Ares Capital Corporation vs Philip Morris International Inc. — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.75 (market cap $13.48B), while Philip Morris International Inc. trades at $180.23 (market cap $283.07B). The key difference: Philip Morris International Inc. is far larger — about 21× 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 | PM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $283.07B |
Sector | Financials | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $191.86 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $144.33 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | 3.24% |
Enterprise Value | — | $329.56B |
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.
Philip Morris International (PM) trades at $181.62, up 0.25% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 2026, and the company maintains robust profitability with a 26.74% net income margin. However, a recent $500 million impairment charge and lowered profit guidance due to cost pressures and currency swings present near-term headwinds. The stock is near the analyst consensus price target of $194, with support at $179 and resistance at $185.
The outlook for PM is cautiously optimistic, driven by its strong brand portfolio, including IQOS, and consistent cash flow generation. Investment opportunities lie in its dividend yield and potential for margin recovery. Key risks include regulatory challenges, illicit market growth in Europe, and ongoing cost inflation. Analyst consensus remains bullish, but investors should monitor execution against revised guidance.
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 →Philip Morris International is an international tobacco company with a product portfolio primarily consisting of cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor and oral nicotine products, which are sold in markets outside the United States. The company diversified away from nicotine products with the acquisition of Vectura, a provider of innovative inhaled drug delivery solutions, in 2021.
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