PSEC
Prospect Capital Corporation
Asset Management
Market Cap$1.34B
5Y Perf.-45.8%
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Stock Comparison
PSEC vs SLRC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
SLRC
SLR Investment Corp.
Asset Management
Market Cap$745M
5Y Perf.-18.8%
PSEC vs SLRC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PSEC | SLRC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Asset Management | Asset Management |
| Market Cap | $1.34B | $745M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $-277M | $220M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-94M | $73M |
| Gross Margin | 147.0% | 73.3% |
| Operating Margin | 169.8% | 72.9% |
| Forward P/E | 5.9x | 8.5x |
| Total Debt | $2.09B | $1.15B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $47M | $16M |
PSEC vs SLRC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PSEC
SLRC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prospect Capital Co… (PSEC) | 100 | 54.2 | -45.8% |
| SLR Investment Corp. (SLRC) | 100 | 81.2 | -18.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PSEC vs SLRC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SLRC leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. Prospect Capital Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PSEC
Prospect Capital Corporation
The Banking Pick
PSEC is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.93, yield 27.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.93, Low D/E 69.9%, current ratio 0.51x
- Beta 0.93, yield 27.5%, current ratio 0.51x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
SLRC
SLR Investment Corp.
The Banking Pick
SLRC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 24.8%, EPS growth -3.4%
- 64.4% 10Y total return vs PSEC's 38.1%
- 24.8% NII/revenue growth vs PSEC's -159.2%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SLRC | 24.8% NII/revenue growth vs PSEC's -159.2% |
| Value | PSEC | Lower P/E (5.9x vs 8.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | PSEC | 169.8% margin vs SLRC's 42.0% |
| Stability / Safety | SLRC | Beta 0.76 vs PSEC's 0.93 |
| Dividends | PSEC | 27.5% yield, vs SLRC's 12.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SLRC | -1.0% vs PSEC's -9.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SLRC | 2.9% ROA vs PSEC's -1.4%, ROIC 5.8% vs -6.3% |
PSEC vs SLRC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLPSECLAGGINGSLRC
SLRCSLR Investment Corp.
3leads
PSECProspect Capital Corp…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs SLRCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
PSEC4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
PSEC3/3
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SLRC7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SLRC5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
SLRC2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
PSEC1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PSEC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SLRC and PSEC operate at a comparable scale, with $220M and -$277M in trailing revenue. PSEC is the more profitable business, keeping 169.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SLRC's 42.0%.
| Metric | PSECProspect Capital … | SLRCSLR Investment Co… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | -$277M | $220M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$94M | $73M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$94M | $73M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $553M | -$73M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +147.0% | +73.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +169.8% | +72.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +169.8% | +42.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -189.0% | -32.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +100.0% | -100.0% |
PSEC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
PSEC leads this category, winning 3 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PSECProspect Capital … | SLRCSLR Investment Co… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.3B | $745M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.4B | $1.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -2.04x | 8.04x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 5.85x | 8.48x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.23x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 11.47x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 3.39x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.41x | 0.75x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 2.56x | — |
PSEC leads this category, winning 3 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SLRC leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SLRC delivers a 7.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $7 in annual profit, vs $-3 for PSEC. PSEC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.70x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SLRC's 1.15x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PSEC scores 4/9 vs SLRC's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | PSECProspect Capital … | SLRCSLR Investment Co… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.8% | +7.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.4% | +2.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -6.3% | +5.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.5% | +7.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.70x | 1.15x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.0B | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $47M | $16M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.1B | $1.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -0.79x | 1.06x |
SLRC leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SLRC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SLRC five years ago would be worth $11,622 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,451 for PSEC. Over the past 12 months, SLRC leads with a -1.0% total return vs PSEC's -9.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SLRC at 9.4% vs PSEC's -10.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PSECProspect Capital … | SLRCSLR Investment Co… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.3% | -8.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -9.1% | -1.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -27.3% | +31.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -25.5% | +16.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +38.1% | +64.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -10.1% | +9.4% |
SLRC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SLRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SLRC is the less volatile stock with a 0.76 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PSEC's 0.93 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SLRC currently trades 79.4% from its 52-week high vs PSEC's 72.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PSECProspect Capital … | SLRCSLR Investment Co… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.93x | 0.76x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.77 | $17.20 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.45 | $13.41 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +72.9% | +79.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.9 | 33.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.5M | 404K |
SLRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
PSEC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PSEC as "Hold" and SLRC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 19.0% upside for SLRC (target: $16) vs -9.1% for PSEC (target: $3). For income investors, PSEC offers the higher dividend yield at 27.45% vs SLRC's 12.01%.
| Metric | PSECProspect Capital … | SLRCSLR Investment Co… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $2.50 | $16.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 15 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +27.5% | +12.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.75 | $1.64 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | 0.0% |
PSEC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
PSEC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). SLRC leads in 3 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns).
Best OverallProspect Capital Corporation (PSEC)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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PSEC vs SLRC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PSEC or SLRC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, SLR Investment Corp.
(SLRC) is the stronger pick with 24. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -159. 2% for Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC). SLR Investment Corp. (SLRC) offers the better valuation at 8. 0x trailing P/E (8. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SLR Investment Corp. (SLRC) a "Buy" — based on 15 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — PSEC or SLRC?
On forward P/E, Prospect Capital Corporation is actually cheaper at 5.
9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PSEC or SLRC?
Over the past 5 years, SLR Investment Corp.
(SLRC) delivered a total return of +16. 2%, compared to -25. 5% for Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SLRC returned +64. 4% versus PSEC's +38. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — PSEC or SLRC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), SLR Investment Corp.
(SLRC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 76β versus Prospect Capital Corporation's 0. 93β — meaning PSEC is approximately 21% more volatile than SLRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 70% versus 115% for SLR Investment Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PSEC or SLRC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), SLR Investment Corp.
(SLRC) is pulling ahead at 24. 8% versus -159. 2% for Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: SLR Investment Corp. grew EPS -3. 4% year-over-year, compared to -475. 0% for Prospect Capital Corporation. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — PSEC or SLRC?
Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC) is the more profitable company, earning 169.
8% net margin versus 42. 0% for SLR Investment Corp. — meaning it keeps 169. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PSEC leads at 169. 8% versus 72. 9% for SLRC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PSEC leads at 147. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is PSEC or SLRC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC) trades at 5.
9x forward P/E versus 8. 5x for SLR Investment Corp. — 2. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SLRC: 19. 0% to $16. 25.
08Which pays a better dividend — PSEC or SLRC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC) offers the highest yield at 27. 5%, versus 12. 0% for SLR Investment Corp. (SLRC).
09Is PSEC or SLRC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, SLR Investment Corp.
(SLRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 76), 12. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SLRC: +64. 4%, PSEC: +38. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between PSEC and SLRC?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: PSEC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SLRC is a small-cap high-growth stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(PSEC: -159.2% · SLRC: 24.8%)Net Margin>
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