 179,563 shares during the period. Melia Wealth LLC raised its position in Oaktree Specialty Lending by 12.6% in the second quarter. Melia Wealth LLC now owns 990,458 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $13,530,000 after purchasing an additional 110,938 shares during the period. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. raised its position in Oaktree Specialty Lending by 298.9% in the second quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 626,324 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $8,556,000 after purchasing an additional 469,328 shares during the period. 36.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Oaktree Specialty Lending Company Profile

Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation is a business development company. The fund specializing in investments in middle market, bridge financing, first and second lien debt financing, unsecured and mezzanine loan, mezzanine debt, senior and junior secured debt, expansions, sponsor-led acquisitions, preferred equity, and management buyouts in small and mid-sized companies.

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