Ares Capital Corporation vs Capital One Financial Corp. — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.98 (market cap $14.35B), while Capital One Financial Corp. trades at $219.75 (market cap $134.33B). The key difference: Capital One Financial Corp. is far larger — about 9.4× Ares Capital Corporation's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (9.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | COF | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $134.33B |
Sector | Financials | Financials |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $257.94 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $176.10 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 1.46% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ARCC trades at $20.01, up 1.99% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. Recent earnings show Q2 2026 EPS of $0.47, slightly below the $0.4731 estimate, continuing a trend of minor misses. Revenue declined to $1.51B in 2025 from $1.7B in 2024, with net income margin at 81.77%. The stock offers a high dividend yield, with consistent payouts highlighted in recent news.
Outlook is mixed: strong analyst buy consensus (75%) and a stable dividend history support income investors, but declining revenue and tight dividend coverage pose risks. Price target consensus is $19.63, below the current price, suggesting limited upside. Macro risks in private credit, per WSJ on August 9, 2026, add caution.
Capital One Financial (COF) trades at $217.76, down 1.02% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $251.60. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $5.81 versus $4.79 expected, driven by strong revenue growth and integration progress with Discover Financial. The stock shows a P/E of 12 and net income margin of 16.96%, reflecting solid valuation and profitability metrics amid ongoing business expansion.
The outlook for COF is positive, supported by earnings momentum, synergy capture from the Discover acquisition, and analyst optimism. Key risks include integration execution, credit loss provisions, and macroeconomic pressures on consumer lending. With 63% of analysts rating it a buy, the stock presents a growth opportunity tempered by sector-specific challenges.
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 →