COMPARE · Data as of August 28, 2026
MAIN vs NTRS
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. MAIN scored 72.0, NTRS scored 66.0 — MAIN leads.
Compare another set
MAIN
Main Street Capital Corporation
83.4Fin
$58.55 · $5.5B
fundamentals as of
Strength gap
12.7
MAIN leads
NTRS
Northern Trust Corporation
70.7Fin
$186.79 · $34.2B
fundamentals as of
At a glance · who leads each dimension, on the model's own rules
- CheapestMAIN11.8x
- Fastest growthMAIN-1.6%
Side by side · every name on one set of axes
Growth against the P/E multiple. Up and to the right is cheaper and faster — the quality-growth idea in one picture. Points beyond the axis are pinned to the edge and marked off-scale rather than allowed to compress everything else.
Fundamentals, head-to-head
MAIN
NTRS
-1.6%D+
Rev
-2.5%D+
11.8xB+
P/E
16.0xC+
14.3%B
ROE
17.1%B+
1.73B
P/B
2.73C+
5.4%A-
Yield
1.8%C+
Winner per row is the stronger grade; where grades tie, the better figure breaks it. A true tie or a missing value shows no highlight.
The companies
MAINMain Street Capital Corporation
Why now
Asset Management · market cap $5.5b. 13% off the 52-week high of $67.34. 6 sell-side analysts rate this a Hold with a mean 1-yr target of $59.50 (implying +2% upside).
Moat
Net margin 78% is exceptional — pricing-power territory rare outside premium software, branded staples, and specialty pharma. ROE 14% meets the long-run market sustainable threshold — solid but not differentiated; the durability comes from elsewhere.
Risk
Dividend payout 86% of earnings on a 5.4% yield — distribution coverage is thin; one earnings stumble could force a dividend cut. Regulatory capital risk — stricter capital requirements (CCAR, Basel) can force a dividend cut or a capital raise; the largest banks are most exposed because they're held to the tightest standards.
NTRSNorthern Trust Corporation
Why now
Asset Management · market cap $34.2b. 5% off the 52-week high of $195.78. 13 sell-side analysts publish a mean 1-yr target of $184.27 (implying -1% upside).
Moat
Net margin 25% sits well above the S&P median (~11%) — suggests structural pricing advantage or cost discipline competitors can't quickly close. ROE 17% sits above Buffett's preferred 15% threshold — the equity base is compounding at a rate the market struggles to discount accurately.
Risk
Balance-sheet financial — book value, net interest margin, and credit loss provisions are the lever points; a rates regime change or a deterioration in the loan book moves the stock more than EPS does.
Verdict — model-derived comparison
Generating verdict… typically 5–10 seconds
Not investment advice. The Bull Rankings publishes a quantitative ranking model and accompanying analysis for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security; nothing is personalized to your circumstances, risk tolerance, or tax situation. Investing carries the risk of loss — invest at your own risk and consider consulting a licensed financial professional before acting on anything you read here. See terms and methodology for full disclosures.