MSDL icon

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund

19.38 USD
+0.08
0.41%
At close Apr 24, 4:00 PM EDT
1 day
0.41%
5 days
1.73%
1 month
-6.10%
3 months
-6.78%
6 months
-1.22%
Year to date
-7.32%
1 year
-10.44%
5 years
-6.10%
10 years
-6.10%
 

About: Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund is a fund whose investment objective is to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns via current income and to a lesser extent, capital appreciation by investing predominantly in directly originated senior secured term loans issued by U.S. middle-market companies backed by private equity sponsors. It invests predominantly in directly originated senior secured term loans including first lien senior secured term loans including unitranche loans and second lien senior secured term loans, with the balance of the investments expected to be in higher-yielding assets such as mezzanine debt, unsecured debt, equity investments and other opportunistic asset purchases.

0
Funds holding %
of 7,419 funds
0
Analysts bullish %
of 5 analysts

Fund manager confidence

Based on 2024 Q4 regulatory disclosures by fund managers ($100M+ AUM)

775% more repeat investments, than reductions

Existing positions increased: 35 | Existing positions reduced: 4

457% more first-time investments, than exits

New positions opened: 39 | Existing positions closed: 7

56% more funds holding

Funds holding: 52 [Q3] → 81 (+29) [Q4]

29% more capital invested

Capital invested by funds: $334M [Q3] → $430M (+$96.1M) [Q4]

4.49% more ownership

Funds ownership: 18.9% [Q3] → 23.38% (+4.49%) [Q4]

0% more funds holding in top 10

Funds holding in top 10: 1 [Q3] → 1 (+0) [Q4]

86% less call options, than puts

Call options by funds: $343K | Put options by funds: $2.37M

Research analyst outlook

5 Wall Street Analysts provided 1 year price targets over the past 3 months

Low target
$19.50
1%
upside
Avg. target
$20
5%
upside
High target
$22
14%
upside

5 analyst ratings

positive
20%
neutral
80%
negative
0%
JP Morgan
Melissa Wedel
39% 1-year accuracy
7 / 18 met price target
1%upside
$19.50
Neutral
Maintained
24 Apr 2025
UBS
Doug Harter
100% 1-year accuracy
1 / 1 met price target
6%upside
$21
Neutral
Maintained
17 Apr 2025
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods
Ryan Lynch
33% 1-year accuracy
1 / 3 met price target
3%upside
$20
Market Perform
Maintained
8 Apr 2025
RBC Capital
Kenneth Lee
11% 1-year accuracy
6 / 54 met price target
14%upside
$22
Outperform
Reiterated
4 Mar 2025
Wells Fargo
Finian O'Shea
50% 1-year accuracy
22 / 44 met price target
3%upside
$20
Equal-Weight
Maintained
3 Mar 2025

Financial journalist opinion

Based on 16 articles about MSDL published over the past 30 days

Neutral
Seeking Alpha
23 hours ago
Investing In BDCs For Durable Income Amidst The Looming Recession
Rising non-accrual base is the BDC Achilles heel. The current economic conditions drive up the probability of that risk. Hence, the BDC income and NAV durability have become extremely important topics.
Investing In BDCs For Durable Income Amidst The Looming Recession
Negative
Seeking Alpha
3 days ago
The Dark Side Of BDC Investing
3 hidden risks that could cause your BDC income to get slashed overnight. Why top names may face sharp declines ahead. The only BDCs we are still buying at High Yield Investor are not the ones you may think.
The Dark Side Of BDC Investing
Positive
Seeking Alpha
4 days ago
High-Yield Investors Rejoice: 2 Growth-Oriented BDCs Attractive On The Price Drop
Market volatility offers dividend investors a chance to buy high-quality BDCs like Blackstone Secured Lending and Morgan Stanley Direct Lending at attractive prices. Despite recession fears, BXSL and MSDL's strong fundamentals, low non-performing loans, and robust liquidity make them appealing investment opportunities. BXSL's $28 price and MSDL's discount to NAV present attractive entry points, backed by well-known asset managers and growth-focused strategies.
High-Yield Investors Rejoice: 2 Growth-Oriented BDCs Attractive On The Price Drop
Positive
Seeking Alpha
5 days ago
Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund: Bet On Defensive Portfolio
Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund is a defensive BDC focusing on U.S.-based middle-market businesses with stable cash flows, low CAPEX, and diversified structures, mitigating operating risks. The portfolio's non-cyclical exposure and 96.5% first-lien debt investments ensure stability and priority in repayment, crucial during economic uncertainty. Despite trade war risks, MSDL's attractive valuation at ~0.92x Price-to-Book Value and solid income potential with a 10.5% regular DPS yield make it a compelling buy.
Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund: Bet On Defensive Portfolio
Negative
Seeking Alpha
5 days ago
BDC Weekly Review: Consequences Of The Trade War For BDCs
We take a look at the action in business development companies through the second week of April and highlight some of the key themes we are watching. BDCs experienced a 3% decline this week, with volatility at its highest since COVID; traded volumes matched COVID levels. The trade war and market meltdown are causing growth slowdowns and inflation, potentially leading to Fed rate cuts.
BDC Weekly Review: Consequences Of The Trade War For BDCs
Positive
Seeking Alpha
6 days ago
Morgan Stanley Direct Lending: 10% Yield And 114% Dividend Coverage Make It A Buy
Morgan Stanley Direct Lending offers a high yield backed by a conservatively managed portfolio, primarily composed of first-lien secured debt. MSDL benefits from Morgan Stanley's extensive sponsor relationships and charges a below-industry-standard management fee, enhancing its appeal for value and income investors. At a 7% discount to NAV, MSDL presents an attractive investment opportunity, offering a mix of high income and value in a volatile market.
Morgan Stanley Direct Lending: 10% Yield And 114% Dividend Coverage Make It A Buy
Negative
Seeking Alpha
1 week ago
BDC Weekly Review: BDCs Plunge On Macro Fears
We take a look at the action in business development companies through the first week of April and highlight some of the key themes we are watching. BDCs faced significant losses, with average returns around -9% on the week with valuations dropping below historical averages. Valuation uncertainty is high due to quarterly NAV declarations and systemic/idiosyncratic factors; estimated NAV drops are 2-3% from Q4 levels.
BDC Weekly Review: BDCs Plunge On Macro Fears
Positive
Seeking Alpha
1 week ago
A Big BDC Catalyst That Can Change The Game Dramatically
BDCs have been pushed into the (on average) ~19% discount territory. In my view, steep discounts are justified for the majority of the BDCs. Yet, for some (high-quality ones) the market has gone too far.
A Big BDC Catalyst That Can Change The Game Dramatically
Negative
Seeking Alpha
1 week ago
BDCs Are In Trouble, But In These Two I'm Increasing My Stakes
BDCs have performed worse than the S&P 500. It is logical since private credit is per definition a high-risk asset class. All in all, many BDCs are in trouble.
BDCs Are In Trouble, But In These Two I'm Increasing My Stakes
Negative
Seeking Alpha
2 weeks ago
Very Bad News For BDCs: How To Play President Trump's Tariff Volatility
The business development company, or BDC, sector's strong run appears to be coming to an end. The dividend party may be over, and I share one sector favorite whose dividend may surprisingly be in trouble. I also share one BDC, whose dividend remains relatively safe and its stock trades at a compelling valuation.
Very Bad News For BDCs: How To Play President Trump's Tariff Volatility
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