abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund (AEF) vs FS Specialty Lending Fund (FSSL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
FS Specialty Lending Fund is the larger company by market cap ($885.2 million vs $376.0 million), about 2.4 times the size. On valuation, abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund trades at a lower trailing P/E (2.0x vs 19.8x for FS Specialty Lending Fund). abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund pays a dividend yielding 8.53%, while FS Specialty Lending Fund does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Head-to-head
| Metric | AEF | FSSL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $9.26 | $11.66 |
| Market cap | $375.97M | $885.20M |
| 1-day change | -2.22% | +1.83% |
| YTD return | +35.29% | — |
| 1-year return | +45.47% | — |
| 5-year return | +12.07% | — |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 1.95 | 19.76 |
| Forward P/E | — | 7.38 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.74 | $0.59 |
| Dividend yield | 8.53% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.79 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $10.14 | $15.00 |
| 52-week low | $6.26 | $10.75 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.68% | -22.27% |
| Average volume | 101.15K | 291.67K |
| Shares outstanding | 40.60M | 75.92M |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Finance/Investors Services | Finance/Investors Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- FS Specialty Lending Fund is about 2.4 times larger than abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund by market value ($885.20M vs $375.97M).
- FS Specialty Lending Fund trades at a higher earnings multiple (19.8x vs 2.0x trailing P/E).
- abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (8.53% vs 0.00%).
About abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund
AEF stock →abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc. is a closed ended equity mutual fund and managed by Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited.
Finance · Finance/Investors Services
AEF vs FSSL FAQ
Which is bigger, abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund or FS Specialty Lending Fund?
FS Specialty Lending Fund (FSSL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $885.20M compared with $375.97M for abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund (AEF).
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AEF or FSSL?
AEF has the lower trailing P/E at 2.0, versus 19.8 for FSSL. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund or FS Specialty Lending Fund?
abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund pays a dividend yielding 8.53%, while FS Specialty Lending Fund does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund and FS Specialty Lending Fund in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Finance/Investors Services industry within the Finance sector.