Ares Capital Corporation vs Delta Air Lines, Inc. — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.96 (market cap $14.35B), while Delta Air Lines, Inc. trades at $90.32 (market cap $58.67B). The key difference: Delta Air Lines, Inc. is far larger — about 4.1× 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 | DAL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $58.67B |
Sector | Financials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $93.66 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $53.50 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 0.87% |
Enterprise Value | — | $73.99B |
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.
Delta Air Lines (DAL) trades at $91.34, down 0.7% today, amid a bullish technical trend and strong fundamentals. The stock shows robust earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $2.19. Valuation metrics like a P/E of 15.15 and P/S of 0.88 suggest potential undervaluation, while cash flow trends improved to a net positive $1.08B in 2025. Recent news highlights insider sales but also strong Q2 results and industry tailwinds.
Outlook remains positive with an 81.82% analyst buy rating and consensus price target of $108.27, implying ~18% upside. Key risks include fuel cost volatility and competitive pressures, but DAL's premium travel demand and loyalty program strength support growth. Investors should weigh solid fundamentals against macroeconomic sensitivities.
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 →Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is one of the world's largest airlines, with a network of over 300 destinations in more than 50 countries. Delta operates a hub-and-spoke system network, where it gathers and distributes passengers across the globe through key locations such as Atlanta, New York, Salt Lake City, Detroit, Seattle, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Delta's sale of frequent flier miles, particularly to American Express, is a major driver of the firm's profits.
Read more on DAL →