NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Middle market private companies in the Golub Capital Altman Index experienced year-over-year earnings growth of 12.8% and revenue growth of 11.5% during the first two months of the fourth quarter of 2017. This compares to year-over-year earnings growth of 4.9% and revenue growth of 6.8% in the third quarter of 2017.
Lawrence E. Golub, CEO of Golub Capital, said, “Middle market companies had an outstanding fourth quarter of 2017, building on the strong performance we saw in the third quarter. Revenue and earnings accelerated to the fastest rates of year-over-year growth since inception of the Golub Capital Altman Index. The fourth quarter’s robust growth was accompanied by profit margin expansion, which suggests that the U.S. economy has strong momentum going into 2018.”
Dr. Edward I. Altman said, “The data shows improved company performance in all sectors. The Technology sector, strong throughout the year, had median earnings growth of nearly 30% year-over-year. The Consumer and Industrials sectors continued to rebound since the lackluster first quarter of 2017. Even the Healthcare sector, which has struggled with profitability, ended a five-quarter streak of declining earnings.”
“In 2017, the Golub Capital Middle Market Report provided important value to the investment community by flagging major trend changes in earnings growth rates and sector performance,” said Golub. “We reported accelerating revenue growth in Q1 and accelerating earnings growth in Q2 and Q3, each of which were followed by favorable earnings surprises from public companies. When we published our Q2 and Q3 reports, we discussed that GDP growth seemed to be exceeding consensus forecasts, with GDP growing at or above 3%, and we were right. We highlighted the strength of the Technology sector throughout the year and identified rebounds in the Consumer and Industrials sectors. We expect the Golub Capital Middle Market Report to continue to provide early insight into economic trends.”
The Golub Capital Altman Index (“GCAI”), which is produced by Golub Capital in collaboration with renowned credit expert Dr. Edward I. Altman, is the first and only index based on actual revenue and earnings (defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or “EBITDA”) for middle market companies. It measures the median revenue and earnings growth of more than 150 private U.S. companies in the loan portfolio of Golub Capital, a leading middle market lender. Reported shortly before public company quarterly earnings season, the GCAI has served as a reliable indicator of the overall growth rates in revenue and earnings of public companies in market indexes such as the S&P 500 and S&P SmallCap 600 (“S&P 600”), as well as quarterly Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”), according to statistical back-testing dating back to 2012, when data began to be tracked.
The size and diversity of the Golub Capital loan portfolio ensure that the confidentiality of all company-specific information used in the index is maintained in both the aggregate and industry segment data.
We believe the results (1) are representative of the general performance of middle market companies, which are a major contributor to U.S. private sector employment; (2) can be easily compared to the performance of the public companies that make up major stock indexes; (3) are relevant to the aggregate economic performance of the U.S. economy and (4) provide timely information for the investment community.
The companies in the GCAI operate in a wide range of industries. Results are provided for the total universe of GCAI constituents and by industry segment. Given the index’s limited exposure to Financials, Utilities, Energy and Materials, comparisons are made to the S&P 500 and S&P 600 as well as to “adjusted” versions of those indexes that exclude the aforementioned sectors.
About Golub Capital Middle Market Lending
Golub Capital’s Middle Market Lending group provides financing for middle market, private equity-backed transactions with hold positions of up to $400 million and is an arranger of credit facilities up to $750 million. Golub Capital’s award-winning team strives to establish long-term, win-win partnerships by providing dependable, fast and creative solutions that meet private equity sponsors’ and portfolio companies’ needs.
Golub Capital is a nationally recognized credit asset manager with over $20 billion of capital under management. For over 20 years, Golub Capital has provided credit to help medium-sized U.S. businesses grow. The firm’s award-winning Middle Market Lending business provides financing for middle market companies and their private equity sponsors. Golub Capital’s credit expertise also forms the foundation of its Late Stage Lending and Broadly Syndicated Loan businesses. Golub Capital has worked hard to build a reputation as a fast, reliable provider of compelling financing solutions, and we believe this has inspired repeat clients and investors. Today, the firm has over 300 employees with lending offices in Chicago, New York and San Francisco. For more information, please visit golubcapital.com.
About Dr. Edward I. Altman
A leading expert on credit markets, Dr. Edward I. Altman is the Max L. Heine Professor of Finance, Emeritus at the NYU Stern School of Business, and Director of Research in Credit and Debt Markets at the NYU Salomon Center for the Study of Financial Institutions. He is currently an advisor to several foreign central banks.
Professor Altman has published or edited two-dozen books and over 150 articles in scholarly finance, accounting and economic journals. He has been inducted into the Fixed Income Analysts Society Hall of Fame, served as President of the Financial Management Association, was an FMA Fellow, and was amongst the inaugural inductees into the Turnaround Management Association Hall of Fame. He received his MBA and Ph.D. in Finance from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Important Disclosure
The Golub Capital Altman Index is provided as an indicator only, and does not constitute investment advice or the offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any security. Some of these statements constitute forward-looking statements, which may be predictions about future events, future performance, or future financial conditions. Some of these statements reflect opinions based upon the data presented in the Index, and these opinions may be incorrect. Actual results could vary materially from those implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements for any reason. The Golub Capital Altman Index has been created on the basis of information provided by third-party sources that are believed to be reliable, but the information has not been verified independently by Golub Capital. Golub Capital makes no warranty or representation as to the accuracy or completeness of such third-party information.
SOURCE Golub Capital