Ares Capital Corporation vs Carnival Corp — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.95 (market cap $14.35B), while Carnival Corp trades at $27.73 (market cap $39.71B). The key difference: Carnival Corp is far larger — about 2.8× 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 | CCL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $39.71B |
Sector | Financials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $33.99 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $23.89 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 1.55% |
Enterprise Value | — | $63.63B |
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.
Carnival Corporation (CCL) trades at $28.99, up 0.69% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong support at $28. The stock shows robust fundamentals, with revenue growing to $26.62B in 2025 and net income at $2.76B, while recent quarters have beaten EPS estimates. Analysts maintain a buy consensus with a $35.18 price target, and positive news highlights fleet expansion and sustainability initiatives.
The outlook for CCL is positive, driven by record travel demand, cost control, and debt reduction, offering potential upside to the consensus target. Risks include fuel price volatility, economic sensitivity, and high leverage, though improved cash flow and dividend reinstatement support investor confidence.
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 →Carnival is the largest global cruise company, with 91 ships in its fleet in October 2022, with eight of its nine brands set to be fully redeployed by the end of 2022. Its portfolio of brands includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn in North America.
Read more on CCL →