Ares Capital Corporation vs Autozone Inc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.95 (market cap $14.35B), while Autozone Inc trades at $3,042 (market cap $50.09B). The key difference: Autozone Inc is far larger — about 3.5× Ares Capital Corporation's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays a 9.61% dividend while Autozone Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | AZO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $50.09B |
Sector | Financials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $4.35K |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $2.92K |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | — |
Enterprise Value | — | $62.46B |
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.
AutoZone (AZO) trades at $3,127.29, up 1.88% recently, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. Revenue grew to $18.94B in 2025, though net income margin dipped to 13.19%. The company maintains robust cash flow from operations and recently authorized a $1.5B stock buyback, signaling confidence. Key resistance lies near $3,160, with support at $3,063.
Outlook remains positive with 73% analyst buy ratings and a $3,730 consensus price target, implying ~19% upside. Risks include margin pressure from rising costs and competitive threats. Earnings beats in recent quarters support growth, but investors should monitor execution on international expansion and capex efficiency.
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 →AutoZone is the premier seller of aftermarket automotive parts, tools, and accessories to do-it-yourself customers in the United States. The company derives an increasing proportion of its sales from domestic commercial customers, although its presence in its home market is still dominated by its do-it-yourself operation, which accounts for nearly 75% of sales in country. AutoZone also has a growing presence in Mexico and Brazil. AutoZone had 6,767 stores in the U.S. (6,051), Mexico (664), and Brazil (52) as of the end of fiscal 2021.
Read more on AZO →