Ares Capital Corporation vs Annaly Capital Management, Inc. — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.86 (market cap $14.34B), while Annaly Capital Management, Inc. trades at $23.3 (market cap $17.44B). The key difference: Annaly Capital Management, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Annaly Capital Management, Inc. pays the higher dividend (12.96%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | NLY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.34B | $17.44B |
Sector | Financials | Financials |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $24.40 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $20.21 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 12.96% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ARCC trades at $19.98, down 0.15% on the day, with a P/E of 14.9 and P/B of 1.03. Recent quarterly earnings have consistently missed expectations, with Q2 2026 EPS of $0.47 falling short of the $0.4731 estimate. Technical indicators show a bullish moving average signal but bearish oscillators, with RSI at 78.37 suggesting overbought conditions. The company maintains a strong dividend yield of approximately 9.6% with consistent $0.48 quarterly payments.
While ARCC offers attractive income with its high dividend yield and strong analyst support (24 buy ratings), investors face risks from declining revenue trends and compressed earnings. The stock trades near consensus price targets, limiting near-term upside potential. Credit quality concerns in the private lending sector and potential interest rate sensitivity present additional headwinds for this business development company.
NLY trades at $22.91, down 0.56% today, with strong technical momentum showing a bullish moving average signal. The stock demonstrates robust fundamentals with a P/E of 5.59, ROE of 20.66%, and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Recent Q2 2026 results exceeded expectations with $0.79 EPS versus $0.75 estimate, supported by growing net interest income and dividend coverage improvements.
Analyst consensus remains positive with a $24.50 price target and 57% buy ratings, though investors should monitor interest rate sensitivity given the REIT's mortgage-focused business model. The 13%+ dividend yield provides income appeal, but funding costs and mortgage market volatility present ongoing risks to book value stability.
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 →Annaly Capital Management Inc is an American mortgage real estate investment trust. The company segments its operations into Residential and Commercial real estate investments. While Annaly's Residential assets are primarily comprised of agency mortgage-backed securities and debentures, it is primarily invested in commercial mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities in its Commercial unit through its subsidiary, Annaly Commercial Real Estate Group. Agency mortgage-backed securities and debentures make up the majority of the company's overall portfolio. Most of the company's counterparties are located in the U.S. Annaly generates nearly all of its revenue from the spread between interest earned on its assets and interest payments made on its borrowings.
Read more on NLY →