ARCC vs MAIN
Ares Capital Corporation compared with Main Street Capital Corporation on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
ARCC
Ares Capital Corporation
TTM yield · Quarterly
MAIN
Main Street Capital Corporation
TTM yield · Monthly
Quick take
- ARCC yields more today: 10.30% vs 6.09% (forward).
- MAIN has grown its payout faster: 11.9%/yr vs 3.6%/yr over the last 5 years.
- ARCC pays every quarter; MAIN pays every month.
- Over the last year ARCC delivered the higher total return: +0.7% vs -9.0% (price change plus payouts).
- ARCC raises fewer payout-risk flags on our heuristic (moderate vs elevated).
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | ARCC | MAIN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $18.64 | $53.51 |
| TTM yield | 10.30% | 8.09% |
| Forward yield | 10.30% | 6.09% |
| Annual payout per share | $1.92 | $3.26 |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly | Monthly |
| Next ex-date | Dec 15, 2026 (est.) | Nov 6, 2026 (declared) |
| Payout ratio (earnings) | 143% | 86% |
| 1-year payout growth | +0.0% | +2.9% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | +3.6% | +11.9% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 0 years | 0 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 100/100 | 94/100 |
| 1-year total return | +0.7% | -9.0% |
| 1-year price return | -8.7% | -15.9% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 13.4B | 5.0B |
| Years paying | 21.8 | 18.9 |
| Payout risk (heuristic) | Moderate | Elevated |
| Sector / category | Financial Services | Financial Services |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| ARCC | MAIN | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 536.5 | 186.9 |
| Income per year | $1,030 | $609 |
| Income per month (avg) | $86 | $51 |
At forward yields, before taxes. Model ARCC · Model MAIN
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCC Dec 15, 2026 | Dec 30, 2026 | $0.48 | Est. |
| ARCC Mar 16, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 | $0.48 | Est. |
| ARCC Jun 15, 2027 | Jun 30, 2027 | $0.48 | Est. |
| MAIN Nov 6, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | $0.2717 | Declared |
| MAIN Nov 29, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | $0.2717 | Est. |
| MAIN Dec 22, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | $0.2717 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
ARCCMAIN
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, ARCC or MAIN?
ARCC currently has the higher trailing yield: ARCC yields 10.30% and MAIN yields 8.09%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do ARCC and MAIN pay?
ARCC pays every quarter and MAIN pays every month. ARCC's next ex-date is Dec 15, 2026 and MAIN's is Nov 6, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, ARCC or MAIN?
MAIN has grown its payout faster: 11.9%/yr vs 3.6%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is ARCC or MAIN better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. ARCC and MAIN differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.