Ares Capital Corporation vs Aterian Inc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.99 (market cap $14.35B), while Aterian Inc trades at $0.48 (market cap $5.22M). The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation is far larger — about 2749× Aterian Inc's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays a 9.61% dividend while Aterian Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | ATER | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $5.22M |
Sector | Financials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $1.39 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $0.36 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | — |
Enterprise Value | — | $5.80M |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ARCC trades at $20.01, up 1.99% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. Recent earnings show Q2 2026 EPS of $0.47, slightly below the $0.4731 estimate, continuing a trend of minor misses. Revenue declined to $1.51B in 2025 from $1.7B in 2024, with net income margin at 81.77%. The stock offers a high dividend yield, with consistent payouts highlighted in recent news.
Outlook is mixed: strong analyst buy consensus (75%) and a stable dividend history support income investors, but declining revenue and tight dividend coverage pose risks. Price target consensus is $19.63, below the current price, suggesting limited upside. Macro risks in private credit, per WSJ on August 9, 2026, add caution.
Aterian (ATER) trades at $0.4934, up 7.03% in the last 24 hours, with a bearish technical signal overall. The company reported revenue of $68.98 million in 2025 but a net loss of $18.98 million, showing negative margins despite recent earnings beats. Recent news highlights a pending asset sale vote that could return $0.85–$1.14 per share to stockholders, creating near-term event-driven volatility.
The outlook hinges on the asset sale outcome, offering potential shareholder returns but also signaling business contraction. Risks include persistent cash burn, declining revenue, and high negative equity. Analysts are split 50/50 buy/hold, reflecting uncertainty amid restructuring efforts.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Ares Capital Corp is a United States-based closed-ended specialty finance company. Its investment objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments. The company focuses on investing primarily in U.S. middle-market companies with investment opportunities as well as in larger companies. Its portfolio comprises of first lien senior secured loans, second lien senior secured loans, and mezzanine debt (subordinated unsecured loan), which may include equity components that are diversified by industry and sector. The company may invest in preferred and common equity investments to a lesser proportion. Its revenue mainly consists of interest and dividend income received from the investment made.
Read more on ARCC →Aterian Inc is a technology-enabled consumer products company. Its product categories include home and kitchen appliances, kitchenware, environmental appliances (dehumidifiers and air conditioners), beauty-related products, and consumer electronics. It has various owned and operated brands include Vremi, Healing Solutions, Xtava, TRUWEO, Spiralize, Pohl+Schmitt, and RIF6. The company generates revenue through the online sales of various consumer products that are sold online.
Read more on ATER →