Ares Capital Corporation vs ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ ETF — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.87 (market cap $14.34B), while ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ ETF trades at $37.27. The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation pays a 9.61% dividend while ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ ETF pays none, and Ares Capital Corporation is trading nearer its 52-week high, ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | SQQQ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.34B | — |
Sector | Financials | Leveraged / Inverse |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $92.95 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $36.31 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ARCC trades at $19.98, down 0.15% on the day, with a P/E of 14.9 and P/B of 1.03. Recent quarterly earnings have consistently missed expectations, with Q2 2026 EPS of $0.47 falling short of the $0.4731 estimate. Technical indicators show a bullish moving average signal but bearish oscillators, with RSI at 78.37 suggesting overbought conditions. The company maintains a strong dividend yield of approximately 9.6% with consistent $0.48 quarterly payments.
While ARCC offers attractive income with its high dividend yield and strong analyst support (24 buy ratings), investors face risks from declining revenue trends and compressed earnings. The stock trades near consensus price targets, limiting near-term upside potential. Credit quality concerns in the private lending sector and potential interest rate sensitivity present additional headwinds for this business development company.
SQQQ, a 3x leveraged inverse ETF tracking the Nasdaq-100, trades at $37.15, down 1.56% on the day. Technical indicators are bearish overall, with moving averages signaling selling pressure, though oscillators are neutral. The ETF is designed for short-term tactical use, not long-term holding, due to daily resets that erode value over time.
The outlook for SQQQ is highly speculative, offering potential gains if the Nasdaq-100 declines, but risks are severe, including rapid decay from leverage and volatility decay. It may serve as a hedge for QQQ holdings but is unsuitable as a standalone investment given its long-term performance history of significant losses.
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 →SQQQ is a leveraged inverse ETF that seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, that correspond to three times the inverse (-3x) of the daily performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index. It is a tactical trading tool designed for sophisticated investors to profit from or hedge against declines in large-cap technology and growth stocks. Due to its daily reset and the effects of compounding, it is intended for short-term use and carries significant risk if held during periods of high market volatility.
Read more on SQQQ →