Ares Capital Corporation vs HSBC Holdings plc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.96 (market cap $14.35B), while HSBC Holdings plc trades at $103.29 (market cap $353.82B). The key difference: HSBC Holdings plc is far larger — about 24.7× 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 | HSBC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $353.82B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $107.86 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $63.84 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 3.63% |
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.
HSBC trades at $103.73, up 1.14% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and support at $102. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a P/E of 14.76, net income margin of 34.54%, and ROE of 12.44%. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations, driven by 7% revenue growth and a $1 billion buyback announcement, reflecting robust banking and wealth management performance.
Outlook is positive due to earnings momentum and shareholder returns, but risks include China regulatory changes and a recent Citi downgrade. Analyst consensus is mixed with 38.1% buy ratings, suggesting cautious optimism amid a 40% year-to-date run, requiring monitoring of Asia exposure and interest rate trends.
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 →HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations. It serves customers worldwide through four global businesses: Retail, Commercial, Global Banking, and Private Banking.
Read more on HSBC →