Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
MET vs PSEC
MetLife, Inc. versus Prospect Capital Corporation — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
MET wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but PSEC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
MET or PSEC — which is better?
MET wins this comparison 3–1 across 6 dimensions. MET yields 2.92% — lower than PSEC's 27.02% — and carries a 8.3/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 1.9/10 for PSEC (Risky). MET wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but PSEC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, PSEC generates 27.02% vs 2.92% — a 24.10% difference that translates to $24,100 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, MET scores 8.3/10 (Strong) vs 1.9/10 (Risky) for PSEC — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | MET | PSEC | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 2.92% | 27.02% | PSEC wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 1.9/10 | MET wins |
| Growth trend | -0.03% vs 5y | +13.97% vs 5y | MET wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.73 | 0.81 | Tie |
| Scale | $50.6B | $811M | MET wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 1 wins | MET wins |
Dimension by dimension
PSEC wins on yield (27.02% vs 2.92%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $2410 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
PSEC's higher yield (27.02%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus MET's 2.92% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
MET wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 1.9/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. MET scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
MET (8.3/10) scores 6.4 points higher than PSEC (1.9/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
MET shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
MET's yield is 0.03% below its 5y average, versus 13.97% for PSEC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
Volatility (beta) is similar
Both tickers move with comparable sensitivity to the broader market.
MET is 62.4× larger by market cap
Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
Full breakdown per ticker: are MET dividends qualified and are PSEC dividends qualified — each with the after-tax income at every federal bracket.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice. Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
MET or PSEC — which is better?
MET is better on our scoring, winning 3–1 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. MET wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but PSEC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, MET or PSEC?
MET wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but PSEC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
MET vs PSEC: which has a higher dividend yield?
MET yields 2.92% and PSEC yields 27.02%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $2410 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is MET or PSEC a safer dividend in 2026?
MET scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. PSEC scores 1.9/10 (Risky). MET is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, MET or PSEC?
MET's yield is 0.03% below its 5y average, versus 13.97% for PSEC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
MET vs PSEC: which is more tax-efficient?
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put MET and PSEC into the free analyzer with the rest of your portfolio. You'll see what each one contributes to your annual income, your weighted safety score, and whether adding MET diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.