Price movement over the last 24 hours
Ares Capital Corporation vs Centene Corp — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.77 (market cap $13.48B), while Centene Corp trades at $68 (market cap $33.26B). The key difference: Centene Corp is far larger — about 2.5× Ares Capital Corporation's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays a 10.22% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | CNC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $33.26B |
Sector | Financials | Health |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $68.34 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $25.21 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | — |
Enterprise Value | — | $25.89B |
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.
Centene (CNC) trades at $67.35, down 0.37% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The stock shows attractive valuation ratios, including a P/E of 8.06 and P/S of 0.17, but faces profitability challenges with a negative net income margin of -3.25% for 2025. Recent positive developments include the renewal of a key Illinois Medicaid contract and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters, supporting a strong analyst consensus with 61% buy ratings.
The outlook for CNC hinges on successful margin recovery initiatives and cost management. Investment opportunities lie in its undervalued metrics and stable revenue base, but risks include persistent negative profitability, regulatory pressures in healthcare, and execution challenges in improving medical cost controls. The consensus price target of $63.36 suggests limited near-term upside from current levels.
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 →Centene is a managed-care organization focused on government-sponsored healthcare plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, and the individual exchanges. Centene served 22 million medical members as of September 2021, mostly in Medicaid (68% of membership), the individual exchanges (10%), Medicare Advantage (6%), and the balance in Tricare (West region), correctional facility, and international plans. The company also serves 4 million users through the Medicare Part D pharmaceutical program.
Read more on CNC →