The Benefits of Investing in Business Development Companies

DISCLAIMER - I am not a Financial Advisor and do not work for any Brokerage Firm. The opinions given are my own and are not to be used as professional advice. These are my findings and can hopefully help you to make informed decisions on investing. Consult a Broker or Lawyer before making any investment.

As we plan out how to invest our money to get our maximum returns, we need to make use of a special group of stocks making up the REITs category. If you do not have some money invested in Real Estate, this is a very effective method to make money. We did an article explaining REITS a while back. Read about Reits here.

Today we are going to talk briefly about Business Development Companies. Many of these are tied to Reits, but they also provide capital for other business uses besides Real Estate.

What Are Business Development Companies (BDCs)?

A business development company (BDC) is an organization that invests in small and medium-sized companies as well as distressed companies. A BDC helps these firms grow in the initial stages of their development. With distressed businesses, the BDC helps the companies regain sound financial footing.

Similar to closed-end investment funds, many BDCs are public companies whose shares trade on major stock exchanges, such as the American Stock Exchange (AMEX), Nasdaq, and others. As investments, they are high-risk but offer higher rewards.

I try to find solid companies that provide financing that is being sold at a discount and also show dividends of 8% or more.

BDCs are much like private equity funds for small businesses. While private equity funds tend to be restricted to high-net-worth and institutional investors, Block Development Companies are publicly traded on the stock market and available to anyone with a brokerage account. What is even greater, is they are transparent and easy to research. Like all stocks, these may or may not go up in price. However BDCs do normally pay dividends, and those are the ones I try to buy.

Business Development Companies make debt and equity investments primarily to small or mid-size companies. They are very much like REITs in how they perform. BDCs were created by congress to encourage investing in the real economy. They benefit from having preferential tax treatment as they pay no income tax as long as they pay out at least 90% of their net income to investors.

BDCs and Reits are two of the best dividend stocks regarding yields. By not having to pay income tax, they can pass on higher returns to the shareholders.

I encourage you to read more about Business Development Companies and consider purchasing some of them to round out your complete portfolio.

I read a good article this past week recommending what they considered 5 of the best BDCs. All were good, and I purchased 4 of the 5. (All are doing well by the way.) You might look at these. Be aware here in March we are having a roller coaster ride on the stock market, so buy on down days if you decide to buy. Every dollar you buy at a discount is more money that should return to you as the stock comes back to the normal range. I try to never buy when a stock is near its 52-week high.

Business Development Companies to consider.

MAIN – Main Street Capital. It pays a monthly dividend and is considered the blue-chip BDC. They provide financing to middle-market companies, typically with $10 million to $150 million in yearly revenue.

ARCC – Ares Capital. They are the world's largest BDC with over $10 billion of capitalization. ARCC is well diversified with money in Software, Healthcare, and various Professional services with no more than 7% in any one sector.

ORCC – Owl Rock Capital - A newcomer in DBC stocks which just started trading in 2019. They have paid a steady stream of income dividends with current rate above 9%. They are well diversified in thier portfolio with mainly software, insurance, and food and beverage companies.

HTGC – Hercules Capital. Hercules acts more like a venture capital company. HTGC is the largest BDC focused on venture capital financing. Currently showing a 9.7% rate of return.

TPVG – Triple-Point Venture Growth BDC Corp. They are the smallest of the BDCs mentioned here today. They have a market cap of $441 million and are a bit more speculative than the others mentioned. Triple Point’s portfolio is mainly invested in debt instruments, mainly floating-rate instruments.

The Benefits of Investing in Business Development Companies

Business Development Companies (BDCs) are investment vehicles that offer attractive long-term dividend returns to investors. These companies are designed to pay out the majority of their income to shareholders, making them an appealing option for those seeking regular income and potential capital appreciation.

Understanding Business Development Companies

There are multiple types of BDCs, each with its own unique characteristics and investment strategies. However, they all share the common goal of providing financing and support to small and mid-sized businesses.

One of the main advantages of investing in BDCs is their ability to generate consistent income. BDCs typically invest in a diversified portfolio of debt and equity securities issued by private companies. By providing capital to these businesses, BDCs can earn interest income and potentially participate in the growth of the companies they invest in.

Long-Term Dividend Returns

One of the key attractions of BDCs is their ability to generate attractive dividend yields. Due to their structure as regulated investment companies (RICs), BDCs are required to distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders in the form of dividends.

These dividends can provide a steady stream of income for investors, making BDCs particularly appealing for income-focused investors such as retirees or those seeking regular cash flow. Furthermore, the dividend income from BDCs is often treated as qualified dividends, which may be subject to a lower tax rate.

Additionally, BDCs have the potential for capital appreciation. As the companies in their portfolios grow and succeed, the value of their investments can increase, leading to potential capital gains for shareholders.

Diversification and Risk Management

Investing in BDCs can also provide diversification benefits. BDCs typically invest in a wide range of industries and sectors, spreading the risk across multiple companies. This diversification can help mitigate the impact of individual company failures and provide a more stable overall return.

However, it's important to note that investing in BDCs does come with risks. The performance of BDCs can be influenced by various factors, including the overall economic conditions, interest rates, and the credit quality of the companies they invest in. Investors should carefully evaluate the financial health and track record of the BDC before making an investment decision.

Conclusion

Business Development Companies offer a compelling investment opportunity for those seeking long-term dividend returns. With their focus on income generation, potential capital appreciation, and diversification benefits, BDCs can be a valuable addition to an investor's portfolio. However, as with any investment, it's important to conduct thorough research and seek professional advice to ensure that BDCs align with your investment goals and risk tolerance.

All of these listed are just examples of Business Development Companies. Don’t buy them based on reading about them here, but study and be sure they make good sense for your investment portfolio. I think everyone can gain by having a fully diversified portfolio, and that means a combination of Full Market Stock Indexes, Bonds, CDs, Dividend Growth Stocks, Preferred Stocks, Reits, and Business Development Companies. We have articles on all of these in the link below on Investment Articles.

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