Ares Capital Corporation vs American Water Works Company Inc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.78 (market cap $13.48B), while American Water Works Company Inc trades at $131.55 (market cap $25.52B). The key difference: American Water Works Company Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (10.22%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | AWK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $25.52B |
Sector | Financials | Utilities |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $147.00 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $121.13 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | 2.74% |
Enterprise Value | — | $41.08B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Ares Capital (ARCC) trades at $18.78, up 2.01% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong analyst support. The stock shows a P/E of 11.52 and P/B of 0.96, trading below the consensus price target of $20.58. Recent earnings have missed expectations, with Q2 2026 results pending, while revenue declined to $1.51B in 2025 from $1.7B in 2024. A dividend of $0.48 is scheduled for payment on June 30, 2026, supporting income appeal amid mixed sentiment.
ARCC presents a value opportunity with a high dividend yield and undervaluation relative to analyst targets, but faces headwinds from earnings misses and a bearish technical outlook. Risks include revenue volatility and competitive pressures in the BDC space, though institutional buy ratings suggest confidence in recovery potential. Investors should weigh income stability against growth challenges.
American Water Works (AWK) trades at $130.69, up 0.11% with a neutral technical outlook. The stock shows strong fundamentals with consistent revenue growth from $3.8B in 2022 to $5.1B in 2025, maintaining profit margins above 21%. Recent developments include infrastructure investments and regulatory approvals, while analyst consensus leans slightly bullish with a $137 price target.
AWK presents a stable investment opportunity with predictable utility earnings and dividend income. Key risks include regulatory rate approvals and capital expenditure requirements. The stock offers moderate upside potential with balanced analyst sentiment supporting long-term growth in essential water services.
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 →American Water Works is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility, serving approximately 3.5 million customers in 16 states. It provides water and wastewater services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and operates predominantly in regulated markets. The company's only nonregulated business is water services for military bases, which operates under long-term contracts.
Read more on AWK →