Ares Capital Corporation vs BlackRock TCP Capital Corp — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.85 (market cap $14.34B), while BlackRock TCP Capital Corp trades at $3.91 (market cap $327.64M). The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation is far larger — about 43.8× BlackRock TCP Capital Corp's market cap, and BlackRock TCP Capital Corp pays the higher dividend (19.46%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | TCPC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.34B | $327.64M |
Sector | Financials | Financials |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $7.26 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $3.13 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 19.46% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ARCC trades at $19.875, down 0.53% on the day, with strong analyst support showing 24 buy ratings and a consensus price target of $19.63. The stock maintains a bullish technical signal with moving averages supporting upward momentum, though oscillators indicate some near-term pressure. Recent earnings showed Q2 2026 EPS of $0.47, slightly below expectations, while the company continues its 17-year dividend streak with consistent $0.48 quarterly payments.
The outlook remains positive with solid fundamentals including 81.77% net income margin and 6.88% ROE, though investors should monitor declining revenue trends from $1.7B in 2024 to projected $1.2B in 2026. Key risks include private credit market strain and dividend coverage tightening to 104%, while institutional confidence remains high with no sell ratings among 32 analysts covering the stock.
TCPC trades at $3.88, down 1.52% today, with a bullish technical trend and neutral oscillators. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations at $0.22 per share, and the company announced a $523 million portfolio sale to reduce leverage. The stock shows a high P/S ratio of 70.7 but trades below book value with a P/B of 0.59. Dividends of $0.17 per share are scheduled for H1 and H2 2026.
Outlook is mixed: strategic moves and dividend yield near 8.8% offer value, but negative revenue, net losses, and a class action lawsuit pose risks. Analyst consensus leans hold, with 30.8% buy ratings. Further upside depends on successful execution of the strategic review and return to profitability.
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 →BlackRock TCP Capital Corp is a finance company specializing in middle-market lending. It aims for high returns through income and capital appreciation while prioritizing principal protection. The company invests in debt securities and earns revenue from interest payments, fees, and some equity appreciation.
Read more on TCPC →