SAJ
Saratoga Investment Corp 8.00% (SAJ) Economic Moat Analysis (2026)
Overall Score
Profitability Returns
Gross margin remains healthy at 56.6% and EBIT margin is strong at 46.3%, indicating solid unit economics.
However, returns are still modest with ROIC at 1.4% and ROE at 4.2%, which limits evidence of a durable moat.
Net profit margin is 16.6%, but operating cash flow is negative, weakening the quality of reported earnings.
Balance Sheet Financial Resilience
Liquidity is strong with a current ratio of 5.8 and cash ratio of 5.0, giving the company flexibility.
Leverage remains elevated with debt-to-equity at 1.56 and net debt to EBITDA at 11.35, which constrains resilience.
Interest coverage is below 1.0 at 0.92, signaling limited cushion if operating performance softens.
Cash Conversion Capital Efficiency
Operating cash flow and free cash flow are both negative, with free cash flow yield at -47.7%, indicating poor cash conversion.
Cash conversion cycle is 22.5 days, but the benefit is outweighed by negative cash generation.
Capital efficiency remains weak, with ROIC at 1.4% and negative operating cash flow coverage.
Competitive Position Moat Evidence
The company shows some pricing power or product strength, reflected in a 56.6% gross margin and 46.3% EBIT margin.
Still, the low returns on capital and weak cash generation do not yet demonstrate a strong, durable moat.
No recent news was provided to indicate a new competitive advantage, product cycle, or market-share gain.
Sources
- Company filings (10-K, 10-Q, investor presentations)
- Financial and market data providers
- Public news and industry information
🔒 Go Beyond This Framework
This is one of 10 institutional-grade frameworks Invetso runs on Saratoga Investment Corp 8.00%. Unlock the complete analysis — SWOT, Economic Moat, Porter’s Five Forces, Management, PESTLE and the Invetso Quality Score.

