Effective Portfolio Yield and Core Portfolio Yield (“Core Yield”)
The effective yield on Hercules’ debt investment portfolio was 14.9% during Q1 2024 as compared to 15.3% for Q4 2023. The Company realized $161.1 million of early loan repayments in Q1 2024 compared to $277.7 million in Q4 2023, or a decrease of 42.0%. Effective yields generally include the effects of fees and income accelerations attributed to early loan repayments and other one-time events. Effective yields are materially impacted by the elevated or reduced levels of early loan repayments and derived by dividing total investment income by the weighted average earning investment portfolio assets outstanding during the quarter, which excludes non-interest earning assets such as warrants and equity investments.
Core yield, a non-GAAP measure, was 14.0% during Q1 2024, within the Company’s expected annual range of 13.8% to 14.0% and decreased compared to 14.3% for Q4 2023. Hercules defines core yield as yield that generally excludes any benefit from income related to early repayments attributed to the acceleration of unamortized income and prepayment fees and includes income from expired commitments.
Income Statement
Total investment income increased to $121.6 million for Q1 2024, compared to $105.1 million in Q1 2023. The increase is primarily attributable to a higher weighted average debt investment portfolio between periods.
Non-interest and fee expenses were $25.2 million in Q1 2024 versus $23.3 million for Q1 2023. The increase was primarily due to an increase in employee compensation expenses.
Interest expense and fees were $20.0 million in Q1 2024, compared to $19.0 million in Q1 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher weighted average borrowings and the higher utilization of the credit facilities and their higher interest rates between periods.
The Company had a weighted average cost of borrowings comprised of interest and fees, of 4.9% in Q1 2024, as compared to 4.7% for Q1 2023. The increase is primarily due to higher interest rates on credit facilities between periods.
NII – Net Investment Income
NII for Q1 2024 was $79.2 million, or $0.50 per share, based on 157.4 million basic weighted average shares outstanding, compared to $65.5 million, or $0.48 per share, based on 135.3 million basic weighted average shares outstanding in Q1 2023. The increase is primarily attributable to a higher weighted average debt investment portfolio between periods, offset by an increase in total net operating expenses.
Continued Credit Discipline and Strong Credit Performance
Hercules’ net cumulative realized gain/(loss) position, since its first origination activities in October 2004 through March 31, 2024, (including net loan, warrant and equity activity and excluding loss on debt extinguishment and other non-credit related losses) on investments totaled ($37.2) million, on a GAAP basis, spanning nearly 20 years of investment activities.
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