Prospect Capital Corporation vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? Prospect Capital Corporation trades at $2.19 (market cap $1.13B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $389.25 (market cap $110.23B). The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation is far larger — about 97.5× Prospect Capital Corporation's market cap, and Prospect Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (19.09%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| PSEC | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $1.13B | $110.23B |
Sector | Financials | Energy |
52-Week High | $3.05 | $388.95 |
52-Week Low | $2.11 | $156.39 |
Dividend Yield | 19.09% | 1.25% |
Enterprise Value | — | $113.71B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Prospect Capital (PSEC) trades at $2.19, down 1.79% recently, with a bearish technical signal and deep discount to book value (P/B 0.39). The company reported negative revenue and net income for 2025, though quarterly EPS has beaten estimates. It maintains a high dividend yield, paying $0.04 monthly, but faces net cash outflow and portfolio contraction concerns highlighted in recent news.
Outlook remains cautious due to financial deterioration and NAV erosion risks, offset by high yield and valuation discount. Analyst consensus is mixed with 25% buy ratings, reflecting divided opinion on recovery potential versus ongoing operational challenges.
Valero Energy (VLO) trades at $382.85, up 3.27% today, reflecting strong momentum amid favorable refining conditions. The stock exhibits a bullish technical trend, with recent earnings beats and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) as of September 9, 2026. Fundamentals show robust profitability with a 29.31% ROE, though revenue has declined from $176.4B in 2022 to $122.7B in 2025. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $345.55 price target, and the company maintains a solid balance sheet with $4.66B in cash.
VLO's outlook is supported by tight fuel supplies and healthy demand, with projected 2026 net income of $7.2B. Key risks include volatile energy prices and potential regulatory pressures. The stock offers growth potential but faces headwinds from revenue declines and geopolitical factors affecting the energy sector.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Valero Energy is one of the largest independent refiners in the United States. It operates 14 refineries with a total throughput capacity of 3.2 million barrels a day in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Valero also owns 14 ethanol plants with capacity of 1.7 billion gallons of ethanol a year and holds a 50% stake in Diamond Green Diesel, which has capacity to produce 700 million gallons per year of renewable diesel.
Read more on VLO →