BCSF
Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc.
Asset Management
Market Cap$896M
5Y Perf.+28.7%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
BCSF vs CGBD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CGBD
Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.
Asset Management
Market Cap$859M
5Y Perf.+32.2%
BCSF vs CGBD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | BCSF | CGBD |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Asset Management | Asset Management |
| Market Cap | $896M | $859M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $213M | $168M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $93M | $74M |
| Gross Margin | 64.9% | 59.2% |
| Operating Margin | 58.2% | 54.7% |
| Forward P/E | 8.5x | 8.1x |
| Total Debt | $1.39B | $968M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $54M | $30M |
BCSF vs CGBD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
BCSF
CGBD
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bain Capital Specia… (BCSF) | 100 | 128.7 | +28.7% |
| Carlyle Secured Len… (CGBD) | 100 | 132.2 | +32.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BCSF vs CGBD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CGBD leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
BCSF
Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc.
The Banking Pick
BCSF is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.73, yield 12.8%
- Rev growth -2.3%, EPS growth -3.1%
- NIM 5.6% vs CGBD's 5.4%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
CGBD
Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.
The Banking Pick
CGBD carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 47.8% 10Y total return vs BCSF's 43.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.61, current ratio 2.67x
- Beta 0.61, yield 0.2%, current ratio 2.67x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BCSF | -2.3% NII/revenue growth vs CGBD's -2.9% |
| Value | CGBD | Lower P/E (8.1x vs 8.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | CGBD | Efficiency ratio 0.0% vs BCSF's 0.1% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | CGBD | Beta 0.61 vs BCSF's 0.73, lower leverage |
| Dividends | BCSF | 12.8% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs CGBD's 0.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | BCSF | +6.7% vs CGBD's -1.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CGBD | Efficiency ratio 0.0% vs BCSF's 0.1% |
BCSF vs CGBD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLBCSFLAGGINGCGBD
CGBDCarlyle Secured Lendi…
0leads
BCSFBain Capital Specialt…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CGBDMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
BCSF3/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
BCSF5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
BCSF4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
BCSF2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BCSF leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BCSF and CGBD operate at a comparable scale, with $213M and $168M in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 56.1% (BCSF) to 53.0% (CGBD).
| Metric | BCSFBain Capital Spec… | CGBDCarlyle Secured L… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $213M | $168M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $97M | $76M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $93M | $74M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $88M | -$53M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +64.9% | +59.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +58.2% | +54.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +56.1% | +53.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +52.9% | +62.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -43.1% | -5.7% |
BCSF leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — BCSF and CGBD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.5x trailing earnings, CGBD trades at a 0% valuation discount to BCSF's 7.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BCSF's 18.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CGBD's 19.6x.
| Metric | BCSFBain Capital Spec… | CGBDCarlyle Secured L… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $896M | $859M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.2B | $1.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.46x | 7.46x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.54x | 8.13x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.82x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.02x | 19.59x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.21x | 5.12x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.78x | 0.73x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 7.96x | 8.24x |
Evenly matched — BCSF and CGBD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BCSF leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BCSF delivers a 8.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $6 for CGBD. CGBD carries lower financial leverage with a 1.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BCSF's 1.22x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CGBD scores 6/9 vs BCSF's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | BCSFBain Capital Spec… | CGBDCarlyle Secured L… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.3% | +6.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.4% | +2.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.8% | +3.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.0% | +4.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.22x | 1.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.3B | $938M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $54M | $30M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.4B | $968M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.19x | 0.95x |
BCSF leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
BCSF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CGBD five years ago would be worth $14,846 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,738 for BCSF. Over the past 12 months, BCSF leads with a +6.7% total return vs CGBD's -1.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BCSF at 18.8% vs CGBD's 8.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BCSFBain Capital Spec… | CGBDCarlyle Secured L… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.9% | -2.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +6.7% | -1.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +67.5% | +26.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +37.4% | +48.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +43.1% | +47.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.8% | +8.0% |
BCSF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — BCSF and CGBD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CGBD is the less volatile stock with a 0.61 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BCSF's 0.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BCSF currently trades 86.3% from its 52-week high vs CGBD's 81.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BCSFBain Capital Spec… | CGBDCarlyle Secured L… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.73x | 0.61x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $16.00 | $14.49 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.82 | $10.61 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.3% | +81.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.8 | 57.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 498K | 785K |
Evenly matched — BCSF and CGBD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
BCSF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BCSF as "Hold" and CGBD as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 27.3% upside for CGBD (target: $15) vs 1.4% for BCSF (target: $14). For income investors, BCSF offers the higher dividend yield at 12.82% vs CGBD's 0.19%.
| Metric | BCSFBain Capital Spec… | CGBDCarlyle Secured L… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.00 | $15.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 7 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +12.8% | +0.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.77 | $0.02 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
BCSF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
BCSF leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
Best OverallBain Capital Specialty Fina… (BCSF)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
BCSF vs CGBD: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BCSF or CGBD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc.
(BCSF) is the stronger pick with -2. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 9% for Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (CGBD). Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (CGBD) offers the better valuation at 7. 5x trailing P/E (8. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. (BCSF) a "Hold" — based on 8 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.
02Which has the better valuation — BCSF or CGBD?
On trailing P/E, Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.
(CGBD) is the cheapest at 7. 5x versus Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. at 7. 5x. On forward P/E, Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BCSF or CGBD?
Over the past 5 years, Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.
(CGBD) delivered a total return of +48. 5%, compared to +37. 4% for Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. (BCSF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CGBD returned +47. 8% versus BCSF's +43. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — BCSF or CGBD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.
(CGBD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 61β versus Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. 's 0. 73β — meaning BCSF is approximately 20% more volatile than CGBD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (CGBD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 107% versus 122% for Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — BCSF or CGBD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc.
(BCSF) is pulling ahead at -2. 3% versus -2. 9% for Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (CGBD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. grew EPS -3. 1% year-over-year, compared to -3. 7% for Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — BCSF or CGBD?
Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc.
(BCSF) is the more profitable company, earning 56. 1% net margin versus 53. 0% for Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. — meaning it keeps 56. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BCSF leads at 58. 2% versus 54. 7% for CGBD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BCSF leads at 64. 9%, 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.
07Is BCSF or CGBD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.
(CGBD) trades at 8. 1x forward P/E versus 8. 5x for Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. — 0. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CGBD: 27. 3% to $15. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — BCSF or CGBD?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. (BCSF) offers the highest yield at 12. 8%, versus 0. 2% for Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (CGBD).
09Is BCSF or CGBD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc.
(BCSF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 73), 12. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BCSF: +43. 1%, CGBD: +47. 8%), 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.
10What are the main differences between BCSF and CGBD?
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.
BCSF pays a dividend while CGBD does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(BCSF: -2.3% · CGBD: -2.9%)Net Margin>
%
(BCSF: 56.1% · CGBD: 53.0%)P/E Ratio<
x
(BCSF: 7.5x · CGBD: 7.5x)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.