Ares Capital Corporation vs Royal Bank of Canada — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.96 (market cap $14.35B), while Royal Bank of Canada trades at $210.44 (market cap $292.92B). The key difference: Royal Bank of Canada is far larger — about 20.4× Ares Capital Corporation's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (9.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | RY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $292.92B |
Sector | Financials | Financials |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $217.87 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $133.43 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 2.36% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ARCC trades at $20.01, up 1.99% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. Recent earnings show Q2 2026 EPS of $0.47, slightly below the $0.4731 estimate, continuing a trend of minor misses. Revenue declined to $1.51B in 2025 from $1.7B in 2024, with net income margin at 81.77%. The stock offers a high dividend yield, with consistent payouts highlighted in recent news.
Outlook is mixed: strong analyst buy consensus (75%) and a stable dividend history support income investors, but declining revenue and tight dividend coverage pose risks. Price target consensus is $19.63, below the current price, suggesting limited upside. Macro risks in private credit, per WSJ on August 9, 2026, add caution.
Royal Bank of Canada (RY) trades at $211.08, down 0.17% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a neutral stance from oscillators. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.84 exceeding expectations. Revenue grew to $66.53B in 2025, and net income margin improved to 31.85%. Analyst consensus is mixed, with 43% buy ratings, while recent news highlights insider selling and institutional adjustments to holdings.
RY presents a solid investment case with robust profitability and consistent earnings outperformance, though valuation ratios like P/E of 19.23 and P/B of 3.17 suggest a premium. Risks include high debt levels and macroeconomic sensitivity, but the bullish technical trend and dividend yield support a cautiously optimistic outlook for long-term investors.
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 →Royal Bank of Canada is one of the two largest banks in Canada. It is a diversified financial services company, offering personal and commercial banking, wealth-management services, insurance, corporate banking, and capital markets services. The bank is concentrated in Canada, with additional operations in the U.S. and other countries.
Read more on RY →