Company Overview - Main Street Capital is an investment firm that provides debt and equity to lower middle market companies with annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million, as well as larger middle-market companies with revenues up to $1 billion [4] - The company operates as a business development company (BDC) and is structured as a regulated investment company, which requires it to distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to shareholders to avoid corporate income taxes [5] Dividend Policy - Main Street Capital pays an attractive monthly dividend of $0.255 per share, which annualizes to $3.06, resulting in a 5.2% dividend yield based on a share price of approximately $58 [6] - The company has a strong record of paying monthly dividends since going public in 2008, having never suspended or reduced its payments, and has increased its monthly payment level by 132% during this period [9] - In addition to the regular monthly dividends, Main Street Capital has declared a supplemental dividend of $0.30 per share, bringing the total yield to over 7% when annualized [6][10] Financial Performance - The company has declared a total of $7.24 per share in supplemental dividends since its IPO, resulting in over $45 in total dividends paid, which is more than three times its IPO price of $15 per share [10] - The current monthly dividend payment is well below its distributable net investment income, allowing for flexibility in increasing payouts and providing supplemental dividends [11] Investment Appeal - Main Street Capital's consistent and growing dividend payments provide a stable income stream, which is appealing for investors seeking reliable passive income [12] - The company's ability to maintain and increase dividends even during economic downturns positions it as a strong candidate for income-focused investment portfolios [9][12]