LIEN vs REFI vs TPVG vs SUNS vs CSWC

For growth investors, Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) is the stronger pick with 202. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 7% for Capital Southwest Corporation (CSWC). TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. (TPVG) offers the better valuation at 4. 9x trailing P/E (6. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. (REFI) a "Buy" — based on 6 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, TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp.

(TPVG) is the cheapest at 4. 9x versus Capital Southwest Corporation at 16. 3x. On forward P/E, Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Capital Southwest Corporation (CSWC) delivered a total return of +51.

4%, compared to -13. 5% for TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. (TPVG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CSWC returned +234. 2% versus SUNS's -10. 5%. 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), Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 13β versus Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. 's 0. 86β — meaning SUNS is approximately 576% more volatile than LIEN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc. (LIEN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 133% for TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) is pulling ahead at 202. 2% versus 7. 7% for Capital Southwest Corporation (CSWC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc. grew EPS 57. 0% 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.

Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) is the more profitable company, earning 61. 3% net margin versus 43. 1% for Capital Southwest Corporation — meaning it keeps 61. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TPVG leads at 77. 9% versus 48. 5% for CSWC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SUNS leads at 90. 7%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) trades at 6. 4x forward P/E versus 10. 1x for Capital Southwest Corporation — 3. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SUNS: 97. 8% to $15. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. (REFI) offers the highest yield at 100. 0%, versus 1. 0% for Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc. (LIEN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 13), 1. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIEN: -3. 9%, SUNS: -10. 5%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (LIEN (Financial Services) and REFI (Real Estate) and TPVG (Financial Services) and SUNS (Real Estate) and CSWC (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: LIEN is a small-cap high-growth stock; REFI is a small-cap high-growth stock; TPVG is a small-cap high-growth stock; SUNS 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.