Ares Capital Corporation vs S&P500 ETF — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.86 (market cap $13.48B), while S&P500 ETF trades at $753.88. The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation pays a 10.22% dividend while S&P500 ETF pays none, and S&P500 ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Ares Capital Corporation nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | — |
Sector | Financials | — |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $759.55 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $621.75 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | — |
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.
SPY trades at $754.89, up 0.44% with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The ETF approaches record highs amid AI-driven market enthusiasm, though RSI levels suggest potential overbought conditions. Recent news highlights the S&P 500's strong performance and ongoing sector rotation.
Outlook remains positive with institutional focus on AI infrastructure and earnings growth, but risks include Fed policy uncertainty and stretched valuations. The dividend yield provides income support, with the next payment scheduled for July 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 →The ETF is designed to track the performance of the securities and the stocks in the S&P 500 Index. To maintain the composition and weightings, the advisor adjusts the ETF from time to time to conform to periodic changes in the index target.
Read more on SPY →