GECC vs MSDL: Which BDC is the Better Dividend Buy?
A side-by-side comparison of Great Elm Capital Corp. (GECC) and Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) — dividend yield, NAV premium/discount, market cap, and price-to-NAV valuation.
Ready to Trade GECC or MSDL?
Public Disclosure: We maintain material affiliate partnerships with the trading platforms listed below and may receive compensation if you open an account through our tracking routes.
Compare BDC dividend yields side-by-side, then open a brokerage account that supports fractional shares and real-time distribution tracking.
GECC vs MSDL: Key Metrics Head-to-Head
| Metric | GECC | MSDL | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 24.16% | 12.29% | GECC |
| Premium / Discount to NAV | -55.87% | -21.92% | MSDL |
| Market Capitalization | $0.08B | $0.9B | MSDL |
| Trailing Stock Price | $5.34 | $15.46 | — |
| Net Asset Value (NAV) | $12.1 | $19.8 | — |
| Price vs NAV (Valuation) | Discount | Discount | MSDL |
| Dividend Frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly | — |
| Leverage Ratio | 1.28x | 1.18x | MSDL |
About GECC — Great Elm Capital Corp.
Great Elm Capital Corp. is an externally managed BDC focused on investing in senior secured and mezzanine debt of middle-market companies. GECC seeks to generate current income with a portfolio that includes senior secured loans, mezzanine instruments, and selected unsecured debt positions. The BDC is externally managed by Great Elm Capital Management and targets borrowers with EBITDA between $3 million and $25 million.
About MSDL — Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund
Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund is an externally managed BDC advised by Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., providing senior secured first lien and unitranche loans to U.S. middle-market companies. MSDL leverages the global platform of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Credit platform and predominately originates floating-rate first lien instruments to borrowers with EBITDA between $5 million and $50 million.
How to Choose Between GECC and MSDL
When comparing two Business Development Companies, the right choice depends on your income objective:
- Dividend yield matters most for immediate income — the higher yielder wins on cash flow, but make sure it's covered by investment income.
- NAV premium/discount matters for valuation — a discount to NAV implies you're buying assets below their accounting value, a premium implies the market expects above-average growth.
- Market cap reflects liquidity and scale — larger BDCs typically have lower borrowing costs and better portfolio diversification.
- Leverage cuts both ways — it amplifies dividend yield but increases sensitivity to credit defaults and interest rate moves.
Both GECC and MSDL are Regulated Investment Company (RIC)-structured BDCs required to distribute at least 90% of taxable income to shareholders, which is what produces their above-average dividend yields. Use the comparison table above as a starting point, then read each full profile before making an investment decision.
Affiliate Disclosure: BusinessDevelopmentCompanies.com participates in affiliate marketing programs. We may earn a commission or referral fee when visitors click links to institutional partner platforms like eToro or Interactive Brokers. This financial support enables us to maintain real-time programmatic valuation data across our platform. Links to brokerages on this page carry the rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" attribute.
Not Investment Advice: This comparison is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing here constitutes a recommendation, solicitation, or investment advice to buy or sell any security. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult a licensed financial advisor. Read our full Editorial Policy and Terms of Service.