How does the reported Net Investment Income of $0.35 per share compare to market expectations and previous quarters?
Fundamental view â beat on the street and a modest acceleration
The $0.35âŻNII per share for Q2âŻ2025 represents a 10â12âŻ% increase versus Q2âŻ2024 (which was $0.31â$0.32 per share) and a ~8âŻ% rise over the prior quarterâs $0.33. Analystsâ consensus forecasts for Q2âŻ2025 were clustered around $0.30â$0.33 per share, so the result comfortably surpassed expectations. The lift in net investment income is coming from a higher weightedâaverage yield on the fundâs creditâsensitive holdings and a modest reduction in expense ratios, both of which reinforce the âincomeâgrowthâ narrative that the market has been pricing in for MSCâŻIncome Fund.
Technical & trading implications â the beat gave the stock a shortâterm catalyst. The price has been trading in a tight 2âmonth range around $15.30â$15.55, with the $15.33 NAV now just a tick above the prior support at $15.25. The upside breakout above $15.55 on higherâthanâexpected NII could trigger a breakout rally toward the next resistance zone near $15.80â$15.90. Conversely, a failure to hold $15.30 may expose the share to a downward test of the $15.10â$15.00 trough.
Actionable takeâaway â the Q2 beat adds a positive earnings surprise to the fundâs fundamentals, suggesting a bias toward the upside on a breakout. Traders can look for a buyâonâdip near $15.30 with a stop just below $15.10, targeting the $15.80â$15.90 resistance as the upside ceiling. If the price stalls below $15.30 and shows a breakdown, a shortâposition with a stop around $15.35 may be warranted, as the market could reâprice the miss on the âincomeâgrowthâ story.