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Externally managed BDCs face structural challenges, notably high fees and misaligned incentives, making them difficult portfolio inclusions. I favor internally managed BDCs for long-term value, but selectively own some external names as well. There could be two motives for owning external ones: 1) tactical trades (high risk, high retur) and 2) long-term income compounding.

I'm downgrading the Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund to a "Sell" due to rising non-accruals and deteriorating fundamentals. Q2 saw NII per share fall to $0.55 and non-accruals spike from 1.5% to 2.9%, driving a $0.31 NAV decline. Dividend coverage is thin, with base coverage at ~90% on a cash basis and limited prospects for sustainable growth.

The lion's share of BDC players has cut their dividends in the past 12-month period (especially, if we count in supplemental payments). For most BDCs that haven't done that yet, it is only a matter of time before they arrive at such a decision. Among these BDCs, we can also find so-called blue-chip BDCs that some investors view as truly durable income compounders.

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund NYSE: MSDL reported second-quarter net investment income of $38.2 million, or $0.45 per share, down from $0.47 per share in the prior quarter, as higher contributions from its Capstone joint venture were offset by new non-accruals and increased financing costs.

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript