Ares Capital Corporation vs Consolidated Edison, Inc. — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.96 (market cap $14.35B), while Consolidated Edison, Inc. trades at $107.5 (market cap $39.31B). The key difference: Consolidated Edison, Inc. is far larger — about 2.7× 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 | ED | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $39.31B |
Sector | Financials | Utilities |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $115.46 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $95.37 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 3.3% |
Enterprise Value | — | $66.16B |
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.
Consolidated Edison (ED) trades at $107.98, down 0.89% on the day, with mixed technical signals showing bearish moving averages but neutral oscillators. The utility reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $0.83 per share, beating estimates, with revenue growth driven by higher electric and gas rates. Analyst consensus remains cautious with 63% hold ratings and a $103.25 price target below current levels. The company maintains stable dividends and benefits from regulated monopoly positioning in New York.
ED offers defensive utility exposure with predictable cash flows and a 3.2% dividend yield, supported by mid-8% rate base growth and 9.4% allowed ROE through 2029. However, high debt levels ($27.3B total debt), capital-intensive grid upgrades, and regulatory risks present challenges. Current valuation at 17.8x P/E appears fair relative to earnings growth, making it suitable for income-focused investors seeking stability amid market volatility.
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 →Con Ed is a holding company for Consolidated Edison of New York, or CECONY, and Orange & Rockland, or O&R. These utilities provide steam, natural gas, and electricity to customers in southeastern New York—including New York City—and small parts of New Jersey. The two utilities will generate nearly all of Con Ed's earnings once it closes the sale of its clean energy business to RWE. Con Ed's clean energy business owns the second-largest portfolio of utility-scale solar projects in the U.S. Following the sale, Con Ed's only non-utility earnings will come from investments in gas and electric transmission.
Read more on ED →