Ares Capital Corporation vs Cisco Systems Inc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.98 (market cap $14.35B), while Cisco Systems Inc trades at $121.16 (market cap $483.10B). The key difference: Cisco Systems Inc is far larger — about 33.7× 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 | CSCO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $483.10B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $130.00 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $66.20 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 1.37% |
Volume | — | 22,887,319 |
Enterprise Value | — | $497.76B |
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.
Cisco Systems (CSCO) trades at $120.43, down 0.82% on the day, amid a bullish technical outlook and strong earnings beats. The stock shows robust fundamentals with a 64.33% gross margin and consistent quarterly EPS outperformance. Recent AI cybersecurity initiatives and partner expansions fuel positive sentiment, with a consensus price target of $133.25 implying upside potential.
The outlook remains favorable given AI-driven growth catalysts and solid cash flow, though elevated valuation ratios and competitive pressures pose risks. Analyst consensus leans bullish with 52% buy ratings, supporting a constructive view for investors seeking exposure to networking and cybersecurity trends.
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 →Cisco Systems, Inc. provides information technology and networking services. The Company offers enterprise network security, software development, data collaboration, cloud computing, and other related services. Cisco Systems serves customers in the United States.
Read more on CSCO →