Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. (NYSE:TSLX) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. (NYSE:TSLX) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the six research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $22.33.

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH downgraded Sixth Street Specialty Lending from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $23.00 price target on shares of Sixth Street Specialty Lending in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Sixth Street Specialty Lending from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on shares of Sixth Street Specialty Lending from $23.00 to $21.50 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 7th.

Sixth Street Specialty Lending Price Performance

Shares of TSLX opened at $22.97 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.50, a current ratio of 2.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. Sixth Street Specialty Lending has a twelve month low of $19.50 and a twelve month high of $23.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a 50 day moving average of $21.54 and a 200-day moving average of $21.00.

Sixth Street Specialty Lending (NYSE:TSLX) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The financial services provider reported $0.61 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.04. Sixth Street Specialty Lending had a net margin of 39.05% and a return on equity of 13.55%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Sixth Street Specialty Lending will post 2.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sixth Street Specialty Lending Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a $0.07 dividend. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This is a boost from Sixth Street Specialty Lending’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.05. Sixth Street Specialty Lending’s dividend payout ratio is 90.64%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sixth Street Specialty Lending

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Trust Co. of Vermont acquired a new stake in shares of Sixth Street Specialty Lending during the 4th quarter worth about $39,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Sixth Street Specialty Lending by 25.3% in the 4th quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 2,302 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 465 shares during the period. Quarry LP lifted its position in Sixth Street Specialty Lending by 378.3% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 4,094 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $84,000 after acquiring an additional 3,238 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Sixth Street Specialty Lending by 13.3% during the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 4,673 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $100,000 after acquiring an additional 550 shares during the period. Finally, Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Sixth Street Specialty Lending in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $109,000. 70.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Sixth Street Specialty Lending Company Profile

Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc (NYSE: TSLX) is a business development company. The fund provides senior secured loans (first-lien, second-lien, and unitranche), unsecured loans, mezzanine debt, and investments in corporate bonds and equity securities and structured products, non-control structured equity, and common equity with a focus on co-investments for organic growth, acquisitions, market or product expansion, restructuring initiatives, recapitalizations, and refinancing.