FDUS
Fidus Investment Corporation
Asset Management
Market Cap$705M
5Y Perf.+94.8%
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Stock Comparison
FDUS vs CSWC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CSWC
Capital Southwest Corporation
Asset Management
Market Cap$1.44B
5Y Perf.+73.0%
FDUS vs CSWC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | FDUS | CSWC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Asset Management | Asset Management |
| Market Cap | $705M | $1.44B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $159M | $164M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $82M | $103M |
| Gross Margin | 72.6% | 66.5% |
| Operating Margin | 76.1% | 48.5% |
| Forward P/E | 9.2x | 10.1x |
| Total Debt | $231M | $956M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $70M | $43M |
FDUS vs CSWC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
FDUS
CSWC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fidus Investment Co… (FDUS) | 100 | 194.8 | +94.8% |
| Capital Southwest C… (CSWC) | 100 | 173.0 | +73.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FDUS vs CSWC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: FDUS leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Capital Southwest Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
FDUS
Fidus Investment Corporation
The Banking Pick
FDUS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.67, yield 11.4%
- Rev growth 40.1%, EPS growth -3.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.67, Low D/E 31.1%, current ratio 25.62x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
CSWC
Capital Southwest Corporation
The Banking Pick
CSWC is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 231.6% 10Y total return vs FDUS's 143.6%
- +33.7% vs FDUS's +9.9%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | FDUS | 40.1% NII/revenue growth vs CSWC's 7.7% |
| Value | FDUS | Lower P/E (9.2x vs 10.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | FDUS | 51.7% margin vs CSWC's 43.1% |
| Stability / Safety | FDUS | Beta 0.67 vs CSWC's 0.84, lower leverage |
| Dividends | FDUS | 11.4% yield, vs CSWC's 10.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CSWC | +33.7% vs FDUS's +9.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | FDUS | 6.3% ROA vs CSWC's 4.8%, ROIC 8.6% vs 3.5% |
FDUS vs CSWC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLFDUSLAGGINGCSWC
CSWCCapital Southwest Cor…
1leads
FDUSFidus Investment Corp…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CSWCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
FDUS4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
FDUS5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
FDUS9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CSWC5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FDUS leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CSWC and FDUS operate at a comparable scale, with $164M and $159M in trailing revenue. FDUS is the more profitable business, keeping 51.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CSWC's 43.1%.
| Metric | FDUSFidus Investment … | CSWCCapital Southwest… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $159M | $164M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $120M | $142M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $82M | $103M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$147M | -$69M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +72.6% | +66.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +76.1% | +48.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +51.7% | +43.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -92.3% | -132.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.8% | +113.3% |
FDUS leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
FDUS leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 8.0x trailing earnings, FDUS trades at a 51% valuation discount to CSWC's 16.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, FDUS's 7.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CSWC's 27.6x.
| Metric | FDUSFidus Investment … | CSWCCapital Southwest… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $705M | $1.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $866M | $2.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.01x | 16.46x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.24x | 10.14x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.63x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.20x | 27.57x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.43x | 8.78x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.89x | 1.40x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
FDUS leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
FDUS leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
FDUS delivers a 11.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $10 for CSWC. FDUS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.31x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CSWC's 1.08x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FDUS scores 5/9 vs CSWC's 1/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | FDUSFidus Investment … | CSWCCapital Southwest… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.7% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.3% | +4.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.6% | +3.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.5% | +4.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 1 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.31x | 1.08x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $161M | $913M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $70M | $43M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $231M | $956M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.40x | 2.91x |
FDUS leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CSWC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in FDUS five years ago would be worth $17,090 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,214 for CSWC. Over the past 12 months, CSWC leads with a +33.7% total return vs FDUS's +9.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CSWC at 20.9% vs FDUS's 11.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FDUSFidus Investment … | CSWCCapital Southwest… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -2.2% | +12.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +9.9% | +33.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +39.8% | +76.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +70.9% | +52.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +143.6% | +231.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.8% | +20.9% |
CSWC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — FDUS and CSWC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FDUS is the less volatile stock with a 0.67 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CSWC's 0.84 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CSWC currently trades 99.0% from its 52-week high vs FDUS's 84.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | FDUSFidus Investment … | CSWCCapital Southwest… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.67x | 0.84x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $22.09 | $24.43 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $16.86 | $19.37 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +84.1% | +99.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.0 | 66.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 299K | 666K |
Evenly matched — FDUS and CSWC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — FDUS and CSWC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FDUS as "Buy" and CSWC as "Buy". For income investors, FDUS offers the higher dividend yield at 11.45% vs CSWC's 10.12%.
| Metric | FDUSFidus Investment … | CSWCCapital Southwest… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $22.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +11.4% | +10.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.13 | $2.45 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — FDUS and CSWC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
FDUS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). CSWC leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallFidus Investment Corporation (FDUS)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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FDUS vs CSWC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FDUS or CSWC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) is the stronger pick with 40.
1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 7% for Capital Southwest Corporation (CSWC). Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) offers the better valuation at 8. 0x trailing P/E (9. 2x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — FDUS or CSWC?
On trailing P/E, Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) is the cheapest at 8.
0x versus Capital Southwest Corporation at 16. 5x. On forward P/E, Fidus Investment Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FDUS or CSWC?
Over the past 5 years, Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) delivered a total return of +70.
9%, compared to +52. 1% for Capital Southwest Corporation (CSWC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CSWC returned +231. 6% versus FDUS's +143. 6%. 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 — FDUS or CSWC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
67β versus Capital Southwest Corporation's 0. 84β — meaning CSWC is approximately 24% 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 108% for Capital Southwest Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — FDUS or CSWC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) is pulling ahead at 40.
1% versus 7. 7% for Capital Southwest Corporation (CSWC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Fidus Investment Corporation grew EPS -3. 3% year-over-year, compared to -28. 3% for Capital Southwest Corporation. 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 — FDUS or CSWC?
Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) is the more profitable company, earning 51.
7% net margin versus 43. 1% for Capital Southwest Corporation — 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 48. 5% for CSWC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FDUS leads at 72. 6%, 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 FDUS or CSWC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) trades at 9.
2x forward P/E versus 10. 1x for Capital Southwest Corporation — 0. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — FDUS or CSWC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Fidus Investment Corporation (FDUS) offers the highest yield at 11. 4%, versus 10. 1% for Capital Southwest Corporation (CSWC).
09Is FDUS or CSWC better for a retirement portfolio?
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. 4% yield, +143. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FDUS: +143. 6%, CSWC: +231. 6%), 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 FDUS and CSWC?
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.
In terms of investment character: FDUS is a small-cap high-growth stock; CSWC is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(FDUS: 40.1% · CSWC: 7.7%)Net Margin>
%
(FDUS: 51.7% · CSWC: 43.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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