Ares Capital Corporation vs HCA Health Inc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.88 (market cap $13.48B), while HCA Health Inc trades at $406.05 (market cap $90.20B). The key difference: HCA Health Inc is far larger — about 6.7× Ares Capital Corporation's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (10.22%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | HCA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $90.20B |
Sector | Financials | Health |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $545.13 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $334.32 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | 0.77% |
Enterprise Value | — | $139.10B |
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.
HCA Healthcare trades at $406.59, down 0.59% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS expected at $7.37. Revenue growth is robust, reaching $75.60 billion in 2025, while valuation metrics like a P/E of 14.01 and EV/EBITDA of 8.88 suggest relative attractiveness. Recent news highlights capacity expansion and gene therapy advancements.
The outlook for HCA remains positive, supported by earnings momentum and strategic investments, but risks include high debt levels and regulatory pressures. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $486.10 price target, indicating ~20% upside potential from current levels.
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 →HCA Healthcare is a Nashville-based healthcare provider organization operating the largest collection of acute-care hospitals in the U.S. As of December 2021, the firm owned and operated 182 hospitals, 125 freestanding outpatient surgery centers, and a broad network of physician offices, urgent care clinics, and freestanding emergency rooms across nearly 20 states and a small foothold in England.
Read more on HCA →