Ares Capital Corporation vs Nucor Corporation — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.76 (market cap $13.48B), while Nucor Corporation trades at $232.92 (market cap $51.78B). The key difference: Nucor Corporation is far larger — about 3.8× 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 | NUE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $51.78B |
Sector | Financials | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $266.35 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $131.78 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | 0.99% |
Enterprise Value | — | $56.42B |
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.
Nucor (NUE) trades at $227.37, up 2.29% today, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The stock shows mixed fundamentals with a P/E of 22.56 and net margin of 6.82%, while revenue has declined from $41.5B in 2022 to $32.5B in 2025. Recent news highlights a joint venture for AI power infrastructure and a 53-year dividend growth streak, supporting shareholder returns amid steel price volatility.
Outlook remains cautiously optimistic with a consensus price target of $262.89 (15.6% upside), driven by expansion projects and pricing strength. Risks include cyclical demand weakness and declining operating cash flow, but analyst sentiment is 59% buy-rated. The stock offers value through dividends and buybacks, though investors should monitor steel market dynamics and execution on growth 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 →Nucor Corp manufactures steel and steel products. The company also produces direct reduced iron for use in its steel mills. The operations include international trading and sales companies that buy and sell steel and steel products manufactured by the company and others. The operating business segments are: steel mills, steel products and raw materials, the steel mills segment derives maximum revenue.
Read more on NUE →