FDUS vs SLRC

For growth investors, Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) is the stronger pick with 40.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 24. 8% for SLR Investment Corp. (SLRC). Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) offers the better valuation at 8. 3x trailing P/E (9. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) a "Buy" — based on 12 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) is the cheapest at 8.

3x versus SLR Investment Corp. at 9. 4x. On forward P/E, Fidus Investment Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: SLR Investment Corp. wins at 0. 28x versus Fidus Investment Corporation's 0. 76x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) delivered a total return of +80.

2%, compared to +30. 0% for SLR Investment Corp. (SLRC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FDUS returned +145. 4% versus SLRC's +75. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

67β versus SLR Investment Corp. 's 0. 76β — meaning SLRC is approximately 13% more volatile than FDUS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 115% for SLR Investment Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) is pulling ahead at 40.

1% versus 24. 8% for SLR Investment Corp. (SLRC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Fidus Investment Corporation grew EPS -3. 3% year-over-year, compared to -3. 4% for SLR Investment Corp.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) is the more profitable company, earning 51.

7% net margin versus 42. 0% for SLR Investment Corp. — meaning it keeps 51. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FDUS leads at 76. 1% versus 72. 9% for SLRC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SLRC leads at 73. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, SLR Investment Corp. (SLRC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 28x versus Fidus Investment Corporation's 0. 76x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) trades at 9. 5x forward P/E versus 9. 9x for SLR Investment Corp. — 0. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) offers the highest yield at 11. 1%, versus 10. 3% for SLR Investment Corp. (SLRC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

67), 11. 1% yield, +145. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FDUS: +145. 4%, SLRC: +75. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.