Ares Capital Corporation vs CleanSpark Inc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.75 (market cap $13.48B), while CleanSpark Inc trades at $12.44 (market cap $3.30B). The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation is far larger — about 4.1× CleanSpark Inc's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays a 10.22% dividend while CleanSpark Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | CLSK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $3.30B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $23.20 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $8.18 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | — |
Enterprise Value | — | $4.15B |
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.
CleanSpark (CLSK) trades at $12.85, down 0.31% on the day, with a bearish technical signal. The company reported strong 2025 revenue of $766 million and net income of $364 million, but forecasts a significant net loss of -$501 million for 2026. Recent operational updates highlight bitcoin mining activities and management team expansion, while analyst consensus remains unanimously bullish with a $21.43 price target.
The stock presents a high-risk, high-reward profile. Analyst optimism contrasts with negative earnings surprises and projected profitability challenges. Key risks include execution on growth initiatives, volatile cash flows, and intense competition in the data center sector. The current price offers substantial upside to targets if the company can achieve its operational goals.
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 →