Correction: Hercules Capital Receives Secured Debt Rating Upgrade to BBB from Fitch Ratings, Inc.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 16 2025
0mins
Should l Buy HTGC?
Source: Businesswire
Debt Rating Upgrade: Hercules Capital, Inc. announced that Fitch Ratings has upgraded its senior secured debt rating from BBB- to BBB, reflecting the company's strong recovery prospects and diversified lending business model.
Company Overview: Hercules Capital is a leading specialty finance provider focused on offering senior secured venture growth loans to innovative companies, having committed over $21 billion to more than 670 businesses since its inception in 2003.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy HTGC?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on HTGC
Wall Street analysts forecast HTGC stock price to rise
7 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 16.600
Low
18.00
Averages
20.04
High
24.00
Current: 16.600
Low
18.00
Averages
20.04
High
24.00
About HTGC
Hercules Capital, Inc. is a specialty finance company. The Company is focused on providing financing solutions to venture capital-backed and institutional-backed companies in a variety of technology and life sciences industries. It is structured as an internally managed, non-diversified, closed-end investment company. Its business objectives are to increase its net income, net investment income, and net asset value, through its investments in primarily structured debt or senior secured debt instruments of venture capital-backed and institutional-backed companies across a variety of technology-related industries at attractive yields. It invests in a range of companies active in the technology industry sub-sectors characterized by products or services that require advanced technologies, including computer software and hardware, networking systems, semiconductors, telecommunications equipment and media, semiconductor capital equipment, information technology infrastructure and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Hercules Capital Reports Record Q4 2025 Earnings Performance
- Record Performance: Hercules Capital achieved total investment income of $137.4 million and net investment income of $87 million in Q4 2025, reflecting strong profitability amidst market volatility and a solid operational foundation.
- Portfolio Expansion: The company set a new record with nearly $4 billion in originations for 2025, while assets under management surpassed $5.7 billion, marking over a 20% year-over-year increase, indicating enhanced competitiveness in the capital markets.
- Stable Dividend Policy: Despite market fluctuations, Hercules Capital maintained a quarterly base distribution of $0.40 per share with a 120% coverage ratio, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns and financial stability.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Management anticipates a robust new business environment in 2026, particularly in strategic M&A and capital markets activities, reflecting ongoing confidence and investment in supporting the innovation economy.
See More
Hercules HTGC Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
See More
Hercules Capital Reports Record Q4 2025 Earnings Performance
- Record Financing Commitments: Hercules Capital achieved record total debt and equity commitments of $1.06 billion in Q4 2025, driving nearly $4 billion in annual commitments, showcasing the company's strong financing capabilities and growth potential amid market volatility.
- Investment Income Growth: Total investment income reached $532.5 million in 2025, a 7.9% year-over-year increase, while net investment income stood at $341.7 million, up 4.9%, indicating sustained profitability in a stable credit environment.
- Shareholder Distribution Plan: Despite challenges from declining interest rates, Hercules Capital achieved a 120% coverage of its quarterly base distribution in Q4, maintaining a $0.40 per share base distribution and announcing a $0.07 supplemental distribution for 2026, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to shareholders.
- Asset Management Scale Expansion: Hercules Capital's assets under management exceeded $5.7 billion at the end of 2025, a 20.5% increase, reflecting strong performance in the private credit market and proactive positioning for future market opportunities.
See More
Hercules Capital Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations
- Earnings Beat: Hercules Capital (HTGC) reported Q4 net investment income of $0.48 per share, slightly above the analyst estimate of $0.49, although it declined from Q3 and the same quarter last year, indicating the company's resilience in maintaining profitability amid challenges.
- Investment Income Fluctuation: Total investment income reached $137.4 million, missing the $141.6 million consensus, and fell from $138.1 million in the previous quarter, yet increased from $121.8 million year-over-year, reflecting the company's resilience in a volatile market.
- Debt Repayment Record: During the quarter, Hercules Capital realized early loan repayments of $149.7 million, along with normal amortization of $19.5 million, resulting in total debt repayments of $169.2 million, showcasing the company's effectiveness in debt management.
- Record New Commitments: The company originated gross new debt and equity commitments totaling $1.06 billion, a record increase of 71% year-over-year, while gross new fundings totaled $522.3 million, indicating Hercules Capital's strong position and growth potential in the venture lending market.
See More
Hercules Capital Reports Q4 2025 Financial Results with Strong Growth Metrics
- Debt and Equity Commitment Growth: Hercules Capital reported total gross debt and equity commitments of $1.06 billion in Q4 2025, reflecting a robust year-over-year increase of 70.8%, indicating strong performance in capital markets and enhanced financing capabilities.
- Strong Earnings Coverage: The company achieved a net investment income (NII) of $0.48 per share for Q4 2025, providing a 120% coverage of the base cash distribution, demonstrating solid profitability and the ability to consistently generate value for shareholders.
- Conservative Balance Sheet Management: Hercules Capital maintained a net leverage ratio of 101.8% and a net regulatory leverage ratio of 86.0%, showcasing a cautious approach to risk management that helps sustain stability amid market fluctuations.
- Liquidity and Distribution Plans: As of year-end, Hercules Capital had over $1.0 billion in available liquidity and announced a new supplemental cash distribution of $0.28 per share for 2026, payable over four quarters, further boosting investor confidence.
See More
Hercules Capital Set to Announce Q4 Earnings
- Earnings Announcement: Hercules Capital is set to release its Q4 2023 earnings report on February 12th after market close, with consensus estimates predicting an EPS of $0.49 and revenue of $141.57 million, reflecting a 16.2% year-over-year growth.
- Earnings Estimate Adjustments: Over the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward revision with no downward adjustments, indicating strong market confidence in the company's profitability.
- Revenue Estimate Changes: Revenue estimates have experienced two upward revisions and no downward changes, suggesting analysts maintain an optimistic outlook on Hercules Capital's future performance, which could positively influence its stock price.
- Market Focus: As the earnings report approaches, investor anticipation for Hercules Capital's performance is high, particularly in the current market environment where BDCs are under close scrutiny.
See More
Hercules Capital Reports Record Q4 2025 Earnings Performance
- Record Performance: Hercules Capital achieved total investment income of $137.4 million and net investment income of $87 million in Q4 2025, reflecting strong profitability amidst market volatility and a solid operational foundation.
- Portfolio Expansion: The company set a new record with nearly $4 billion in originations for 2025, while assets under management surpassed $5.7 billion, marking over a 20% year-over-year increase, indicating enhanced competitiveness in the capital markets.
- Stable Dividend Policy: Despite market fluctuations, Hercules Capital maintained a quarterly base distribution of $0.40 per share with a 120% coverage ratio, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns and financial stability.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Management anticipates a robust new business environment in 2026, particularly in strategic M&A and capital markets activities, reflecting ongoing confidence and investment in supporting the innovation economy.
See More
Hercules HTGC Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
See More
Hercules Capital Reports Record Q4 2025 Earnings Performance
- Record Financing Commitments: Hercules Capital achieved record total debt and equity commitments of $1.06 billion in Q4 2025, driving nearly $4 billion in annual commitments, showcasing the company's strong financing capabilities and growth potential amid market volatility.
- Investment Income Growth: Total investment income reached $532.5 million in 2025, a 7.9% year-over-year increase, while net investment income stood at $341.7 million, up 4.9%, indicating sustained profitability in a stable credit environment.
- Shareholder Distribution Plan: Despite challenges from declining interest rates, Hercules Capital achieved a 120% coverage of its quarterly base distribution in Q4, maintaining a $0.40 per share base distribution and announcing a $0.07 supplemental distribution for 2026, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to shareholders.
- Asset Management Scale Expansion: Hercules Capital's assets under management exceeded $5.7 billion at the end of 2025, a 20.5% increase, reflecting strong performance in the private credit market and proactive positioning for future market opportunities.
See More
Hercules Capital Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations
- Earnings Beat: Hercules Capital (HTGC) reported Q4 net investment income of $0.48 per share, slightly above the analyst estimate of $0.49, although it declined from Q3 and the same quarter last year, indicating the company's resilience in maintaining profitability amid challenges.
- Investment Income Fluctuation: Total investment income reached $137.4 million, missing the $141.6 million consensus, and fell from $138.1 million in the previous quarter, yet increased from $121.8 million year-over-year, reflecting the company's resilience in a volatile market.
- Debt Repayment Record: During the quarter, Hercules Capital realized early loan repayments of $149.7 million, along with normal amortization of $19.5 million, resulting in total debt repayments of $169.2 million, showcasing the company's effectiveness in debt management.
- Record New Commitments: The company originated gross new debt and equity commitments totaling $1.06 billion, a record increase of 71% year-over-year, while gross new fundings totaled $522.3 million, indicating Hercules Capital's strong position and growth potential in the venture lending market.
See More
Hercules Capital Reports Q4 2025 Financial Results with Strong Growth Metrics
- Debt and Equity Commitment Growth: Hercules Capital reported total gross debt and equity commitments of $1.06 billion in Q4 2025, reflecting a robust year-over-year increase of 70.8%, indicating strong performance in capital markets and enhanced financing capabilities.
- Strong Earnings Coverage: The company achieved a net investment income (NII) of $0.48 per share for Q4 2025, providing a 120% coverage of the base cash distribution, demonstrating solid profitability and the ability to consistently generate value for shareholders.
- Conservative Balance Sheet Management: Hercules Capital maintained a net leverage ratio of 101.8% and a net regulatory leverage ratio of 86.0%, showcasing a cautious approach to risk management that helps sustain stability amid market fluctuations.
- Liquidity and Distribution Plans: As of year-end, Hercules Capital had over $1.0 billion in available liquidity and announced a new supplemental cash distribution of $0.28 per share for 2026, payable over four quarters, further boosting investor confidence.
See More
Hercules Capital Set to Announce Q4 Earnings
- Earnings Announcement: Hercules Capital is set to release its Q4 2023 earnings report on February 12th after market close, with consensus estimates predicting an EPS of $0.49 and revenue of $141.57 million, reflecting a 16.2% year-over-year growth.
- Earnings Estimate Adjustments: Over the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward revision with no downward adjustments, indicating strong market confidence in the company's profitability.
- Revenue Estimate Changes: Revenue estimates have experienced two upward revisions and no downward changes, suggesting analysts maintain an optimistic outlook on Hercules Capital's future performance, which could positively influence its stock price.
- Market Focus: As the earnings report approaches, investor anticipation for Hercules Capital's performance is high, particularly in the current market environment where BDCs are under close scrutiny.
See More
