Ares Capital Corporation vs MPLX LP — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.8 (market cap $13.48B), while MPLX LP trades at $57.45 (market cap $57.79B). The key difference: MPLX LP is far larger — about 4.3× Ares Capital Corporation's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (10.22%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | MPLX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $57.79B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $59.17 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $47.80 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | 7.56% |
Enterprise Value | — | $82.42B |
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.
MPLX trades at $56.95, down 0.42% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and key support at $56. The company reported strong profitability with a 41.24% net income margin and a trailing P/E of 12.33. Recent earnings showed beats in Q3 and Q4 2025 but a miss in Q1 2026, with Q2 results pending. A $1.08 dividend for H1-26 underscores its income appeal, while analyst consensus remains strongly positive with a $60.60 price target.
The outlook for MPLX is favorable, driven by stable cash flows from fee-based midstream operations and a high dividend yield. Risks include exposure to energy market volatility and a high debt-to-asset ratio of 90.06%. With 71% of analysts rating it a Buy and solid fundamentals, the stock presents a compelling opportunity for income-focused investors, though macroeconomic headwinds warrant caution.
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 →