This High-Yield Lender Paying Nearly $0.50 Quarterly Has Plummeted 51%, but One Fund Just Made a Big Bet On It

Diameter Capital Partners initiated a new position in FS KKR Capital Corp. (NYSE:FSK), acquiring 2,272,393 shares worth an estimated $33.65 million during the fourth quarter, according to a February 17, 2026, SEC filing.

What happened

According to its SEC filing dated February 17, 2026, Diameter Capital Partners reported a new holding in FS KKR Capital Corp, buying 2,272,393 shares during the fourth quarter. The net increase in position value at quarter-end was $33.65 million, reflecting both the purchase and changes in share price during the period.

What else to know

• This was a new position, with the stake representing 3.8% of Diameter’s reportable AUM as of December 31, 2025.
• Top five holdings after the filing:
  • NASDAQ: SATS: $409.57 million (45.8% of AUM)
  • NYSE: MBC: $66.35 million (7.4% of AUM)
  • NYSE: TDS: $43.76 million (4.9% of AUM)
  • NYSE: SILA: $40.79 million (4.6% of AUM)
  • NYSE: FSK: $33.65 million (3.8% of AUM)
• As of Friday, FSK shares were priced at $9.99, down 51% over the past year and well underperforming the S&P 500, which is instead up about 16% in the same period.

Company overview

Company snapshot

• FS KKR Capital provides customized credit solutions, primarily through senior secured and subordinated debt investments in private U.S. middle market companies.
• The firm generates revenue mainly from interest income on debt securities, with additional upside from equity interests and opportunistic investments in corporate bonds.
• It targets private middle market firms in the United States, focusing on companies with annual revenues between $10 million and $2.5 billion and EBITDA of $50 million to $100 million.

FS KKR Capital Corp. is a business development company specializing in debt investments for U.S. middle market firms. The company leverages its expertise to structure senior secured loans and, to a lesser extent, subordinated debt, often obtaining equity interests as part of its transactions. Its strategy centers on providing tailored credit solutions to established private companies.

What this transaction means for investors

This move is interesting because it leans into one of the most out-of-favor corners of the market right now: private credit. FS KKR Capital’s recent stock performance shows the firm clearly facing some pressure, and the financials do as well. Net investment income still held up at $0.48 per share last quarter, enough to cover its dividend, but earnings swung to a loss, and net asset value drifted lower to $20.89. That gap between NAV and a stock price under $10 is doing most of the talking.

So does Diameter’s move signal it believes the market has potentially overcorrected? For a fund that already holds concentrated positions in names like EchoStar and Telephone and Data Systems, this fits a pattern. These are capital structure plays where downside is often tied to credit quality, and upside comes from income and mean reversion. If credit conditions stabilize, the discount to NAV and double-digit yield could look compelling. However, if they worsen, leverage cuts both ways.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.