Ares Capital Corporation vs Baker Hughes Co — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.99 (market cap $14.35B), while Baker Hughes Co trades at $65 (market cap $63.60B). The key difference: Baker Hughes Co is far larger — about 4.4× 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 | BKR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $63.60B |
Sector | Financials | Energy |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $69.67 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $42.51 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 1.44% |
Enterprise Value | — | $64.13B |
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.
Baker Hughes (BKR) trades at $61.55, down 1.91% on the day, with strong technical momentum indicated by bullish moving averages. The company demonstrates solid fundamentals with Q2 2026 EPS of $0.64 beating estimates and robust cash flow generation. Recent contract wins in subsea systems and LNG technology highlight growth opportunities in energy infrastructure.
The outlook remains positive with 66.7% analyst buy ratings and a $73.25 consensus target suggesting 19% upside. Key risks include oil producer spending volatility and integration challenges from the Chart acquisition. Strong institutional interest and consistent earnings beats support the bullish case for this energy technology leader.
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 →Baker Hughes is a global leader in oilfield services and oilfield equipment, with particularly strong presences in the artificial lift, specialty chemicals, and completions markets. The other half of its business focuses on industrial power generation, process solutions, and industrial asset management, with high exposure to the liquid natural gas market specifically, as well as broader industrials end markets.
Read more on BKR →