Zacks Research Lifts Earnings Estimates for Hercules Capital

Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HTGC) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research lifted their Q4 2025 earnings estimates for shares of Hercules Capital in a report released on Thursday, March 13th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the financial services provider will post earnings per share of $0.51 for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $0.50. The consensus estimate for Hercules Capital’s current full-year earnings is $1.96 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Hercules Capital’s Q3 2026 earnings at $0.52 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.54 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $2.03 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $2.20 EPS.

Hercules Capital (NYSE:HTGC) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The financial services provider reported $0.49 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.49. Hercules Capital had a net margin of 53.28% and a return on equity of 17.19%. The firm had revenue of $121.78 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $124.09 million.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised Hercules Capital from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $19.50 to $21.50 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating and set a $22.00 target price on shares of Hercules Capital in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Compass Point increased their price target on Hercules Capital from $18.25 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $21.40.

Hercules Capital Price Performance

Shares of HTGC opened at $18.54 on Monday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $20.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $19.80. Hercules Capital has a 12-month low of $16.95 and a 12-month high of $22.04. The stock has a market cap of $3.21 billion, a PE ratio of 11.51 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a quick ratio of 2.72, a current ratio of 2.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89.

Hercules Capital Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 26th were paid a dividend of $0.47 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 26th. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.14%. Hercules Capital’s payout ratio is currently 99.38%.

Institutional Trading of Hercules Capital

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Hercules Capital in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Hercules Capital by 177.2% in the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,802 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 1,152 shares in the last quarter. Estabrook Capital Management lifted its position in Hercules Capital by 239.0% in the fourth quarter. Estabrook Capital Management now owns 1,878 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 1,324 shares during the last quarter. Archer Investment Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Hercules Capital by 345.4% during the fourth quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 2,325 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 1,803 shares during the period. Finally, Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of Hercules Capital in the 4th quarter worth approximately $48,000. 19.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Hercules Capital

Hercules Capital, Inc is a business development company. The firm specializing in providing venture debt, debt, senior secured loans, and growth capital to privately held venture capital-backed companies at all stages of development from startups to expansion stage including select publicly listed companies and select special opportunity lower middle market companies that require additional capital to fund acquisitions, recapitalizations and refinancing and established-stage companies.