Earnings call transcript: Rand Capital Q1 2025 sees income rise

Rand Capital Corp (RAND) reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting a significant increase in net investment income and a rise in earnings per share. Despite a decline in total investment income, the company maintained its quarterly dividend, currently yielding an attractive 6.2%, and renewed its share repurchase program. According to InvestingPro data, the company has raised its dividend for three consecutive years. The stock, however, experienced a slight decline, closing at $18.23, down 2.6% from the previous day.

Key Takeaways

• Net investment income increased by 45% year-over-year.
• Earnings per share rose to $0.42 from $0.33 in Q1 2024.
• The company maintained a strong cash position, increasing to $4.9 million.
• Rand Capital renewed its share repurchase program, allowing up to 1.5 million shares through April 2026.
• The stock price fell by 2.6%, closing at $18.23.

Company Performance

Rand Capital’s performance in the first quarter of 2025 showcased resilience amid challenging market conditions. The company reported a 45% increase in net investment income compared to the same period last year, driven by disciplined capital deployment and a focus on income-generating assets. InvestingPro analysis reveals strong fundamentals with a revenue growth of 16.64% and an attractive P/E ratio of 5.57. However, total investment income declined by 3% year-over-year, reflecting a slowdown in new investment opportunities.

Financial Highlights

• Total investment income: $2 million (3% decline YoY)
• Net investment income: $1.2 million (45% increase YoY)
• Earnings per share: $0.42 (up from $0.33 in Q1 2024)
• Net asset value per share: $21.99 (down from $25.31 at 2024 year-end)
• Cash position: $4.9 million (up from $835,000)

Market Reaction

Rand Capital’s stock price decreased by 2.6% following the earnings announcement, closing at $18.23. This movement places the stock closer to its 52-week low of $13.82, reflecting investor caution amid macroeconomic and political uncertainties impacting market conditions. Despite recent volatility, InvestingPro data shows impressive returns with a 73.76% price appreciation over the past year and a 40.91% gain in the last six months. Subscribers can access 8 additional ProTips and comprehensive analysis through the Pro Research Report, available for over 1,400 US stocks.

Outlook & Guidance

Looking ahead, Rand Capital remains focused on maintaining disciplined capital deployment and driving growth in net asset value and total returns. With an overall Financial Health Score of 3.46 (rated as "GREAT" by InvestingPro) and a market capitalization of $54.82 million, the company anticipates an improvement in market conditions, which could provide opportunities for capitalizing on its diversified portfolio.

Executive Commentary

CEO Dan Pemberthy emphasized the company’s resilience, stating, "Our first quarter results underscore the resilience of our business model." He added, "We remain well positioned to capitalize as conditions improve." Pemberthy also highlighted the strategic focus on yield-based returns, particularly through structures with subordinated debt components.

Risks and Challenges

• Macroeconomic and political uncertainty may continue to affect market conditions.
• A slowdown in new investment opportunities could impact future income growth.
• Concentration risk, with the top 5 portfolio companies representing 58% of the total portfolio.

Rand Capital’s ability to navigate these challenges and capitalize on improving conditions will be crucial for sustaining its growth trajectory.

Full transcript - Rand Capital Corp (RAND) Q1 2025:

Conference Operator: Please note this conference is being recorded. At this time, I’ll now turn the conference over to Craig Mihalet with Investor Relations.

Craig, you may now begin.

Craig Mihalet, Investor Relations, Rand Capital: Thank you and good afternoon everyone. We appreciate your interest in Rand Capital and for joining us today for our first quarter twenty twenty five financial results conference call. On the line with me are Dan Pemberthy, our President and Chief Executive Officer and Margaret Brechtl, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. A copy of the release and slides that accompany our conversation is available at randcapital.com. If you’re following along with the slide deck, please turn to Slide two, where I’d like to point out some important information.

As you are likely aware, we may make forward looking statements during this presentation. These statements apply to future events that are subject to risks and uncertainties as well as other factors that could cause actual results to differ from where we are today. You can find a summary of these risks and uncertainties and other factors in the earnings release and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents can be found on our website or at sec.gov. During today’s call, we’ll also discuss some non GAAP financial measures.

We believe these will be useful in evaluating our performance. You should not consider the presentation of this additional information in isolation or as a substitute for results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We have provided reconciliations of non GAAP measures with comparable GAAP measures in the tables that accompany today’s earnings release. With that, please turn to Slide three, and I’ll hand the discussion over to Dan. Dan?

Dan Pemberthy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Rand Capital: Thank you, Craig, and good afternoon, everyone. Our first quarter results underscore the resilience of our business model and the strength of our balance sheet, putting us in a solid position to execute on our continued long term strategy. I am pleased to report that despite a modest decline in total investment income, we have delivered a 45% year over year increase in net investment income, $1,200,000 or $0.42 per share. It’s important to highlight that this performance was supported by certain non recurring fee income and a 36% reduction in total expenses, driven by lower interest costs following our debt repayment and capital gains incentive fee adjustments. Our net asset value per share was $21.99 which compared with $25.31 at year end 2024.

It is important to note that this change reflects the dilutive impact from the issuance of additional shares related to the fourth quarter dividend, which were distributed in January 2025. During the quarter, we also realized a gain of $925,000 from portfolio redemptions and we redeployed a portion of those proceeds into a follow on investment that we will highlight shortly. Staying aligned with our strategy to maintain a strong financial position, we have repaid $600,000 of our revolver debt, finishing the quarter with nearly $5,000,000 in cash and over $22,000,000 in available credit capacity. As I mentioned last quarter, we continue to operate in a cautious and evolving environment. While we are seeing a slowdown in new investment opportunities due to ongoing macroeconomic and political uncertainty, we remain well positioned to capitalize as conditions improve.

Looking ahead, our focus remains on a disciplined execution, proactive portfolio oversight and building sustainable shareholder value. As highlighted on Slide four, the success we have had executing on our long term strategic objectives over the past few years has translated into tangible benefits for our shareholders. A clear example of that is our recent dividend activity. The fourth quarter twenty twenty four dividend paid in January 2025 included a stock component that resulted in the issuance of approximately 389,000 new shares. Following that distribution, Rand’s total shares outstanding increased to nearly 3,000,000.

In the first quarter of twenty twenty five, and again with our recently declared Q2 dividend of $0.29 per share, the regular per share amount remained consistent. However, due to the increased share count, which I previously mentioned, the total dollar amount of the dividend distributed to shareholders increased. This reflects not just our continued commitment to delivering stable and attractive returns, but also the strength of our balance sheet, the discipline in our capital deployment and the resilience of our income generating portfolio. Together, these factors position us to continually create value for shareholders over the long term. Turning to slide five, you will see the current breakdown of our portfolio between debt and equity, along with some of the recent shifts that have taken place.

As of 03/31/2025, our portfolio stood at a fair value of approximately $62,000,000 spread across 19 businesses. This represents a decline from year end 2024, primarily driven by the repayment of loans from three portfolio companies. While we have seen encouraging signs of strength from several businesses, we continue to factor in the broader economic and political headwinds that are still affecting some of these portfolio company operations. These challenges are reflected in our valuations and we remain optimistic about future recovery and performance. A key pillar of our investment strategy has been the deliberate shift towards more income generating portfolio.

As we stand today, debt investments represent 72% of our portfolio, up from prior years, and this mix supports greater earnings stability and consistency. As of quarter end, the annualized weighted average yield on our debt investments, including PIK interest, payment in kind interest, was 12.2%. The average yield was down from prior quarters because one of our debt investments, which represents 3% of the value of the total portfolio, was on nonaccrual status during the first quarter of twenty twenty five. The remaining twenty eight percent of our portfolio consists of equity positions, either through direct investments, warrants or equity components alongside our debt structures. Our strategy continues to prioritize structures where subordinated debt component provides a yield based return while still capturing potential upside through equity participation.

This can be in the form of a warrant or a direct equity investment. This thoughtful portfolio construction supports both current income generation and long term value creation, which aligns ourselves with our commitment to a disciplined capital deployment and sustainable returns and future dividends. Slide six highlights our investment activity during the first quarter. On the investment side, we made a $375,000 follow on investment in ITA, a Florida based manufacturer of blinds and shades. This incremental capital supports ITA’s manufacturing operations.

And as of quarter end, our total holdings in the company, including both debt and equity, had a fair value of $2,000,000 There were three notable exits this past quarter, each resulting in full repayment of principal and certain non recurring loan fees, further strengthening our liquidity position. We received full repayment of a $5,600,000 debt instrument from Madison Avenue Holdings. We also exited our investment in PressurePro, receiving repayment of $1,700,000 in principal. As part of that transaction, we also sold our warrant position, resulting in a realized gain of $870,000 Lastly, we exited our investment in HDI acquisition with full repayment of a $1,100,000 debt instrument. These exits not only reflect the strength and quality of our underwriting, but also reinforce our ability to recycle capital efficiently, freeing up resources for future income generating opportunities as market conditions improve.

Turning to slide seven, you’ll see shifts in our industry allocation since the end of twenty twenty four. Most notably, our exposure to professional services decreased from 48% to 45% and manufacturing declined from 13% to 8%, both driven by the exits which we discussed just prior to this. Meanwhile, consumer products grew as a share of the portfolio, reflecting continued strength in some of our existing holdings in that space. Maintaining a thoughtful mix across sectors remains a core part of our investment approach. This not only reduces exposure to any single industry risk, but also positions us to benefit from growth across a broader set of market dynamics.

Ultimately, we believe a balanced portfolio structure allows us to adapt to a changing macro conditions while continuing to pursue strong risk adjusted returns. Slide eight highlights our top five portfolio companies, which together represent 58% of our total portfolio at fair value. Tilson continues to lead as our largest individual holding and is valued at $11,500,000 and accounting for 19% of the total portfolio. We have been invested in Tillson for over a decade and it does remain a cornerstone of our portfolio. With an original cost basis of approximately $3,000,000 the position now reflects $8,400,000 in unrealized appreciation, an excellent example of the kind of long term value creation we aim to deliver through our investment strategy.

Cyvertz or The RAC Group and Foodservice Supply continued to be consistent performers among our top five, while INEA advanced in ranking this quarter and Kitech held steady. Overall, we remain confident in their ability to drive long term growth and income. With that, I’ll now turn it over to Margaret to walk you through our financials in greater detail.

Margaret Brechtl, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Rand Capital: Thanks, Dan, and good afternoon, everyone. I will start on Slide 10, which provides an overview of our financial summary and operational highlights for the twenty twenty five first quarter. Total investment income for the quarter was $2,000,000 representing a slight decline of $59,000 or 3% from the prior year period. This decrease was primarily driven by lower dividend income and an 8% reduction in interest income, reflecting the repayment of the three debt instruments during the quarter. Offsetting this was an increase in non reoccurring 15% of total investment income in the first quarter of twenty twenty five, up from 5% in the first quarter of twenty twenty four.

During the quarter, 18 portfolio companies contributed to investment income compared to 24 companies in the same period last year. On the expense side, total expenses declined 36% to $791,000 from $1,200,000 in the prior year period. This reduction was largely due to a $354,000 decrease in interest expense, thanks to lower outstanding debt. We also saw favorable changes in management fees, including a $75,000 capital gains incentive fee benefit this quarter compared with $112,000 expense in Q1 of twenty twenty four. In addition, base management fees declined by $50,000 as a result of the principal repayments.

These benefits were partially offset by the accrual of $120,000 income based incentive fee, which reflects our improved operating performance and fund profitability. No such fee was accrued in the first quarter of last year. To clarify, incentive fees include two components: an income based fee and a capital gains fee. The income based fee is calculated quarterly and is subject to a 1.75% hurdle rate per quarter, or 7% on an annualized basis. The capital gains incentive fee, on the other hand, is accrued based on both realized and unrealized gains and losses, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Excluding the capital gains incentive fee accrual, adjusted expenses, which is a non GAAP financial measure, were $866,000 in the first quarter, representing a 22% decrease year over year. Net investment income increased 45% to $1,200,000 or $0.42 per share compared with $840,000 or $0.33 per share in the first quarter of twenty twenty four. On an adjusted basis, excluding the capital gains incentive fee benefit or expense, net investment income was $0.40 per share, up 8% or $0.37 per share in the prior year period. On slide 11, you will see a waterfall chart that illustrates the change in net asset value for the first quarter. As of 03/31/2025, net assets totaled $65,300,000 representing a slight decrease from year end 2024.

We saw a strong net investment income for the quarter along with a $925,000 net realized gain from sales and dispositions of portfolio investments. However, these were offset by a $1,300,000 net decrease in unrealized depreciation, reflecting valuation adjustments in certain holdings. In addition, we declared $863,000 in cash dividends to shareholders during the quarter. As a result, net asset value per share at quarter end was $21.99 per share compared with $25.31 per share at year end 2024. It is important to reiterate that change in the per share net asset value reflects the issuance of approximately 389,000 new shares that were declared in the fourth quarter of twenty twenty four and distributed in January of twenty twenty five.

As highlighted on slide 12, we continue to maintain a strong balance sheet and ample liquidity, which positions us well to pursue future investment opportunities. Net assets at quarter end were $67,800,000 down 6% from year end 2024. We ended the quarter with $4,900,000 in cash, a significant increase from $835,000 at year end. In addition, we fully repaid the remaining $600,000 outstanding on our senior secured revolving credit facility, leaving us with no debt outstanding under the facility as of 03/31/2025. On April 30, we declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.29 per share, payable on or about 06/13/2025, to shareholders of record as of 05/30/2025.

Lastly, Rand’s Board of Directors renewed the company’s share repurchase program, authorizing the repurchase of up to 1,500,000.0 Capital common stock. This program is now in effect through April of twenty twenty six. With that, I will turn the discussion back to Dan.

Dan Pemberthy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Rand Capital: Thanks, Margaret. And moving to Slide 13, please. As we look ahead to the rest of the year and beyond, our focus remains clear on executing with discipline and building on our long term shareholder value. There are many challenges in our current environment and this does present and should present new investment opportunities. However, we remain challenged with macroeconomic and political uncertainty.

This can include tariffs, consumer spending, changes in government regulation, weaknesses in the M and A markets. However, I do believe we are well positioned to navigate this cycle. Our investment model combined with our disciplined approach allows us to maintain a long term view with the expectation that conditions will improve over time. We are actively looking to scale our income generating assets with high quality debt investments while remaining prudent in our capital deployment and risk management. With ample revolving credit availability, we have the flexibility to support future growth as the market evolves.

Importantly, our commitment to shareholders remain. We’re focused on driving NAV growth and total returns through active portfolio oversight, sound financial management and a sustainable dividend strategy backed by what we believe to be as a strong portfolio. Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. We look forward to updating you on our progress with our second quarter twenty twenty five results in August. Have a great day.

Conference Operator: This concludes today’s conference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation.

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