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Runway Growth Finance Corp. (RWAY)·Q3 2024 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q3 2024 total investment income was $36.7 million and net investment income (NII) was $15.9 million ($0.41 per share), up sequentially from Q2 ($34.2 million; $14.6 million NII; $0.37 per share), while year-over-year income fell vs. $43.8 million and $22.0 million NII ($0.54 per share) in Q3 2023 .
  • NAV per share increased sequentially to $13.39 from $13.14, aided by a $9.2 million net unrealized gain (notably Gynesonics and Snagajob) and repurchases of 644,763 shares; net increase in net assets from operations rose to $0.65 per share, a sharp improvement vs. $0.21 in Q2 and $0.37 in Q3 2023 .
  • Originations were solid: seven investments totaling $75.3 million funded, while prepayments accelerated ($75.0 million), and the debt portfolio yield was 15.9%, up from 15.1% in Q2 but below 18.3% in Q3 2023 .
  • Declared a regular Q4 dividend of $0.40 per share and paused supplemental dividends to prioritize NAV preservation and growth; advisory affiliate agreed to be acquired by BC Partners Credit, expanding origination channels and product set—key stock narrative catalysts near term .
  • Consensus estimates from S&P Global were unavailable due to data access limits today; therefore, beats/misses vs. Street cannot be assessed and should be revisited post-access restoration.

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • “Runway Growth delivered strong financial performance in the third quarter, reporting sequential net investment income growth and solid originations,” with $36.7 million total investment income, $15.9 million NII, and seven investments funded .
  • Portfolio risk remained stable (weighted average risk rating 2.48 vs. 2.47 in Q2), pipeline benefited from improving rate backdrop, and the team executed new loans including $23 million to Snap! Mobile and $45.3 million (Runway’s portion) to Zinnia alongside JV activity .
  • Net unrealized gains of $9.2 million (primarily Gynesonics and Snagajob) lifted NAV per share to $13.39 from $13.14; leverage and asset coverage remained steady (1.08x and 1.92x), and available liquidity was $251.6 million .

What Went Wrong

  • Year-over-year revenue and NII declined vs. Q3 2023 ($43.8 million total investment income; $22.0 million NII; $0.54 per share), reflecting lower portfolio yield vs. last year and venture market headwinds .
  • Two loans remained on non-accrual (Mingle Healthcare and Snagajob), with fair values at 53% and 87% of cost, respectively, and loan-to-value increased sequentially from 26.7% to 28.6% on a consistent loan grouping .
  • Supplemental dividend program paused to focus capital allocation on preserving/building NAV, which may temper near-term income distribution for yield-focused holders .

Financial Results

Sequential performance (Q1 → Q2 → Q3 2024)

MetricQ1 2024Q2 2024Q3 2024
Total Investment Income ($USD Millions)$40.0 $34.2 $36.7
Net Investment Income ($USD Millions)$18.7 $14.6 $15.9
Net Investment Income per Share ($)$0.46 $0.37 $0.41
Net Increase in Net Assets from Ops per Share ($)$0.30 $0.21 $0.65
Dollar-Weighted Annualized Yield on Debt Investments (%)17.4% 15.1% 15.9%
NAV per Share ($)$13.36 $13.14 $13.39
Core Leverage Ratio (%)91% 110% 108%
Available Liquidity ($USD Millions)$319.9 $249.8 $251.6

Year-over-year comparison (Q3 2023 → Q3 2024)

MetricQ3 2023Q3 2024
Total Investment Income ($USD Millions)$43.8 $36.7
Net Investment Income ($USD Millions)$22.0 $15.9
NII per Share ($)$0.54 $0.41
Dollar-Weighted Annualized Yield on Debt Investments (%)18.3% 15.9%
NAV per Share ($)$14.08 $13.39

Portfolio composition (Q1 → Q2 → Q3 2024)

MetricQ1 2024Q2 2024Q3 2024
Total Investments at Fair Value ($USD Billions)$1.016 $1.063 $1.066
Term Loans ($USD Billions)$0.970 $1.020 $1.000
Senior Secured Loans (%)98.5% 98.6% 98.6%
Warrants & Other Equity ($USD Millions)$46.8 $48.2 $62.2

KPIs and activity (Q1 → Q2 → Q3 2024)

KPIQ1 2024Q2 2024Q3 2024
Funded Investments ($USD Millions)$24.6 $75.4 $75.3
Principal Prepayments ($USD Millions)$34.4 $25.3 $75.0
Share Repurchases (Shares)183,702 1,074,842 644,763
Weighted Avg Portfolio Risk RatingN/A2.47 2.48
Non-Accrual Loans (Count)N/AN/A2 (Mingle, Snagajob)

Note: “Revenue” for a BDC is total investment income. Segment reporting not applicable.

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Regular Dividend per ShareQ4 2024$0.40 (Q3 reg) $0.40 Maintained
Supplemental Dividend per ShareQ4 2024$0.05 (Q3 suppl) Paused Lowered (paused)
Capital Allocation FocusNear termRegular + supplemental distributions Preserve/build NAV; pause supplemental Shift to NAV preservation
Advisory AgreementQ4 2024Existing adviser (RGC)New advisory agreement post BC Partners transaction; identical terms, requires shareholder approval Structural change pending approval

No explicit quantitative revenue/margin/tax guidance provided; management qualitative outlook emphasizes accelerating originations, pipeline expansion, and diversification post-BC Partners transaction .

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q1 & Q2)Current Period (Q3)Trend
Originations & PipelineQ1: JV with Cadma established; prudent selectivity; $25.0 million in new/existing investments; yield 17.4% . Q2: Two new investments; $75.5 million funded loans; strong pipeline .Seven investments funded; $75.3 million originations including Snap! and Zinnia; expect to meaningfully add new investments as loans mature .Improving deployment momentum
Credit QualityQ1: Focus on underwriting rigor; maintain credit quality . Q2: Senior secured composition 98.6% .Risk rating stable at 2.48 (vs. 2.47 in Q2); two non-accruals detailed; proactive monitoring .Stable but watchlist items
Rate Environment & MacroQ1/Q2: Cautious given evolving venture ecosystem; selective deployment .Fed cuts encouraging to borrowers; expect gradual improvement; election certainty helpful .Tailwind forming
Capital AllocationQ1: Regular $0.40 and supplemental $0.07 dividends . Q2: Regular $0.40 and supplemental $0.05; repurchases 1.07 million shares .Regular $0.40 declared for Q4; supplemental paused; repurchased 644,763 shares .Shift to NAV preservation
Strategic PlatformQ1/Q2: JV with Cadma expanding origination avenues .Advisory affiliate to be acquired by BC Partners Credit; expands origination/product suite (structured equity, ABL, equipment leasing) .Structural expansion

Management Commentary

  • David Spreng: “Runway Growth delivered strong financial performance in the third quarter, reporting sequential net investment income growth and solid originations… we funded seven investments during the quarter” .
  • Greg Greifeld: “Our weighted average portfolio risk rating remained stable at 2.48… we were pleased to fund 7 investments… including $23 million to Snap! Mobile and $45.3 million to Zinnia” .
  • Thomas Raterman: “We generated total investment income of $36.7 million and net investment income of $15.9 million… recorded a net unrealized gain on investments of $9.2 million… nonaccruals: Mingle Healthcare ($2.6 million FV; 53% of cost) and Snagajob ($37.3 million FV; 87% of cost)” .
  • Strategic outlook: “BC Partners Credit… will… enable us to accelerate originations… introducing structured equity preferred, asset-based lending… equipment leasing… strengthen sponsor relationships through fund finance” .

Q&A Highlights

  • Adviser merger: BC Partners is acquiring 100% of the adviser; intended as a long-term strategic holding to expand origination capability and financing solutions; adviser bears deal-related costs under ‘40 Act .
  • Earnings profile and yield: Expanded product suite should not change asset-level return targets; expect similar income stream to historical .
  • M&A and exits outlook: With potential rate cuts and greater certainty, expect opportunities to upsize loans for portfolio M&A and finance new acquirers; venture equity down rounds elevate demand for debt .
  • Prepayments context: ~$30 million early Q4 repayments were expected (refinancing and asset sale); management working to redeploy .
  • Snagajob status: Near-term remains nonaccrual; plan focused on preserving/restoring NAV with expectation of returning to accrual over the long term .

Estimates Context

  • S&P Global consensus estimates for Q3 2024 (EPS and revenue) were unavailable due to access limits today. As such, we cannot assess beats/misses versus Street for this quarter; we recommend refreshing S&P Global data to update the estimate comparison promptly.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Sequential improvement: NII per share rose to $0.41 and revenue increased to $36.7 million; net increase in net assets from operations surged to $0.65 per share, driven by unrealized gains—supportive for sentiment despite yoy declines in income and yield .
  • Deployment momentum: Seven investments funded and a stronger pipeline set up Q4/Q1; prepayments free capacity and may boost portfolio diversification and risk dispersion as larger exposures refinance out .
  • Credit steady, with watchlist: Risk rating stable; two nonaccruals managed with NAV protection plans; monitoring loan-to-value uptick and ongoing venture liquidity constraints .
  • Capital allocation pivot: Regular $0.40 dividend maintained but supplemental paused; emphasis on NAV preservation suggests medium-term focus on book value growth over distribution maximization .
  • Strategic tailwind: BC Partners transaction broadens origination channels and products, potentially accelerating originations and enhancing risk-adjusted returns through diversification—an important medium-term thesis enhancer .
  • Rate backdrop improving: Management views Fed cuts and post-election clarity as supportive to borrower demand and M&A financing, potentially increasing deal flow and upsizes .
  • Actionable: Near term, narrative catalysts include advisory acquisition approval, redeployment of prepayments, and continued originations; monitor updates on nonaccrual resolution and any incremental realized gains/losses impacting NAV trajectory .