Main Street Capital Corporation (MAIN) vs Western Digital Corporation (WDC)

MAIN leads on 13 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Main Street Capital Corporation and Western Digital Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 13, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Total return — MAIN vs WDC

growth of $100 · last 19y
MAIN +251.5%WDC +2785.3%WDC compounded faster
Log scale — wide-divergence pair
101001k10kStart $1002011201520192023$351$2,885
MAIN WDC

MAIN vs WDC: by the numbers

  • WDC is the larger company ($194.03B vs $4.84B market cap).
  • MAIN trades at the lower earnings multiple (10.95 vs 32.96 P/E).
  • MAIN converts more revenue to profit (58.59% vs 55.07% net margin).
  • MAIN grew revenue faster over the past five years (16.32% vs -6.28% CAGR).
  • MAIN pays the higher dividend yield (7.75% vs 0.09%).

Which is better, MAIN or WDC?

Metric tally: MAIN 13 · WDC 4

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueMAIN(lower P/E)
GrowthMAIN(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeMAIN(higher dividend yield)
QualityWDC(higher ROIC)

Valuation

MetricMAINWDC
P/E ratio10.9532.96
Forward P/E13.6732.14
P/S ratio6.4817.97
P/B ratio1.5221.87
PEG ratio0.172.55
EV / EBITDA14.8828.04
FCF yield7.26%1.37%

Profitability

MetricMAINWDC
Gross margin86.39%45.43%
Operating margin66.79%30.78%
Net margin58.59%55.07%
ROE13.78%67.00%
ROIC8.64%21.53%

Dividends

MetricMAINWDC
Dividend yield7.75%0.09%
Payout ratio73.01%9.42%

Growth (annualized)

MetricMAINWDC
Revenue CAGR (5Y)16.32%-6.28%
EPS CAGR (5Y)65.11%12.92%
FCF CAGR (5Y)55.68%78.08%
Total return CAGR (5Y)12.64%58.48%

Frequently asked

Which is better, MAIN or WDC?
It depends on your goal. value: MAIN (lower P/E); growth: MAIN (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: MAIN (higher dividend yield); quality: WDC (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, MAIN leads 13 to 4.
Is MAIN or WDC cheaper?
On trailing earnings, MAIN is cheaper: MAIN trades at a 10.95 P/E and WDC at 32.96.
Which has grown faster, MAIN or WDC?
Over the past five years, MAIN grew revenue faster — MAIN at a 16.32% CAGR versus WDC at -6.28%.
Does MAIN or WDC pay a bigger dividend?
MAIN yields 7.75% and WDC yields 0.09% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is MAIN or WDC more profitable?
MAIN runs the higher net margin — MAIN at 58.59% versus WDC at 55.07%.
Which has been the better investment, MAIN or WDC?
Over the past 10-year, WDC delivered the higher annualized total return — MAIN at 13.03% versus WDC at 33.71%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 13, 2026.