Company Description
FS Credit Opportunities Corp. (NYSE: FSCO) is a closed-end management investment company in the financial services sector, focused on asset management and credit investing. According to its stated investment objectives, the fund seeks to generate an attractive total return made up of a high level of current income and capital appreciation, with a secondary objective of capital preservation. FS Credit Opportunities Corp. predominantly invests in a portfolio of secured and unsecured floating- and fixed-rate loans, bonds and other types of credit instruments, many of which are rated below investment grade or would be rated below investment grade if rated.
The fund’s approach centers on opportunistic and non-traditional credit. It invests in event-driven credit, special situations, private capital solutions and other non-traditional credit opportunities, as described in multiple company announcements. These strategies are intended to allow the fund to pursue income and total return in parts of the credit markets that may be less traditional or more complex than standard investment-grade corporate bonds.
FS Credit Opportunities Corp. has been described as having approximately $2.1–$2.2 billion in assets under management in recent company communications. The fund pays regular monthly cash distributions to common shareholders at a level rate that may be adjusted from time to time. Company disclosures emphasize that the amount of monthly distributions can be affected by numerous factors, including changes in portfolio and market conditions, and that shareholders receive Form 1099-DIV reporting for federal income tax purposes.
Investment strategy and portfolio focus
The fund’s stated primary investment objective is to generate a high level of current income and capital appreciation, with capital preservation as a secondary objective. To pursue these objectives, FS Credit Opportunities Corp. focuses on:
- Opportunistic Credit – targeting credit instruments where the manager believes there is potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns.
- Special Situations – investing in credits affected by corporate events or other idiosyncratic factors.
- Capital Structure Solutions and private capital solutions – providing or accessing customized credit across different parts of a company’s capital structure.
- Other non-traditional credit opportunities – allocating to credit assets that fall outside traditional investment-grade corporate or government bond markets.
The fund’s portfolio includes secured and unsecured loans and bonds, as well as other credit instruments. Company materials note that the credit instruments in which it invests are typically rated below investment grade by rating agencies or would be rated below investment grade if rated, which places the strategy within the broader below-investment-grade and opportunistic credit universe.
Structure, listing and governance
FS Credit Opportunities Corp. is organized as a closed-end management investment company. Its common stock, with a stated par value per share, is listed under the trading symbol FSCO on the New York Stock Exchange, as indicated in multiple Form 8-K filings. As a closed-end fund, it has a fixed number of shares outstanding that trade on the exchange, and it is subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The company is incorporated in Maryland, according to its SEC filings, and has disclosed a principal office location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is overseen by a board of directors whose members are elected by stockholders at annual meetings, as described in its proxy-related Form 8-K reporting on stockholder votes. The fund also issues and manages preferred stock, including term preferred share series with specified dividend rates, maturities and redemption terms, as outlined in its 8-K filings regarding preferred share issuances and redemptions.
Advisory relationships and platform
FS Credit Opportunities Corp. is advised by an investment adviser identified in SEC filings as FS Global Advisor, LLC. Company disclosures state that this adviser is wholly owned by the owner of the investment adviser to FS Specialty Lending Fund (FSSL) in connection with an equity total return swap transaction. In various press releases, FS Credit Opportunities Corp. is associated with FS Investments or Future Standard, described as global alternative asset managers that invest across private equity, credit and real estate and manage tens of billions of dollars in assets for institutional and private wealth clients. These descriptions highlight that FS Credit Opportunities Corp. is part of a broader alternative credit and private markets platform.
Within this platform, FS Credit Opportunities Corp. is positioned as a vehicle focused on credit opportunities, including event-driven and special situations credit. The fund’s adviser and related entities are described as having multi-decade experience in alternative investments and a focus on middle-market businesses and financial sponsors, though the specific portfolio holdings and counterparties of FS Credit Opportunities Corp. are detailed in its periodic reports and other regulatory filings rather than in the summarized materials provided here.
Distributions and income profile
FS Credit Opportunities Corp. pays regular monthly cash distributions to its common shareholders. Company announcements describe a level-rate distribution policy that may be adjusted over time. In several recent press releases, the fund has highlighted that its monthly distribution has been fully covered by its net investment income on a tax basis over certain periods, and that it has reported estimated total returns on net asset value and market price over specific time frames. These figures, while time-specific and subject to change, illustrate how the fund communicates its income generation and performance characteristics to investors.
The fund has also announced increases to its monthly distribution rate at times, citing strong income generation from select investments that outperformed expectations and emphasizing a disciplined, opportunistic investment approach. Company communications repeatedly note that distribution amounts can be influenced by portfolio performance, market conditions and other factors, and that investors should review the fund’s reports, prospectus (where applicable) and filings for a full discussion of risks, charges and expenses.
Capital structure and financing activities
In addition to its common stock, FS Credit Opportunities Corp. utilizes preferred shares as part of its capital structure. SEC filings describe the issuance of term preferred share series with specified dividend rates, liquidation preferences, maturities and redemption features. For example, the company has reported issuing term preferred shares that mature on defined future dates and may be redeemed at the company’s option, subject to conditions such as make-whole premiums. It has also reported plans to redeem certain outstanding term preferred share series, indicating active management of its financing arrangements.
The company has further disclosed entering into an equity total return swap referencing shares of FS Specialty Lending Fund. Under this arrangement, FS Credit Opportunities Corp. obtains the economic benefit of owning up to a specified notional amount of those shares in exchange for an interest-type payment to a swap counterparty. The swap includes provisions for collateral posting, dividend receipts and periodic floating-rate payments, all of which are described in detail in the relevant Form 8-K filing. The adviser has stated that it will not receive advisory fees under the company’s investment advisory agreement with respect to income received under this swap.
Risk considerations and regulatory reporting
As a closed-end fund investing primarily in below-investment-grade credit instruments and non-traditional credit opportunities, FS Credit Opportunities Corp. is exposed to credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk and other risks associated with its portfolio holdings and financing arrangements. Company communications emphasize that investors should carefully consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing, and direct investors to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR database and the fund’s own materials for detailed information.
FS Credit Opportunities Corp. files periodic and current reports with the SEC, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, which provide information on its financial condition, results of operations, portfolio composition, governance and material events. The company also makes available earnings presentations, recorded earnings calls and related materials through its investor relations channels, as described in its Form 8-K filings. These disclosures form a key part of the information set that investors and analysts use to evaluate FSCO stock and the fund’s performance over time.
FSCO stock: what investors monitor
Investors following FSCO stock typically focus on several recurring themes highlighted in the company’s communications and regulatory filings:
- The fund’s distribution level, coverage by net investment income and any changes to the monthly distribution rate.
- Portfolio strategy and exposure to event-driven credit, special situations, private capital solutions and other non-traditional credit opportunities.
- Capital structure decisions, including the issuance and redemption of term preferred shares and the use of derivatives such as total return swaps.
- Governance developments, such as board elections and changes in key officers, which are reported on Form 8-K.
- Updates provided through earnings calls, presentations and investor materials that discuss results of operations and financial condition.
Because FS Credit Opportunities Corp. is a regulated investment company whose shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange, its public disclosures and SEC filings are central to understanding its strategy, risk profile and distribution practices. Prospective and current investors in FSCO stock are encouraged, by the company itself, to review these materials carefully and to consider their own objectives and risk tolerance when evaluating the fund.