Ares Capital Corporation vs H2O America — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.8 (market cap $13.48B), while H2O America trades at $61.95 (market cap $2.57B). The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation is far larger — about 5.2× H2O America's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (10.22%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | HTO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $2.57B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $62.42 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $44.44 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | 2.86% |
Enterprise Value | — | $4.29B |
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.
HTO trades at $61.47, showing minimal daily movement (+0.02%) with strong technical bullish signals from moving averages. The company maintains solid fundamentals with 12.87% net income margin and recent Q1 2026 earnings beat. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 80% buy ratings and a $61.33 price target, while the company continues its dividend program with a $0.44 H1-26 payment.
HTO presents a stable investment case with consistent profitability and dividend payments, though growth appears moderate. Key risks include execution of the $2.7 billion capex plan and competitive pressures in the utilities sector. The stock's current valuation appears reasonable with P/E of 21.05, suggesting potential for steady returns rather than explosive growth.
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 →H2O America is a utility company that provides essential water and wastewater services, primarily in the United States. The company operates a network of regulated water and wastewater systems, focusing on responsible resource management and high-quality service delivery. HTO aims to expand its operational footprint through acquisitions and internal growth, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Read more on HTO →