Ares Capital Corporation vs Atmos Energy Corporation — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.98 (market cap $14.35B), while Atmos Energy Corporation trades at $168.76 (market cap $28.38B). The key difference: Atmos Energy Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (9.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | ATO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $28.38B |
Sector | Financials | Utilities |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $192.25 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $162.44 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 2.38% |
Enterprise Value | — | $38.18B |
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.
Atmos Energy (ATO) trades at $170.19, down 1.04% today, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.43, beating expectations by 5.9%, and maintains strong fundamentals with 28.5% net income margin and $4.70B revenue. Recent board appointments and dividend declarations highlight corporate stability, while analyst consensus targets $190.57 with 45% buy ratings.
ATO presents a mixed outlook with solid earnings growth and dividend stability offset by bearish technical indicators and negative cash flow trends. The stock offers value through consistent profitability and infrastructure investments, though investors face risks from high capital expenditures and debt levels that could pressure future returns.
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 →Atmos Energy is the largest publicly traded, fully regulated, pure-play natural gas utility in the United States, serving more than 3 million customers in Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia. About two thirds of its earnings come from Texas, where it distributes natural gas in northern Texas and owns an intrastate gas pipeline spanning several key shale gas formations and interconnected with five storage facilities.
Read more on ATO →