Ares Capital Corporation vs Barclays PLC — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.96 (market cap $14.35B), while Barclays PLC trades at $27.87 (market cap $94.10B). The key difference: Barclays PLC is far larger — about 6.6× Ares Capital Corporation's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (9.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | BCS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $94.10B |
Sector | Financials | Financials |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $28.56 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $19.36 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 2.18% |
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.
Barclays PLC (BCS) trades at $27.93, down 0.89% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS of $0.90 exceeding the $0.89 estimate. Revenue grew to $29.14 billion in 2025, with a net income margin of 25.51%. Analyst consensus is 68% buy, though recent news highlights a securities class action investigation.
The outlook for BCS is positive given earnings momentum and a low P/E of 10.73, but risks include the legal investigation and rising costs noted in Q2 2026. Investment opportunity lies in valuation discount and dividend yield, while sentiment is mixed due to near-term headwinds.
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 →Barclays is a universal bank headquartered in the United Kingdom. It operates via two principal segments
Read more on BCS →