Cash flow generation is erratic and disconnected from core operations, with operating cash flow swinging from -$72.0M to $104.8M in a single year, driven by large-scale securities turnover rather than consistent loan originations, while a total of $66.2M in loan loss provisions were booked from 2025Q2 through 2026Q2.
Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL) cash flow statement — 18-year operating, investing & financing cash flows
| Metric | TTM | Sep'25 | Sep'24 | Sep'23 | Sep'22 | Sep'21 | Sep'20 | Sep'19 | Sep'18 | Sep'17 | Sep'16 | Sep'15 | Sep'14 | Sep'13 | Sep'12 | Sep'11 | Sep'10 | Sep'09 | Sep'08 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 277.57M | 142.4M | 19.08M | 228.76M | 22.39M | -230.52M | -152.88M | 215.82M | 53.51M | 486.9M | 164.76M | 146.19M | -546.34M | -461.66M | -91.56M | -517.92M | -239.16M | -19.68M | -179.38M |
| Operating CF Growth % | 169.66% | 646.47% | -91.66% | 921.49% | 109.72% | -50.79% | -170.83% | 303.34% | -89.01% | 195.52% | 12.7% | 126.76% | -18.34% | -404.19% | 82.32% | -116.56% | -1115.49% | 89.03% | - |
| Net Income | 42.24M | 33.92M | 57.91M | 117.33M | 29.22M | 237.26M | 39.22M | 126.16M | 46.76M | -196.97M | -66.56M | 15.39M | 112.53M | 101.82M | 79.4M | 30.21M | 22.42M | 6.19M | 3.26M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 39.34M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.53M | 1.83B | 10.8B | 16.95M |
| Deferred Taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 194.75M | 90.98M | -110.43M | 218.83M | 64.58M | -488.98M | -132.3M | 48.42M | 52.3M | 630.38M | 241.16M | 98.83M | -590.67M | -600.22M | -165.08M | -583.83M | -1.82B | -10.78B | -7.61M |
| Working Capital Changes | 1.24M | 17.49M | 71.6M | -107.4M | -71.41M | 21.2M | -59.8M | 41.24M | -45.56M | 53.49M | -9.85M | 31.96M | -68.19M | 36.74M | -5.88M | 29.17M | -266.12M | -43.49M | -191.98M |
| Cash from Investing | -171.44M | 85.98M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -703.41M | -325.22B | -61.81B | -202.4B |
| Purchase of Investments | -526.12M | -958.74M | -1.28B | -742.14M | -702.06M | -1.12B | -727.16M | -477.97M | -1.06B | -736.95M | -820.78M | -1.43B | -1.59B | -1.28B | -530.87M | -703.46M | -325.53B | -61.95B | -202.4B |
| Sale/Maturity of Investments | 354.68M | 1.04B | 1.09B | 911.98M | 693.75M | 792.16M | 579.55M | 606.27M | 303.86M | 92.72M | 241.9M | 749.84M | 329.62M | 60.37M | 11.37M | 50K | 306.18M | 144M | 0 |
| Net Investment Activity | -171.44M | 85.98M | -195.2M | 169.83M | -8.32M | -328.01M | -147.61M | 128.3M | -755.74M | -644.23M | -578.87M | -675.92M | -1.26B | -1.22B | -519.5M | -703.41M | -325.22B | -61.81B | -202.4B |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Investing | 0 | 0 | 195.2M | -169.83M | 8.32M | 328.01M | 147.61M | -128.3M | 755.74M | 644.23M | 578.87M | 675.92M | 1.26B | 1.22B | 519.5M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Financing | -144.69M | -229.35M | -86.77M | -110.41M | -26.82M | 224.19M | 176.33M | -214.11M | -99.93M | -557.35M | -185.21M | -94.55M | 489.78M | 532.19M | 96.97M | 508.8M | 202.72M | 109.97M | 184.63M |
| Dividends Paid | -131.12M | -148.2M | -176.81M | -180.05M | -115.25M | -79.85M | -53.1M | -52.22M | -54.97M | -62.52M | -100.26M | -114.69M | -132.47M | -115.44M | -91.87M | -76.7M | -41.82M | -27.14M | -8.87M |
| Share Repurchases | -4.53M | -10.67M | -1.55M | -2.42M | -1.86M | -2.17M | -1.88M | -1.34M | -1.41M | -15.42M | -43.99M | -25.99M | -8.06M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -462K | -17.81M |
| Stock Issued | 0 | 102.96M | 92.75M | 1.37M | 20.84M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 138.24M | 479.95M | 188.7M | 206.79M | 179.13M | 138.58M | 211.31M |
| Net Stock Activity | -4.53M | 92.29M | 91.2M | -1.05M | 18.98M | -2.17M | -1.88M | -1.34M | -1.41M | -15.42M | -43.99M | -25.99M | 130.18M | 479.95M | 188.7M | 206.79M | 179.13M | 138.12M | 193.5M |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | 0 | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | -43K | -8.42M | -117K | -10.83M | -549K | -8.89M | -4.9M | -2.88M | -6.17M | -357K | -403K | -928K | -3.29M | -6.64M | -1.13M | -13.24M | -6.26M | -1M | 62.19M |
| Net Change in Cash | -73.25M | 1.09M | -67M | 119.17M | -5.27M | -7.46M | 23.69M | 1.92M | -46.42M | -70.45M | -20.45M | 51.65M | -56.56M | 70.53M | 5.4M | -9.12M | -36.44M | 90.3M | 5.25M |
| Exchange Rate Effect | -34.69M | 2.06M | 701K | 827K | -851K | -1.13M | 233K | 200K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 703.41M | 325.22B | 61.81B | 0 |
| Cash at Beginning | 11.14M | 78.54M | 145.54M | 26.36M | 31.64M | 39.1M | 15.41M | 13.49M | 59.91M | 130.36M | 138.38M | 86.73M | 143.29M | 72.76M | 67.36M | 76.77M | 113.2M | 22.91M | 17.65M |
| Cash at End | 6.55M | 79.63M | 78.54M | 145.54M | 26.36M | 31.64M | 39.1M | 15.41M | 13.49M | 59.91M | 117.92M | 138.38M | 86.73M | 143.29M | 72.76M | 67.64M | 76.77M | 113.2M | 22.91M |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20.77M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Income Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Free Cash Flow | 277.57M | 142.4M | 19.08M | 228.76M | 22.39M | -230.52M | -152.88M | 215.82M | 53.51M | 486.9M | 164.76M | 146.19M | -546.34M | -461.66M | -91.56M | -517.92M | -239.16M | -19.68M | -179.38M |
| FCF Growth % | 20.94% | 646.47% | -91.66% | 921.49% | 109.72% | -50.79% | -170.83% | 303.34% | -89.01% | 195.52% | 12.7% | 126.76% | -18.34% | -404.19% | 82.32% | -116.56% | -1115.49% | 89.03% | - |
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying OCSL stock.
Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL) generated $142.4M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL) generated $142.4M in free cash flow in 2025. Free cash flow is the cash left over after capital expenditures, which can be used to pay dividends, repurchase shares, or pay down debt.
Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL) spent $0.0M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.
In 2025, Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL) returned $148.2M to shareholders via cash dividends and spent $10.7M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Negative net interest income sustainability
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Securities Portfolio Dominates Cash Flows
According to recent SEC filings, OCSL's investing cash flows have been dominated by large-scale securities turnover, with $783.8M in sales and $743.9M in purchases in 2026Q3 alone, indicating an active portfolio management strategy amid market volatility.
The consistent pattern of significant purchases and sales of investment securities suggests the company is actively managing its portfolio, likely in response to changing interest rates and credit conditions. This high turnover, while generating periodic cash inflows, underscores a reliance on realizations and mark-to-market gains to support overall cash flow, which aligns with the prior finding of fee income volatility masking core weakness.
Loan Loss Provisions Signal Credit Stress
Based on reported figures, OCSL has recorded loan loss provisions in four of the last six quarters, totaling $66.2M from 2025Q2 through 2026Q2, which suggests underlying credit deterioration within its lending portfolio that requires careful monitoring.
The recurrence of loan loss provisions, particularly the $17.9M and $17.4M recorded in 2026Q2 and 2026Q1 respectively, indicates that asset quality challenges are persisting. This trend implies that the core lending business is under stress, reinforcing the view that the negative net interest income trajectory is not merely a rate issue but is coupled with rising credit costs.
Inconsistent Capital Generation from Operations
As reported in financial statements, OCSL's operating cash flow has been highly erratic, swinging from a negative -$72.0M in 2025Q3 to a positive $104.8M in 2026Q3, highlighting the difficulty in forecasting sustainable internal capital generation from core activities.
The volatile OCF/NI ratio, which has ranged from -53.52x to 19.89x, demonstrates that net income is a poor proxy for cash generation due to the influence of non-cash items and securities activity. This inconsistency makes it challenging to assess the company's ability to organically fund dividend payments or new loan originations, necessitating a focus on balance sheet liquidity instead.
Provisions Outpace Recognized Losses
As reported in financial statements, OCSL booked $66.2M in loan loss provisions from 2025Q2 to 2026Q2, yet the data shows zero realized charge-offs in most quarters, indicating a potential build-up of reserves against future losses rather than immediate charge-off activity.
The provision activity, which appears front-loaded in recent quarters, suggests management is proactively setting aside capital for anticipated credit events. This prudent reserve-building contrasts with the lack of reported charge-offs, implying that the company may be anticipating a deterioration in its loan book that has not yet fully materialized on the income statement.
Cash Flow Masks Underlying Core Weakness
A critical analysis reveals that OCSL's positive operating cash flow in 2026Q3 of $104.8M was driven almost entirely by securities-related activity, not by core lending, which investors should monitor as it may not be sustainable amid the ongoing negative net interest income trend.
The cash flow statement obscures the fundamental weakness in the core lending operation by inflating OCF through the timing of investment security sales. When viewed alongside the eight consecutive quarters of declining net interest income, this suggests that the company's liquidity is being supported by portfolio liquidation rather than by a healthy, functioning loan book, which represents a significant risk to long-term viability.