Ares Capital Corporation vs GSK plc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.77 (market cap $14.34B), while GSK plc trades at $50.22 (market cap $102.60B). The key difference: GSK plc is far larger — about 7.2× 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 | GSK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.34B | $102.60B |
Sector | Financials | Health |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $61.18 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $38.22 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 3.57% |
Enterprise Value | — | $123.04B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ARCC trades at $19.98, down 0.15% on the day, with a P/E of 14.9 and P/B of 1.03. Recent quarterly earnings have consistently missed expectations, with Q2 2026 EPS of $0.47 falling short of the $0.4731 estimate. Technical indicators show a bullish moving average signal but bearish oscillators, with RSI at 78.37 suggesting overbought conditions. The company maintains a strong dividend yield of approximately 9.6% with consistent $0.48 quarterly payments.
While ARCC offers attractive income with its high dividend yield and strong analyst support (24 buy ratings), investors face risks from declining revenue trends and compressed earnings. The stock trades near consensus price targets, limiting near-term upside potential. Credit quality concerns in the private lending sector and potential interest rate sensitivity present additional headwinds for this business development company.
GSK trades at $52.16, down 1.51% today, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $1.36 per share, beating estimates, and announced a $2.52 billion cost-saving plan to accelerate drug development. Revenue growth remains steady, with 2025 revenue at $32.67 billion and net income of $5.72 billion, though profit margins have fluctuated in recent years.
Outlook is positive with continued earnings beats and strategic investments, but risks include competitive pressures and regulatory uncertainties. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 31% buy ratings, 55% hold, and 14% sell, reflecting cautious optimism amid execution risks and 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 →In the pharmaceutical industry, GSK ranks as one of the largest firms by total sales. The company wields its might across several therapeutic classes, including respiratory, cancer, and antiviral, as well as vaccines. GSK uses joint ventures to gain additional scale in certain markets like HIV.
Read more on GSK →