Long term Treasury yields near multi decade highs are reshaping where credit risk feels most exposed. AI and tech stocks tied to heavy spending are being repriced as debt, not just growth stories, which is pulling attention toward listed private credit and alternative lenders. This article walks through three stocks from that universe that appear well positioned relative to these shocks and explains how their exposure to the news could matter for your portfolio.

The three listed private credit and alternative lending stocks covered below are only a starting sample, and the full screen surfaced 7 more companies with equally compelling narratives that are not included in this article. If you want to go straight to the source and identify your own ideas across this universe, head into the Listed Private Credit and Alternative Lenders to Corporate Borrowers screener

Ridgepost Capital (RPC)

Overview: Ridgepost Capital is a Dallas based alternative asset manager that packages private equity, venture, impact investing and private credit strategies into multi asset private market solutions for institutions and other investors, giving you exposure to non bank corporate lending alongside longer term equity focused pools of capital. Its private credit platforms, such as Five Points, Hark Capital and WTI, link directly to the screener theme by focusing on corporate lending away from traditional banks.

Operations: Ridgepost Capital generates all of its approximately $312.9 million in revenue from asset management activities in the United States.

Market Cap: $940.3 million

Ridgepost Capital provides exposure to private credit and lending at a time when higher long term yields and wider credit spreads are pushing more corporate borrowers toward non bank financing. The company reports net margin of 8.7% and earnings growth that outpaced the broader capital markets sector, while still carrying a relatively rich P/E multiple that reflects expectations of continued progress. However, debt is not well covered by operating cash flow and all liabilities sit in higher risk external borrowings, so funding costs and liquidity are key considerations. Combined with an inexperienced management team and a recent $16.2 million one off loss, this creates a balance between a clear growth narrative and meaningful execution risk.

Ridgepost Capital’s growth story in private credit looks powerful, yet its rich P/E and thin cash coverage of debt raise sharp questions about durability. Get the full picture in the 3 key rewards and 3 important warning signs (2 are major!)

Build your own private credit shortlist around Ridgepost Capital

Ridgepost Capital and the two other stocks in this article all came out of a single screener, but the real edge is setting your own ground rules. Use our customisable Screener to mix filters for valuation, growth, balance sheet strength and risks, or lean on any of our curated Investing Ideas.

KKR (KKR)

Overview: KKR is a global investment firm that raises capital from institutions and individuals and invests it across private equity, real estate, infrastructure and especially private credit, giving you indirect exposure to corporate lending, CLOs and asset backed financing alongside equity deals. Its size, long history in deal making and growing credit and asset based finance platforms mean KKR can lean into higher rate lending opportunities while still being diversified across sectors and regions.

Operations: KKR reports about $12.6 billion in revenue from Insurance, with a further $6.9 billion recorded as a segment adjustment.

Market Cap: $97.7b

Rising long term yields and the heavy AI related borrowing cycle are pushing more financing into private markets. KKR is one of the largest ways to tap that trend through fee based private credit and infrastructure lending. Investors get a mix of growing credit and asset based finance platforms, a large pool of unrealized carried interest and recent activity across data centers, power and renewables that ties directly into AI infrastructure demand. At the same time, KKR still depends on external funding, performance fees and a complex global deal pipeline, which can all add earnings swings if markets turn. If you want a scaled private credit player with meaningful upside but real cycle risk, KKR may warrant closer attention.

KKR’s expanding private credit and infrastructure lending story can look like pure upside, yet the real twist may lie in how fees, funding and deal cycles interact. Get the full context in the analysis report for KKR

Capital Southwest (CSWC)

Overview: Capital Southwest is a Dallas based business development company that lends directly to lower and middle market US corporates through a mix of senior, unitranche and subordinated loans, often with floating rates and equity co investments. This provides pure play exposure to listed private credit and higher rate corporate lending. It focuses on sponsored deals such as buyouts, growth capital and acquisitions across industrials, business services, healthcare and other sectors rather than startups or turnarounds.

Operations: Capital Southwest generates about $237.2 million in investment income, all from its US focused portfolio.

Market Cap: $1.6b

Capital Southwest provides direct access to the private credit theme that is drawing more borrowers away from banks as long term Treasury yields and spreads stay elevated. The company has grown its credit portfolio to about $2b, reports net profit margins near the mid 40% range and continues to originate new commitments while maintaining conservative first lien focused underwriting. At the same time, a double digit dividend yield is not fully covered by earnings or cash, non cash income remains significant, and all funding comes from higher risk external sources rather than deposits. Dividend and balance sheet resilience therefore deserve close attention. For investors willing to weigh those trade offs, Capital Southwest offers a focused way to tap listed private credit and floating rate lending at scale.

Capital Southwest’s high yield and focused private credit portfolio can look like a simple income story, yet the real puzzle is how that payout lines up with portfolio quality and balance sheet pressure. To see how those pieces fit together and where risks might quietly build, go straight to the 3 key rewards and 3 important warning signs (3 are major!)

Seeking Fresh Alternatives Before Others?

Markets move fast and the best breakout ideas rarely stay under the radar for long. Scout fresh momentum, spot what others miss and act before it stops mattering. Get in early.

• Spot potential income workhorses before yields get compressed by latecomers by scanning hand picked high payout stocks in the 11 dividend fortresses.
• Track companies building tomorrow's computing backbone while they are still flying under most radars by running a focused search through the 24 quantum computing stocks.
• Target resilient balance sheets before the crowd chases safety by filtering for robust fundamentals and low risk profiles using the list of solid balance sheet and fundamentals (50 results).

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.