Ares Capital Corporation vs CleanSpark Inc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.79 (market cap $14.34B), while CleanSpark Inc trades at $12.03 (market cap $2.96B). The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation is far larger — about 4.8× CleanSpark Inc's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays a 9.61% dividend while CleanSpark Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | CLSK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.34B | $2.96B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $23.20 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $8.18 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | — |
Enterprise Value | — | $3.95B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ARCC trades at $19.98, down 0.15% on the day, with a P/E of 14.9 and P/B of 1.03. Recent quarterly earnings have consistently missed expectations, with Q2 2026 EPS of $0.47 falling short of the $0.4731 estimate. Technical indicators show a bullish moving average signal but bearish oscillators, with RSI at 78.37 suggesting overbought conditions. The company maintains a strong dividend yield of approximately 9.6% with consistent $0.48 quarterly payments.
While ARCC offers attractive income with its high dividend yield and strong analyst support (24 buy ratings), investors face risks from declining revenue trends and compressed earnings. The stock trades near consensus price targets, limiting near-term upside potential. Credit quality concerns in the private lending sector and potential interest rate sensitivity present additional headwinds for this business development company.
CleanSpark (CLSK) trades at $12.23, up 5.52% today but showing bearish technical signals with recent earnings misses. The company reported a Q3 2026 loss of $0.89 per share versus expectations of $0.47, continuing a trend of negative profitability despite securing a significant $6.6 billion AI data center lease. Revenue declined to $679 million in 2026 with a negative profit margin of -146.91%, though analyst consensus remains unanimously bullish with a $24.13 price target.
The stock presents a high-risk opportunity with strong institutional support but significant fundamental challenges. While the AI infrastructure pivot offers long-term potential, near-term execution risks and persistent losses require careful monitoring. The 100% buy rating from analysts suggests confidence in the strategic shift, but investors must weigh the substantial valuation premium against ongoing 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 →CleanSpark is a leading Bitcoin mining company that operates high-density data centers. It focuses on using sustainable energy to power its mining fleet and provides digital infrastructure for the blockchain ecosystem.
Read more on CLSK →