Ares Capital Corporation vs Union Pacific Corporation — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.76 (market cap $14.34B), while Union Pacific Corporation trades at $292.33 (market cap $173.99B). The key difference: Union Pacific Corporation is far larger — about 12.1× 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 | UNP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.34B | $173.99B |
Sector | Financials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $307.32 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $214.91 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 1.94% |
Enterprise Value | — | $203.04B |
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.
Union Pacific (UNP) trades at $292.24, down 0.3% on the day, with a neutral technical signal. The company reported strong Q2 2026 results, beating EPS and revenue estimates, and raised full-year guidance. Fundamentals remain robust with a net income margin of 28.85% and ROE of 39.7%, though valuation ratios like P/E of 23.71 are elevated. Recent news highlights a 3% dividend increase and ongoing merger developments with Norfolk Southern.
The outlook is positive, driven by service-led growth, pricing power, and efficiency gains. Key opportunities include domestic intermodal expansion and margin improvement. Risks involve high fuel costs, regulatory scrutiny of the merger, and economic sensitivity. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $334.33 price target, suggesting significant upside from current levels.
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 →Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific is the largest public railroad in North America. Operating on more than 30,000 miles of track in the western two thirds of the U.S., UP generated roughly $22 billion of revenue in 2021 by hauling coal, industrial products, intermodal containers, agriculture goods, chemicals, and automotive goods. UP owns about one fourth of Mexican railroad Ferromex and derives about 10% of its revenue hauling freight to and from Mexico.
Read more on UNP →