TCPC vs CGBD

For growth investors, Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.

(CGBD) is the stronger pick with -2. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -467. 7% for BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. (TCPC). Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (CGBD) offers the better valuation at 7. 5x trailing P/E (8. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. (TCPC) a "Hold" — based on 13 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 forward P/E, BlackRock TCP Capital Corp.

is actually cheaper at 5. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.

(CGBD) delivered a total return of +51. 3%, compared to -25. 4% for BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. (TCPC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CGBD returned +48. 4% versus TCPC's +21. 6%. 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), Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.

(CGBD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 61β versus BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. 's 0. 77β — meaning TCPC is approximately 26% 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 173% for BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.

(CGBD) is pulling ahead at -2. 9% versus -467. 7% for BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. (TCPC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. grew EPS -3. 7% year-over-year, compared to -32. 9% for BlackRock TCP Capital 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.

BlackRock TCP Capital Corp.

(TCPC) is the more profitable company, earning 116. 5% net margin versus 53. 0% for Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. — meaning it keeps 116. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CGBD leads at 54. 7% versus 29. 9% for TCPC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TCPC leads at 122. 1%, 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, BlackRock TCP Capital Corp.

(TCPC) trades at 5. 6x forward P/E versus 8. 2x for Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. — 2. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TCPC: 83. 5% to $8. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. (TCPC) offers the highest yield at 25. 7%, versus 0. 2% for Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (CGBD).

For long-horizon retirement investors, BlackRock TCP Capital Corp.

(TCPC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 77), 25. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TCPC: +21. 6%, CGBD: +48. 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.

In terms of investment character: TCPC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CGBD is a small-cap deep-value stock. TCPC 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.