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Item 3 — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Hercules Capital, Inc. · 10-Q · Q2 FY2026 · Period ended Jun 30, 2026
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We are subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is defined as the sensitivity of our current and future earnings to interest rate volatility, variability of spread relationships, the difference in re-pricing intervals between our assets and liabilities and the effect that interest rates may have on our cash flows. Changes in interest rates may affect both our cost of funding and our interest income from portfolio investments, cash and cash equivalents and idle fund investments. Our investment income will be affected by changes in various interest rates, including Prime and SOFR rates, to the extent our debt investments include variable interest rates. As of June 30, 2026, approximately 97.8% of the loans in our portfolio had floating rates with a floor, indexed to Prime or SOFR. The majority of our loans are linked to the Prime rate and comprise 84.2% of the loan portfolio as of June 30, 2026. Our debt borrowings under the Credit Facilities bear interest at a floating rate, all other outstanding debt borrowings bear interest at a fixed rate. Changes in interest rates can also affect, among other things, our ability to acquire and originate loans and securities and the value of our investment portfolio.
Based on our Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of June 30, 2026, the following table shows the approximate annualized increase (decrease) in components of net assets resulting from operations of hypothetical base rate changes in interest rates, assuming no changes in our investments and debt:
(in thousands) InterestIncome InterestExpense NetIncome EPS
Basis Point Change
(200) $ (17,420) $ (6,891) $ (10,529) $ (0.06)
(100) $ (10,697) $ (3,446) $ (7,251) $ (0.04)
(75) $ (8,969) $ (2,584) $ (6,385) $ (0.03)
(50) $ (6,434) $ (1,723) $ (4,711) $ (0.03)
(25) $ (3,838) $ (861) $ (2,977) $ (0.02)
25 $ 5,357 $ 861 $ 4,496 $ 0.02
50 $ 12,000 $ 1,723 $ 10,277 $ 0.06
75 $ 18,725 $ 2,584 $ 16,141 $ 0.09
From time-to-time, we may hedge against interest rate fluctuations and foreign currency by using standard hedging instruments such as futures, options, and forward contracts. While hedging activities may insulate us against changes in interest rates and foreign currency, they may also limit our ability to participate in the benefits of lower interest rates with respect to our borrowed funds and higher interest rates with respect to our portfolio of investments. During the six months ended June 30, 2026, we have an outstanding foreign currency forward contract to limit our foreign currency exposure with respect to the British Pound. For additional information refer to “Note 4 – Investments”, included in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report.
Although we believe that the foregoing analysis is indicative of our sensitivity to interest rate changes, it does not adjust for potential changes in the credit market, credit quality, size and composition of the assets in our portfolio. It also does not adjust for other business developments, including our debt borrowings and use of our Credit Facilities that could affect the net increase in net assets resulting from operations, or net income. It also does not assume any repayments from our portfolio companies. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that actual results would not differ materially from the statement above.
Because we currently borrow, and plan to borrow in the future, money to make investments, our net investment income is dependent upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest the funds borrowed. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income. In periods of declining interest rates, our interest income and our net investment income could be reduced as the interest income earned on our floating rate debt investments declines and any new fixed rate debt may be issued at lower coupon rates. For additional information regarding the interest rate associated with each of our debt borrowings, refer to Part I, Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources” in this report and “Note 5 – Debt” included in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report.
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