Ares Capital Corporation vs HP Inc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.87 (market cap $14.34B), while HP Inc trades at $29.13 (market cap $26.59B). The key difference: HP Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (9.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | HPQ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.34B | $26.59B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $30.05 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $18.20 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 4.13% |
Enterprise Value | — | $33.75B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ARCC trades at $19.875, down 0.53% on the day, with strong analyst support showing 24 buy ratings and a consensus price target of $19.63. The stock maintains a bullish technical signal with moving averages supporting upward momentum, though oscillators indicate some near-term pressure. Recent earnings showed Q2 2026 EPS of $0.47, slightly below expectations, while the company continues its 17-year dividend streak with consistent $0.48 quarterly payments.
The outlook remains positive with solid fundamentals including 81.77% net income margin and 6.88% ROE, though investors should monitor declining revenue trends from $1.7B in 2024 to projected $1.2B in 2026. Key risks include private credit market strain and dividend coverage tightening to 104%, while institutional confidence remains high with no sell ratings among 32 analysts covering the stock.
HPQ trades at $28.96, down 2.82% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. Revenue for 2025 reached $55.3 billion, with a net income margin of 4.45%, while valuation metrics like a P/E of 10.77 and P/S of 0.48 suggest potential undervaluation. Recent news highlights AI-driven cost savings and a profitable upgrade cycle, with Q2 FY2026 revenue up 9% year-over-year.
The outlook is mixed; HPQ benefits from solid cash flow and dividend yields near 4%, but faces risks from PC market declines and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus is cautious with a hold-heavy rating, and the stock trades above the consensus price target of $22, indicating limited upside. Investors should weigh steady profitability against industry headwinds and valuation constraints.
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 →HP Incorporated is a leading provider of computers, printers, and printer supplies. The company's mains segments are personal systems and printing. Its personal systems segment contains notebooks, desktops, and workstations. Its printing segment contains supplies, consumer hardware, and commercial hardware. In 2015, Hewlett-Packard was separated into HP Incorporated and Hewlett Packard Enterprise and the Palo Alto, California-based HP Incorporated sells on a global scale.
Read more on HPQ →