Ares Capital Corporation vs Capital One Financial Corp. — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.78 (market cap $13.48B), while Capital One Financial Corp. trades at $202.56 (market cap $124.14B). The key difference: Capital One Financial Corp. is far larger — about 9.2× Ares Capital Corporation's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (10.22%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | COF | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $124.14B |
Sector | Financials | Financials |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $257.94 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $176.10 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | 1.59% |
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.
Capital One (COF) trades at $201.52, up 0.71% with a bearish technical signal but strong analyst support. The company reported mixed Q1 2026 earnings with a slight miss, while revenue surged to $53.43B in 2025. Key risks include subprime auto loan delinquencies and consumer credit stress, though the Discover integration offers long-term scale benefits. Technical indicators show neutral RSI readings with support at $195 and resistance at $203.
Wall Street maintains a bullish outlook with 62.5% buy ratings and a $256.25 consensus price target, representing 27% upside potential. However, declining profit margins and rising default risks in consumer lending create headwinds. The stock presents a compelling entry point for investors betting on operational improvements from recent acquisitions, though credit quality trends warrant close monitoring.
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 →Capital One is a diversified financial services holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia. Originally a spinoff of Signet Financial's credit card division in 1994, the company is now primarily involved in credit card lending, auto loans, and commercial lending.
Read more on COF →