SAJ
Saratoga Investment Corp 8.00%
Investment - Banking & Investment Services
Market Cap$414M
5Y Perf.+2.1%
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Stock Comparison
SAJ vs MRCC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MRCC
Monroe Capital Corporation
Asset Management
Market Cap$110M
5Y Perf.-48.1%
SAJ vs MRCC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SAJ | MRCC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Investment - Banking & Investment Services | Asset Management |
| Market Cap | $414M | $110M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $94M | $21M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $39M | $-5M |
| Gross Margin | 44.7% | 60.8% |
| Operating Margin | 33.9% | 51.7% |
| Forward P/E | 10.3x | 14.9x |
| Total Debt | $782M | $191M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $148M | $2M |
SAJ vs MRCC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SAJ
MRCC
| Stock | Nov 22 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saratoga Investment… (SAJ) | 100 | 102.1 | +2.1% |
| Monroe Capital Corp… (MRCC) | 100 | 51.9 | -48.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SAJ vs MRCC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SAJ leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Monroe Capital Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SAJ
Saratoga Investment Corp 8.00%
The Banking Pick
SAJ carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 0.73, yield 11.4%
- Rev growth 35.4%, EPS growth 184.5%
- 30.4% 10Y total return vs MRCC's 22.8%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
MRCC
Monroe Capital Corporation
The Banking Pick
MRCC is the clearest fit if your priority is quality and efficiency.
- Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs SAJ's 0.1% (lower = leaner)
- Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs SAJ's 0.1%
Best for: quality and efficiency
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SAJ | 35.4% NII/revenue growth vs MRCC's -39.7% |
| Value | SAJ | Lower P/E (10.3x vs 14.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | MRCC | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs SAJ's 0.1% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | SAJ | Beta 0.73 vs MRCC's 0.74 |
| Dividends | SAJ | 11.4% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs MRCC's 0.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SAJ | +7.9% vs MRCC's -6.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MRCC | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs SAJ's 0.1% |
SAJ vs MRCC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSAJLAGGINGMRCC
MRCCMonroe Capital Corpor…
2leads
SAJSaratoga Investment C…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs MRCCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MRCC4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MRCC4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SAJ6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SAJ6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
SAJ2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
SAJ2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MRCC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SAJ is the larger business by revenue, generating $94M annually — 4.4x MRCC's $21M. MRCC is the more profitable business, keeping 53.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SAJ's 29.8%.
| Metric | SAJSaratoga Investme… | MRCCMonroe Capital Co… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $94M | $21M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.3B | $11M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $39M | -$5M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $23M | $25M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.7% | +60.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +33.9% | +51.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +29.8% | +53.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.1% | +5.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.6% | -51.5% |
MRCC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MRCC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.6x trailing earnings, MRCC trades at a 25% valuation discount to SAJ's 12.7x P/E.
| Metric | SAJSaratoga Investme… | MRCCMonroe Capital Co… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $414M | $110M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.0B | $108M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 12.70x | 9.58x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.34x | 14.94x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.21x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 32.78x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.40x | 3.55x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.91x | 0.66x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 2.10x | 0.95x |
MRCC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SAJ leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SAJ delivers a 9.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $-3 for MRCC. MRCC carries lower financial leverage with a 1.15x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SAJ's 1.99x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SAJ scores 8/9 vs MRCC's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SAJSaratoga Investme… | MRCCMonroe Capital Co… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.3% | -2.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.2% | -1.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.0% | +2.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.7% | +2.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.99x | 1.15x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $634M | $189M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $148M | $2M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $782M | $191M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.83x | 0.69x |
SAJ leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SAJ leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SAJ five years ago would be worth $13,040 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,905 for MRCC. Over the past 12 months, SAJ leads with a +7.9% total return vs MRCC's -6.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SAJ at 8.1% vs MRCC's 5.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SAJSaratoga Investme… | MRCCMonroe Capital Co… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +2.3% | -11.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +7.9% | -6.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +26.3% | +18.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +30.4% | -0.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +30.4% | +22.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +8.1% | +5.7% |
SAJ leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SAJ leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SAJ is the less volatile stock with a 0.73 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MRCC's 0.74 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SAJ currently trades 95.3% from its 52-week high vs MRCC's 65.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SAJSaratoga Investme… | MRCCMonroe Capital Co… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.73x | 0.74x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $26.92 | $7.76 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.05 | $4.04 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.3% | +65.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.9 | 50.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2K | 156K |
SAJ leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
SAJ leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
For income investors, SAJ offers the higher dividend yield at 11.42% vs MRCC's 0.24%.
| Metric | SAJSaratoga Investme… | MRCCMonroe Capital Co… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $8.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +11.4% | +0.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.93 | $0.93 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
SAJ leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
SAJ leads in 4 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). MRCC leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics).
Best OverallSaratoga Investment Corp 8.… (SAJ)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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SAJ vs MRCC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SAJ or MRCC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Saratoga Investment Corp 8.
00% (SAJ) is the stronger pick with 35. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -39. 7% for Monroe Capital Corporation (MRCC). Monroe Capital Corporation (MRCC) offers the better valuation at 9. 6x trailing P/E (14. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Monroe Capital Corporation (MRCC) a "Hold" — based on 11 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 — SAJ or MRCC?
On trailing P/E, Monroe Capital Corporation (MRCC) is the cheapest at 9.
6x versus Saratoga Investment Corp 8. 00% at 12. 7x. On forward P/E, Saratoga Investment Corp 8. 00% is actually cheaper at 10. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SAJ or MRCC?
Over the past 5 years, Saratoga Investment Corp 8.
00% (SAJ) delivered a total return of +30. 4%, compared to -0. 9% for Monroe Capital Corporation (MRCC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SAJ returned +30. 4% versus MRCC's +22. 8%. 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 — SAJ or MRCC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Saratoga Investment Corp 8.
00% (SAJ) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 73β versus Monroe Capital Corporation's 0. 74β — meaning MRCC is approximately 1% more volatile than SAJ relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Monroe Capital Corporation (MRCC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 115% versus 199% for Saratoga Investment Corp 8. 00% — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SAJ or MRCC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Saratoga Investment Corp 8.
00% (SAJ) is pulling ahead at 35. 4% versus -39. 7% for Monroe Capital Corporation (MRCC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Saratoga Investment Corp 8. 00% grew EPS 184. 5% year-over-year, compared to 17. 8% for Monroe Capital 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 — SAJ or MRCC?
Monroe Capital Corporation (MRCC) is the more profitable company, earning 53.
8% net margin versus 29. 8% for Saratoga Investment Corp 8. 00% — meaning it keeps 53. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MRCC leads at 51. 7% versus 33. 9% for SAJ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MRCC leads at 60. 8%, 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 SAJ or MRCC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Saratoga Investment Corp 8.
00% (SAJ) trades at 10. 3x forward P/E versus 14. 9x for Monroe Capital Corporation — 4. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — SAJ or MRCC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Saratoga Investment Corp 8. 00% (SAJ) offers the highest yield at 11. 4%, versus 0. 2% for Monroe Capital Corporation (MRCC).
09Is SAJ or MRCC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Saratoga Investment Corp 8.
00% (SAJ) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 73), 11. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SAJ: +30. 4%, MRCC: +22. 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 SAJ and MRCC?
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: SAJ is a small-cap high-growth stock; MRCC is a small-cap deep-value stock. SAJ pays a dividend while MRCC 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(SAJ: 35.4% · MRCC: -39.7%)Net Margin>
%
(SAJ: 29.8% · MRCC: 53.8%)P/E Ratio<
x
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