A O Smith Corp vs Prospect Capital Corporation — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $62.11 (market cap $8.65B), while Prospect Capital Corporation trades at $2.29 (market cap $1.14B). The key difference: A O Smith Corp is far larger — about 7.6× Prospect Capital Corporation's market cap, and Prospect Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (21.93%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | PSEC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.65B | $1.14B |
Sector | Industrials | Financials |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $3.05 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $2.11 |
Enterprise Value | $9.15B | — |
Dividend Yield | 2.26% | 21.93% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AOS trades at $62.41, down 2.45% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and key support at $60. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.03, beating estimates, driven by North America strength. Revenue remains stable at $3.83B for 2025, with strong profitability margins including a 38.59% gross margin and 14.26% net income margin. Recent leadership transition saw Kevin Wheeler retire as Executive Chairman, with Stephen Shafer taking over.
The stock offers a 7.8% upside to the $67.25 consensus price target, supported by solid cash flow and a dividend yield. Risks include exposure to input cost pressures and weaker China demand, as noted in Q2 results. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 33% buy ratings, but institutional selling by Amundi in Q1 2026 warrants monitoring for momentum shifts.
PSEC trades at $2.29, down 1.72% on the day, with a mixed technical picture showing a bullish moving average signal but neutral oscillators. The stock carries a low P/B of 0.39 and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters, though it reported a net loss of $469.92 million in 2025. Recent news includes a dividend increase announcement and the sale of portfolio company Valley Electric for $328 million.
The outlook is cautious; while the deep discount to book value and consistent dividend payments offer income appeal, significant negative revenue and net income margins, alongside a divided analyst consensus, highlight substantial business and market risks. The primary opportunity lies in a potential valuation recovery if operational performance improves.
Trailing returns across standard periods
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →Prospect Capital Corp is a closed-end investment company based in the United States. Its investment objective is to generate both current income and long-term capital appreciation through debt and equity investments. The company invests primarily in senior and subordinated debt and equity of private companies for acquisitions, divestitures, growth, development, recapitalizations, and other purposes. It makes investments, including lending in private equity, sponsored transactions, directly to companies, investments in structured credit, real estate, and syndicated debt.
Read more on PSEC →