Ares Capital Corporation vs iShares 3 7 Year Treasury Bond ETF — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.86 (market cap $14.34B), while iShares 3 7 Year Treasury Bond ETF trades at $116.47. The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation pays a 9.61% dividend while iShares 3 7 Year Treasury Bond ETF pays none, and Ares Capital Corporation is trading nearer its 52-week high, iShares 3 7 Year Treasury Bond ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | IEI | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.34B | — |
Sector | Financials | Fixed Income |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $120.72 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $116.16 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | — |
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.
IEI, the iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF, trades at $116.46, up 0.18% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The ETF maintains a steady dividend payout schedule, with recent distributions around $0.37 per share. Market sentiment is influenced by rising Treasury yields and inflation concerns, as highlighted in recent financial news.
The outlook for IEI is cautious due to potential Federal Reserve rate hikes and inflation pressures, which could pressure bond prices. Opportunities lie in its government backing and lower volatility, but risks include interest rate sensitivity and macroeconomic shifts affecting yield curves.
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 →IEI tracks the ICE U.S. Treasury 3-7 Year Bond Index, offering exposure to intermediate-term government debt. It serves as a conservative middle ground in the Treasury yield curve, providing higher yields than short-term bills with less volatility than long-term bonds.
Read more on IEI →