Ares Capital Corporation vs Synchrony Financial — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.94 (market cap $14.35B), while Synchrony Financial trades at $78.37 (market cap $25.44B). The key difference: Synchrony Financial is the larger of the two by market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (9.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | SYF | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $25.44B |
Sector | Financials | Financials |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $88.47 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $63.78 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 1.74% |
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.
Synchrony Financial (SYF) trades at $78.59, down 0.1% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong institutional backing. The stock shows robust fundamentals with a P/E of 8.02, net income margin of 23.4%, and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters, including Q2 2026 EPS of $2.59 versus $2.14 expected. Recent news highlights partnerships like CareCredit's integration with Stripe, enhancing growth prospects.
SYF presents a compelling buy opportunity with a consensus price target of $86.33, offering ~10% upside, driven by aggressive buybacks, stable credit trends, and positive analyst sentiment (62.5% buy ratings). Risks include potential consumer spending slowdowns and competitive pressures in the financial services sector, but strong cash flow and dividend payments support shareholder value.
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 →Synchrony Financial is a premier consumer financial services company and the largest provider of private-label credit cards in the United States. Spun off from GE Capital in 2014, it operates through a unique B2B2C model, embedding its financing products within the ecosystems of major partners like Amazon, Lowe’s, and PayPal. Synchrony leverages deep data analytics and a diverse multi-platform strategy—spanning retail, health, and auto—to drive customer loyalty and provide specialized credit solutions at the point of sale.
Read more on SYF →