STOCK TITAN

Stellus Capital (NYSE: SCM) lifts Q2 NAV and secures new SBA funding capacity

(Moderate)
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation reported preliminary second-quarter 2026 results, including estimated U.S. GAAP net investment income of $0.25–$0.27 per share and net asset value of $12.76–$12.84 per share as of June 30, 2026. NAV per share rose $0.22–$0.30, or 1.8%–2.4%, from $12.54 as of March 31, 2026, driven mainly by net fair value appreciation and the accretive impact of equity repurchases, partly offset by dividends exceeding NII per share. The company estimates it generated an annualized return on equity of more than 17% for the quarter.

During the quarter, Stellus funded approximately $18 million of investments and received about $49 million of repayments, ending with a portfolio of $965–$975 million at fair value. Investments on non-accrual status comprised 5.4% of the portfolio at fair value and 8.5% at cost, with one portfolio company returning to accrual status and no new non-accrual additions.

Stellus received a U.S. Small Business Administration license for its third SBIC, allowing contribution of $125 million of equity and borrowings of up to $250 million in SBA‑guaranteed debentures, within a $475 million family-of-funds limit. The company repurchased 274,343 shares at a weighted average price of $8.88, for about $2.4 million, leaving approximately $17.6 million available under its $20.0 million program, expected to remain in effect until the earlier of March 2, 2027 or full utilization. Full second-quarter results are expected on August 10, 2026, with a conference call on August 11, 2026.

Positive

  • The company obtained an SBA license for its third SBIC, enabling up to $125 million of equity contributions and $250 million of SBA‑guaranteed debentures within a $475 million family-of-funds limit, adding sizable low-cost growth capital capacity.

Negative

  • None.

Filing Explained

The external manager was acquired June 22, while the quarter figures remain preliminary and may change in the June 30 Form 10-Q.

The company discloses that Stellus Capital Management, LLC, its external manager, was acquired by Ridgepost Capital, LLC on June 22, 2026; Ridgepost Capital, Inc. is identified as the parent and an NYSE-listed reporting company.

The quarter information remains preliminary: customary closing procedures, portfolio fair-value determinations, and third-party review are unfinished, and the company says reported figures could differ materially.

The specified resolution point is the company’s unaudited quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition Financial
Disclosure of earnings results, typically an earnings press release or preliminary financials.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Net investment income per share $0.25–$0.27 per share Preliminary estimate for second quarter ended June 30, 2026
NAV per share Q2 2026 $12.76–$12.84 per share Estimated as of June 30, 2026
NAV per share increase $0.22–$0.30 per share (1.8%–2.4%) Increase from $12.54 as of March 31, 2026
Annualized return on equity More than 17% Estimated for the second quarter of 2026
Portfolio fair value $965–$975 million Total investment portfolio at fair value after Q2 2026 activity
Non-accrual investments 5.4% FV; 8.5% cost Share of total portfolio on non-accrual as of June 30, 2026
Share repurchases Q2 2026 274,343 shares at $8.88; ~$2.4 million Repurchased under $20.0 million share repurchase program
SBIC license capacity $125M equity; $250M debentures; $475M limit Third SBIC license equity contribution, SBA debentures, and family-of-funds cap
net investment income financial
"including a preliminary estimate of U.S. GAAP net investment income of between $0.25"
Net investment income is the money an investor or fund actually keeps from its investments after subtracting the costs of running those investments (like management fees, interest, and losses). Think of it as your paycheck from owning assets: gross returns minus the bills needed to earn them. Investors watch it because it shows how profitable the investment activities are, influences dividend payouts and cash available for growth, and helps compare true performance across funds or companies.
net asset value financial
"The Company’s preliminary estimate of net asset value (“NAV”) per share as of June 30, 2026"
Net asset value is the total value of an investment fund's assets minus any liabilities, divided by the number of shares or units outstanding. It represents the per-share worth of the fund, similar to how the value of a house is determined by its total worth after debts are subtracted. Investors use it to gauge the true value of their holdings and to compare different investment options.
non-accrual status financial
"investments on non-accrual status comprised 5.4% of the total investment portfolio"
A loan or credit account is placed in non-accrual status when the lender stops recording expected interest income because the borrower is not making scheduled payments or repayment is doubtful. Think of it like a landlord who stops counting unpaid rent as future income once a tenant stops paying; it signals rising credit problems and potential losses. For investors, non-accrual levels indicate loan quality and can foreshadow write-downs, lower earnings, and increased risk to a lender’s balance sheet.
SBIC financial
"received a license from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for our third SBIC"
A Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) is a privately managed investment fund licensed and regulated by the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide financing to small businesses, often combining private capital with government-backed leverage. Think of it as a lender or investor that gets a government-supported boost to extend credit to smaller firms; investors care because this structure can open access to niche growth opportunities while changing the risk and return profile through regulatory oversight and government support.
business development company regulatory
"regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940"
A business development company is a publicly traded investment vehicle that lends to and buys stakes in smaller or privately held companies, acting like a combination of a lender, investor, and business partner. It matters to investors because BDCs offer the potential for higher regular income through dividends and diversified exposure to growing businesses, but they can also carry greater credit and liquidity risk than typical stocks or bonds—think higher-yielding but riskier income instruments.
Net investment income per share $0.25–$0.27
NAV per share $12.76–$12.84 Increase of $0.22–$0.30 per share, or 1.8%–2.4% from $12.54
Annualized return on equity More than 17%

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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FAQ

What preliminary Q2 2026 net investment income did Stellus Capital (SCM) report?

Stellus Capital estimated Q2 2026 U.S. GAAP net investment income of $0.25–$0.27 per share. This preliminary range reflects management’s current determinations and remains subject to quarter-end closing, valuation procedures, and third-party review before final figures are filed.

How did Stellus Capital (SCM) Q2 2026 NAV per share change from Q1?

Estimated Q2 2026 NAV per share is $12.76–$12.84, up $0.22–$0.30 from $12.54 on March 31, 2026. This represents an increase of 1.8%–2.4%, primarily from net fair value appreciation and accretive share repurchases.

What is Stellus Capital’s estimated return on equity for Q2 2026?

Stellus Capital estimates it generated an annualized return on equity of more than 17% for Q2 2026. This result is based on preliminary net investment income and NAV changes and may change after full quarter-end review and the Form 10-Q filing.

What are Stellus Capital’s Q2 2026 portfolio size and non-accrual levels?

The investment portfolio is estimated at $965–$975 million at fair value. Investments on non-accrual status comprised 5.4% of the portfolio at fair value and 8.5% at cost, with one portfolio company returning to accrual status and no new non-accruals.

What SBA license did Stellus Capital (SCM) receive in Q2 2026?

Stellus received a license for its third SBIC, allowing contribution of $125 million of equity and borrowings of up to $250 million in SBA‑guaranteed debentures, subject to a $475 million family-of-funds limit and applicable SBA regulations and policies.

How many shares did Stellus Capital repurchase in Q2 2026 and what capacity remains?

Under its repurchase program, Stellus bought back 274,343 shares at a weighted average price of $8.88, totaling about $2.4 million. Roughly $17.6 million of capacity remained under the $20.0 million authorization as of June 30, 2026.

When will Stellus Capital (SCM) release full Q2 2026 results and hold its call?

Stellus plans to release full Q2 2026 financial results on August 10, 2026, after market close. A conference call follows on August 11, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, accessible by phone and live webcast via the company’s website.
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): July 29, 2026

 

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Maryland 814-00971 46-0937320

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

   
4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200
Houston
, Texas
  77027
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (713) 292-5400

 

Not applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 

Title of each class

Trading
Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share SCM New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨  

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On July 29, 2026, the Stellus Capital Investment Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing certain preliminary estimates of its financial condition and results of operations for its fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2026, as well as other information. A copy of such press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The information disclosed herein, including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, shall be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and shall be deemed incorporated by reference into the Company’s filings made under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; provided, however, that information contained on the Company’s website referred to in the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is not incorporated by reference herein or in Exhibit 99.1 and is not a part of this Form 8-K or Exhibit 99.1.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit Number   Description
     
99.1   Press release, dated July 29, 2026
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: July 29, 2026 Stellus Capital Investment Corporation
   
  By: /s/ W. Todd Huskinson
    Name: W. Todd Huskinson
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation Reports Preliminary Results for its Second Fiscal Quarter Ended June 30, 2026 

 

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation Schedules Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results Conference Call

 

Houston, Texas, July 29, 2026 (PR Newswire) – Stellus Capital Investment Corporation (NYSE:SCM) (“Stellus”, “we”, or the “Company”) today announced preliminary financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2026.

 

 

Robert T. Ladd, Chief Executive Officer of Stellus, stated, “I am pleased to report operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, including a preliminary estimate of U.S. GAAP net investment income of between $0.25 and $0.27 per share. During the quarter, we funded approximately $18 million of investments and received approximately $49 million of repayments, resulting in a total portfolio between $965 million and $975 million at fair value.”

 

Preliminary Estimates of Second Quarter 2026 Results

 

The Company’s preliminary estimate of second quarter 2026 net investment income (“NII”) is $0.25 to $0.27 per share. The Company’s preliminary estimate of net asset value (“NAV”) per share as of June 30, 2026, is $12.76 to $12.84, representing an increase of $0.22 to $0.30 per share, or 1.8% to 2.4%, from the NAV per share of $12.54 as of March 31, 2026. The estimated NAV per share increase is primarily due to the net fair value appreciation on the investment portfolio and the accretive impact of equity repurchases, partially offset by dividends per share paid in the second quarter in excess of NII per share. As a result, the Company estimates that it generated an annualized return on equity of more than 17% for the second quarter of 2026. The Company estimates that investments on non-accrual status comprised 5.4% of the total investment portfolio at fair value and 8.5% at cost as of June 30, 2026. During the quarter, loans to one portfolio company were returned to accrual status, and there were no additions to non-accrual status.

 

Notable Events in Second Quarter 2026

 

On July 14, 2026, we received a license from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for our third SBIC which allows us to contribute $125 million of equity and draw up to $250 million of SBA-guaranteed debentures, subject to the increased family of funds limit of $475 million across all of our SBIC subsidiaries and applicable SBA regulations and policies. Our partnership with the SBA is an important part of our capital structure and provides long-term, low-cost growth capital for our business.

 

Pursuant to the Company's share repurchase program approved by its Board of Directors, during the second quarter of 2026, the Company repurchased 274,343 shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of $8.88 per share, representing an aggregate investment of approximately $2.4 million. As of June 30, 2026, approximately $17.6 million remained available for repurchases under the Company's authorized $20.0 million share repurchase program. The Company currently expects the repurchase program to remain in effect until the earlier of March 2, 2027 or the repurchase of $20.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock.

 

Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Release and Conference Call Schedule

 

The Company will release its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026 on Monday, August 10, 2026, after the close of the stock market.

 

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation will host a conference call to discuss these results on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM, Central Time. The conference call will be led by Robert T. Ladd, Chief Executive Officer, and W. Todd Huskinson, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary.

 

 

 

 

Conference Call Details

 

Via Phone: Dial 888-506-0062 (domestic). Use passcode 218557. Starting approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call, a replay will be available through Tuesday, August 25, 2026 by dialing 877-481-4010 and entering passcode 54324.

 

Via Live Webcast: Connect via the Public Company (SCIC) section of our website at www.stelluscapital.com, under the Events tab. A replay of the conference will be available on our website for approximately 90 days.

 

About Stellus Capital Investment Corporation

 

The Company is an externally-managed, closed-end, non-diversified investment management company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Company’s investment objective is to maximize the total return to its stockholders in the form of current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in private middle-market companies (typically those with $5.0 million to $50.0 million of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)) through first lien, second lien, unitranche and mezzanine debt financing, and corresponding equity investments. The Company’s investment activities are managed by its investment adviser, Stellus Capital Management, LLC. To learn more about Stellus Capital Investment Corporation, visit www.stelluscapital.com under the Stellus Capital Investment Corporation link. Stellus Capital Management, LLC was acquired by Ridgepost Capital, LLC on June 22, 2026. Ridgepost Capital, LLC’s parent company, Ridgepost Capital, Inc., is a reporting company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Please reference Ridgepost Capital, Inc.’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The Company cautions that statements in this press release which are forward-looking and provide other than historical information, including but not limited to the preliminary estimates of second quarter 2026 financial information and results, are based on current conditions and information available to the Company as of the date hereof. Although its management believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to be correct. Those forward-looking statements are made based on various underlying assumptions and are subject to numerous uncertainties and risks, including, without limitation, such factors described under the captions “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (www.sec.gov).

 

The Company undertakes no obligation to update the information contained herein to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances, except as required by applicable securities laws and regulations. The preliminary estimates of second quarter 2026 financial information and results furnished above are based on the Company’s management’s preliminary determinations and current expectations, and such information is inherently uncertain. The preliminary estimates provided herein have been prepared by, and are the responsibility of, management and are subject to completion of the Company’s customary quarter-end closing and review procedures and third-party review, including the determination of the fair value of the Company’s portfolio investments. As a result, actual results could differ materially from the current preliminary estimates based on adjustments made during the Company’s quarter-end closing and review procedures and third-party review, and the Company’s reported information in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 may differ from this information, and any such differences may be material. In addition, the information furnished above does not include all of the information regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 that may be important to readers. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the information furnished in this press release and should view this information in the context of the Company’s full second quarter 2026 results when such results are disclosed by the Company in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. The information furnished in this press release is based on the Company’s management’s current expectations that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, such information.

 

Contacts

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation

W. Todd Huskinson, (713) 292-5414

Chief Financial Officer

thuskinson@stelluscapital.com

 

 

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Filing Exhibits & Attachments

4 documents