Ares Capital Corporation vs MPLX LP — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.87 (market cap $14.34B), while MPLX LP trades at $59.69 (market cap $60.12B). The key difference: MPLX LP is far larger — about 4.2× 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 | MPLX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.34B | $60.12B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $60.51 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $47.80 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 7.26% |
Enterprise Value | — | $85.22B |
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.
MPLX trades at $59.76, up 1.81% with a bullish technical outlook. The stock shows strong profitability with a 40.45% net income margin and a P/E of 12.75. Recent Q2 2026 earnings missed expectations, but revenue grew to $11.7B in 2026. The company announced a $2.25 billion senior notes offering on August 10, 2026, to fund growth projects, supporting its fee-based infrastructure model.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $61.50, though risks include rising capital spending and leverage. The dividend yield remains attractive, with a $1.08 distribution declared for H2-2026. Investors should weigh solid cash flow against execution risks in expansion initiatives.
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 →MPLX LP is a Master Limited Partnership (MLP) formed by Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC). It is a diversified, growth-oriented company primarily engaged in the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs), as well as the transportation, storage, and distribution of crude oil and refined petroleum products. MPLX owns and operates a network of midstream energy infrastructure assets, providing essential services to the energy industry across the United States.
Read more on MPLX →