Ares Capital Corporation vs ConocoPhillips — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $20.01 (market cap $14.35B), while ConocoPhillips trades at $125.8 (market cap $147.80B). The key difference: ConocoPhillips is far larger — about 10.3× 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 | COP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $147.80B |
Sector | Financials | Energy |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $133.80 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $85.66 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 2.73% |
Enterprise Value | — | $163.40B |
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.
ConocoPhillips (COP) trades at $117.61, up 0.73% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $149.25. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $3.24 versus $2.90 estimated, driven by strong Permian Basin output and higher oil prices. The company reaffirmed its $7 billion free cash flow target by 2029 and completed a $1.7 billion asset sale ahead of schedule.
Outlook is positive due to robust operational performance and favorable oil market trends, but risks include commodity price volatility and CEO transition. The stock offers value with a P/E of 15.56 and a net income margin of 14.65%, supported by 74.51% analyst buy ratings.
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 →ConocoPhillips is a U.S.-based independent exploration and production firm. In 2021, it produced 1.0 million barrels per day of oil and natural gas liquids and 3.2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas, primarily from Alaska and the Lower 48 in the United States and Norway in Europe and several countries in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Proven reserves at year-end 2021 were 6.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
Read more on COP →