MetaCap

ASA Gold and Precious Metals (ASA) vs Prospect Capital (PSEC)

Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.

Summary

ASA Gold and Precious Metals (ASA) has outperformed Prospect Capital (PSEC) over the past year, gaining 17.6% versus a loss of 33.1%. Over five years, ASA leads with a +160.9% price change compared with -77.5% for PSEC. ASA Gold and Precious Metals is the larger company by market cap ($1.01 billion vs $982.2 million), about 1.0 times the size.

On valuation, ASA Gold and Precious Metals trades at a lower trailing P/E (1.4x vs 30.7x for Prospect Capital). Prospect Capital offers the higher dividend yield (28.26% vs 0.13%).

Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology

Relative performance

ASA+17.58%PSEC-33.09%
+80%+21%-39%
Oct 7, 20251 yearOct 7, 2026
ASA+175.41%PSEC-77.17%
+328%+116%-96%
Oct 4, 20215 yearsOct 5, 2026

Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.

Head-to-head

ASA versus PSEC key metrics
MetricASAPSEC
Share price$54.78$1.84
Market cap$1.01B$982.22M
1-day change-4.00%+0.55%
YTD return-8.20%-28.96%
1-year return+17.58%-33.09%
5-year return+160.86%-77.51%
P/E ratio (TTM)1.4230.67
Forward P/E—5.26
EPS (TTM)$38.47$0.06
Dividend yield0.13%28.26%
Annual dividend$0.07$0.52
52-week high$83.20$3.13
52-week low$43.20$1.75
Distance from 52-week high-34.16%-41.21%
Analyst consensus—none
Avg. price target upside—+8.70%
Average volume54.01K4.65M
Shares outstanding18.36M533.82M
SectorIndustrialsFinance
IndustryPrecious MetalsFinance: Consumer Services

Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.

Key differences

  • ASA has outperformed PSEC by 50.7 percentage points over the past year.
  • Prospect Capital trades at a higher earnings multiple (30.7x vs 1.4x trailing P/E).
  • Prospect Capital offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (28.26% vs 0.13%).
  • The two companies sit in different sectors: ASA Gold and Precious Metals in Industrials and Prospect Capital in Finance.

About ASA Gold and Precious Metals

ASA stock →

ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm invests in the public equity markets across the globe.

Industrials · Precious Metals

About Prospect Capital

PSEC stock →

Prospect Capital Corporation is a Private Equity, Private Debt and business development company. It specializes in middle market, lower-middle market, mature, mezzanine finance, later stage, emerging growth, leveraged buyouts, refinancing, acquisitions, recapitalizations, turnaround, growth capital, development, capital expenditures and subordinated debt tranches of collateralized loan obligations, cash flow term loans, market place lending and bridge transactions.

Finance · Finance: Consumer Services

ASA vs PSEC FAQ

Which is bigger, ASA Gold and Precious Metals or Prospect Capital?

ASA Gold and Precious Metals (ASA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.01B compared with $982.22M for Prospect Capital (PSEC).

Which stock has performed better over the past year, ASA or PSEC?

ASA returned +17.58% over the past 12 months, compared with -33.09% for PSEC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.

Which has the lower P/E ratio, ASA or PSEC?

ASA has the lower trailing P/E at 1.4, versus 30.7 for PSEC. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.

Which pays a higher dividend, ASA Gold and Precious Metals or Prospect Capital?

Prospect Capital has the higher yield at 28.26%, compared with 0.13% for ASA Gold and Precious Metals.

Are ASA Gold and Precious Metals and Prospect Capital in the same industry?

No. ASA Gold and Precious Metals is in the Industrials sector, while Prospect Capital is in Finance.

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