Price movement over the last 24 hours
Ares Capital Corporation vs Packaging Corporation of America — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.77 (market cap $13.48B), while Packaging Corporation of America trades at $228.77 (market cap $20.38B). The key difference: Packaging Corporation of America is the larger of the two by market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (10.22%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | PKG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $20.38B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $246.31 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $191.41 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | 2.62% |
Enterprise Value | — | $24.21B |
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.
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) trades at $228.77, up 1.91% with a bullish technical signal. The company reported mixed Q1 2026 earnings with $2.40 EPS beating estimates, though revenue growth faces margin pressure. Analyst consensus is mixed with 34.6% buy ratings and a $253 price target. Recent 20% dividend increase signals management confidence amid elevated input costs.
PKG offers steady dividend income with potential upside to analyst targets, but faces headwinds from cost inflation and competitive pressures. The stock's 27.8 P/E suggests full valuation, requiring sustained earnings growth to justify current levels. Near-term performance hinges on Q2 results and operational efficiency improvements.
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 →Packaging Corporation of America is a leading producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products in North America. The company also produces white papers, which include printing and writing papers. PKG operates as an integrated manufacturer, with a strong focus on high-quality and sustainable packaging solutions for e-commerce, food and beverage, and other industrial and consumer markets.
Read more on PKG →