Ares Capital Corporation vs Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.96 (market cap $14.34B), while Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF trades at $297.9. The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation pays a 9.61% dividend while Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF pays none, and Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Ares Capital Corporation nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | QQQM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.34B | — |
Sector | Financials | Broad Market / Factor |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $307.23 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $229.87 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ARCC trades at $19.87, down 0.55% with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The company reported $1.51B revenue and $1.30B net income for 2025, maintaining an 86.25% profit margin. Recent earnings show slight misses against expectations, but dividend coverage remains stable at 104% with a 9.9% yield. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 24 buy ratings and a $19.63 price target.
The stock presents income appeal with its high dividend yield and stable payout history, though recent earnings compression and rising non-accruals to 2.4% signal credit quality concerns. Private credit sector strain and potential rate cuts pose medium-term risks to net investment income, which is 71% variable-rate exposed.
QQQM, tracking the Nasdaq-100, trades at $298.55, up 0.59% with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The ETF benefits from lower fees compared to QQQ, attracting cost-conscious investors. Recent news highlights its inclusion in retirement portfolios and strong inflows into Nasdaq-focused ETFs, supported by tech sector performance.
Outlook remains positive due to tech-led growth, but risks include market volatility and concentration in mega-cap stocks. The ETF offers exposure to high-growth companies, with institutional activity showing mixed signals, such as Bank of America reducing its position in Q2 2026.
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 →QQQM is an ETF designed to track the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index. It provides exposure to the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ. Positioned as a lower-cost and more long-term-investor-friendly alternative to its peer QQQ, QQQM offers the same fundamental market exposure but typically has a lower share price and is structured to appeal to investors focused on accumulation rather than active trading.
Read more on QQQM →