Ares Capital Corporation vs Carlyle Group Inc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.88 (market cap $13.48B), while Carlyle Group Inc trades at $44.53 (market cap $16.09B). The key difference: Carlyle Group 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 | CG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $16.09B |
Sector | Financials | Financials |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $69.35 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $40.52 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | 3.13% |
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.
CG trades at $44.71, up 1.2% today, with neutral technical signals and mixed earnings performance. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $0.89, missing expectations, but maintains a strong analyst consensus with a $60.33 price target. Recent developments include the acquisition of a majority stake in MAI Capital Management and the upcoming Q2 2026 earnings release on August 5, 2026.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic, supported by analyst bullishness and strategic acquisitions, but risks include volatile cash flows from operations and recent earnings misses. Investment opportunity lies in the significant upside to the consensus price target if execution improves, while downside risks stem from operational cash burn and competitive pressures.
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 →The Carlyle Group is one of the world's largest alternative-asset managers, with $376.4 billion in total assets under management, including $259.6 billion in fee-earning AUM, at the end of June 2022. The company has three core business segments: private equity, which includes private equity, real estate, infrastructure and natural resources funds (accounting for 41% of fee-earning AUM and 65% of base management fees during 2021), global credit (45% and 24%) and investment solutions (14% and 11%). The firm primarily serves institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals. Carlyle operates through 29 offices across five continents, serving close to 2,700 active carry fund investors from 95 countries.
Read more on CG →