Main Street Capital Corporation logo

Main Street Capital Corporation(MAIN)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
3-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$53.74
10/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
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  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for MAIN

10/09/2026: MAIN (3-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Main Street Capital Corporation is an internally managed Business Development Company that provides customized financing to lower middle and middle market companies. The company is noted for its cost-efficient internal management structure and a consistent history of paying monthly dividends, making it a strong fit for income-focused investors. Its core strength lies in its proven ability to source and underwrite credit while achieving capital gains through equity exits. Key risks involve exposure to private credit defaults during economic downturns and intense competition in the private lending space. Investors should monitor portfolio credit quality, dividend sustainability, and the company's continued growth in its third-party asset management segment.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitWhile Main Street grows its portfolio, its primary focus is income generation rather than aggressive capital appreciation.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock is generally characterized by steady, income-focused performance rather than high-beta price momentum.
Value investorStrong fitValue investors may find the internally managed structure and NAV growth potential attractive relative to valuation.
Dividend investorStrong fitMain Street is a preferred choice for income-focused investors due to its monthly dividend and supplemental distribution history.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile the dividend is consistent, exposure to private middle market credit carries inherent credit and valuation risks.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumAs a publicly traded BDC, market sentiment can influence share prices independently of the underlying portfolio performance.
Valuation riskMedium / highThe illiquid nature of lower middle market assets makes fair value estimation sensitive to internal and independent assessments.
Competition risk (private credit funds)Medium / highIntense competition from larger private credit funds can compress spreads and tighten underwriting standards.
Business qualityStrongThe internally managed model is considered a high-quality attribute in the BDC space due to lower cost ratios.
Dividend incomeStrongThe company has a consistent track record of distributing income to shareholders.
Execution riskMediumSuccessful growth depends on management's ability to originate quality loans and exit equity positions profitably.

Price Behavior

Flat / Range-Bound
PRICE PATH

Flat / Range-Bound

The stock price has been trading within a narrow range with minimal directional movement.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 88.92%
Avg. Invested days 94
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 5.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 4.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
MAIN receives a 4-star rating, supported by strong unit economics, and solid company fundamentals. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
MAIN has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with strong financial health, solid growth momentum, and moderate ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong cash generation (FCF margin 53.9%) and strong profitability (net margin 76.6%) are partially offset by slightly negative earnings growth (-2.9%), negative revenue growth (-11.1%), modest insider ownership of 3.79%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
MAIN's financial health is supported by strong profitability, including gross margin of 100.0% and operating margin of 80.7%. Liquidity is solid (4 stars), which helps explain the 5-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is MAIN's strongest growth driver at +498.8% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, while revenue growth (-11.1%, negative) and earnings growth (-2.9%, slightly negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 25.9% (moderate) and 96.1% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable (strong). Insider ownership of 3.79% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. 3.57%
Van Eck Associates Corporation 2.02%
UBS Group AG 1.48%
Morgan Stanley - Brokerage Accounts 0.91%
Legal & General Group PLC 0.89%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
MAIN generates approximately $1,000 of gross profit, $807 of operating income, and $539 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong margins and solid cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains soft.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 5.15%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
MAIN has a high-quality, liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Quality TiltLow VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 5.03B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 10.95
1Y Target Price 59.86
Price to earnings Ratio 10.95
1Y Target Price 59.86
Volume (30-day avg) 475.6K shares
Beta 0.75
52 Weeks Range 47.23 - 61.47
Updated Date 10/09/2026
52 Weeks Range 47.23 - 61.47
Updated Date 10/09/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 5.67%
Basic EPS (TTM) 4.91

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Interest IncomeInterest earned on debt investments in the lower middle and middle market portfolios.The bulk of the company's income comes from the interest payments received from the loans provided to private businesses.
Dividend and Fee IncomeDividends from equity holdings and recurring fees from management services.The company also earns money through ownership stakes in businesses and by managing capital for other investors.
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Valuation

Trailing PE 10.95
Forward PE 16.08
Enterprise Value 7.51B
Price to Sales(TTM) 8.74
Enterprise Value 7.51B
Price to Sales(TTM) 8.74
Enterprise Value to Revenue 12.74
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 15.54
Shares Outstanding 93.51M
Shares Floating 89.82M
Shares Outstanding 93.51M
Shares Floating 89.82M
Percent Insiders 3.79
Percent Institutions 25.88

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.