MAIN vs HTGC: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared
Main Street Capital CorporationHercules Capital, Inc.
Data as of the close · refreshed automatically every trading day
MAIN vs HTGC at a glance
Main Street Capital Corporation (MAIN) and Hercules Capital, Inc. (HTGC) are compared below using data through the September 25, 2026 close, refreshed after every trading day.
Over the past year, HTGC returned -0.37% with dividends reinvested, compared with -6.67% for MAIN. HTGC currently yields 11.08% (trailing 12-month) against 7.84% for MAIN. Across five years the total-return gap is +97.09% for MAIN vs +78.31% for HTGC.
HTGC leads on both current yield and 1-year total return. Yields and returns move with markets, so check the longer periods below before drawing conclusions.
| Metric | MAIN | HTGC |
|---|---|---|
| Last close | $55.10 | $16.97 |
| Dividend yield | 7.84% (TTM) | 11.08% (TTM) |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| Pays | monthly | quarterly |
| Dividends, last 12 months | $4.32 (16 payments) | $1.88 (4 payments) |
| Issuer | — | — |
| Inception | — | — |
Performance: MAIN vs HTGC
Total return assumes every distribution is reinvested. Switch to price return to see the change in share price alone.
Total Return (%) · dividends reinvested · Sep 25, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026
Overview
Key fund stats as of the latest close.
Total returns
Price change plus dividends paid, by holding period. Best in each period is outlined.
Recent dividend payments
The latest 12 distributions per share for each fund, newest first.
| MAIN | HTGC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21, 2026 | $0.300 | Aug 11, 2026 | $0.470 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | $0.265 | May 14, 2026 | $0.470 |
| Aug 7, 2026 | $0.265 | Feb 25, 2026 | $0.470 |
| Jul 8, 2026 | $0.265 | Nov 12, 2025 | $0.470 |
| Jun 22, 2026 | $0.300 | Aug 12, 2025 | $0.470 |
| Jun 8, 2026 | $0.260 | May 13, 2025 | $0.470 |
| May 8, 2026 | $0.260 | Feb 26, 2025 | $0.470 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | $0.260 | Nov 13, 2024 | $0.400 |
| Mar 20, 2026 | $0.300 | Aug 13, 2024 | $0.480 |
| Mar 6, 2026 | $0.260 | May 13, 2024 | $0.480 |
| Feb 6, 2026 | $0.260 | Feb 27, 2024 | $0.480 |
| Jan 8, 2026 | $0.260 | Nov 14, 2023 | $0.480 |
MAIN vs HTGC: common questions
Which pays a higher dividend, MAIN or HTGC?
As of September 25, 2026, MAIN yields 7.84% (trailing 12-month) and HTGC yields 11.08% (trailing 12-month), so HTGC currently pays the higher yield. A higher yield does not guarantee a higher total return.
Which has performed better, MAIN or HTGC?
Over the past year with dividends reinvested, MAIN returned -6.67% and HTGC returned -0.37%. Over five years, MAIN returned +97.09% and HTGC returned +78.31%. Past performance does not predict future results.
What would $10,000 in MAIN vs HTGC be worth after one year?
With dividends reinvested, $10,000 invested one year before September 25, 2026 would have grown to about $9,333 in MAIN and $9,963 in HTGC.
How often do MAIN and HTGC pay dividends?
MAIN pays monthly (16 payments in the last 12 months) and HTGC pays quarterly (4 payments).
Is MAIN or HTGC the better investment?
It depends on your goals, time horizon and tax situation. Income-focused investors often weigh yield and payment frequency, while long-term investors usually compare total return and fees. Dividend Duel is an educational tool and does not provide investment advice.
Related comparisons
More side-by-side comparisons with MAIN and HTGC.
Figures come from end-of-day prices and distributions and are recalculated after every trading session; see our methodology. This page is for education only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read the full disclosure.