Ares Capital Corporation vs First Solar, Inc. — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.89 (market cap $13.48B), while First Solar, Inc. trades at $225.06 (market cap $24.48B). The key difference: First Solar, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays a 10.22% dividend while First Solar, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | FSLR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $24.48B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $318.30 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $160.84 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | — |
Enterprise Value | — | $22.64B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Ares Capital (ARCC) trades at $18.78, up 2.01% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong analyst support. The stock shows a P/E of 11.52 and P/B of 0.96, trading below the consensus price target of $20.58. Recent earnings have missed expectations, with Q2 2026 results pending, while revenue declined to $1.51B in 2025 from $1.7B in 2024. A dividend of $0.48 is scheduled for payment on June 30, 2026, supporting income appeal amid mixed sentiment.
ARCC presents a value opportunity with a high dividend yield and undervaluation relative to analyst targets, but faces headwinds from earnings misses and a bearish technical outlook. Risks include revenue volatility and competitive pressures in the BDC space, though institutional buy ratings suggest confidence in recovery potential. Investors should weigh income stability against growth challenges.
First Solar (FSLR) trades at $227.83, down 0.29% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite strong fundamentals. The stock shows robust profitability with a 30.73% net income margin and 18.44% ROE, supported by $2.06B in operating cash flow for 2025. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 2026 but missed in prior quarters, while a securities class action lawsuit filed in July 2026 adds near-term uncertainty. Valuation metrics appear reasonable with a P/E of 14.72 and P/S of 4.52.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus remains bullish with a $271.55 price target (61.64% buy ratings), but legal risks and technical weakness suggest caution. Upside hinges on execution against 2026 guidance of $1.7B net income, while downside risks include litigation outcomes and competitive pressures in solar manufacturing. Cash flow strength and low debt support resilience amid 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 →First Solar designs and manufactures solar photovoltaic panels, modules, and systems for use in utility-scale development projects. The company's solar modules use cadmium telluride to convert sunlight into electricity. This is commonly called thin-film technology. First Solar is the world's largest thin-film solar module manufacturer. It has production lines in Vietnam, Malaysia, the United States, and a new factory under construction in India.
Read more on FSLR →