Ares Capital Corporation vs United States Oil ETF — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $20.01 (market cap $14.35B), while United States Oil ETF trades at $127.5. The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation pays a 9.61% dividend while United States Oil ETF pays none, and United States Oil ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Ares Capital Corporation nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | USO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | — |
Sector | Financials | — |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $152.96 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $66.17 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | — |
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.
USO trades at $117.98, down 0.75% amid bearish technical signals with 13 sell indicators versus 4 buy signals. The stock faces pressure from Middle East tensions affecting oil markets, though RSI levels suggest potential oversold conditions. Recent news highlights ongoing Strait of Hormuz deadlock and declining Strategic Petroleum Reserve levels, creating volatility in energy sector valuations.
The outlook remains cautious with technical weakness and geopolitical uncertainty weighing on sentiment. Investment opportunity exists for contrarian buyers given oversold RSI levels, but risks include prolonged Middle East tensions and oil price volatility. Fundamental analysis is limited without current financial ratios available.
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 →This ETF invests primarily in futures contracts for light, sweet crude oil, other types of crude oil, diesel-heating oil, gasoline, natural gas, and other petroleum-based fuels.
Read more on USO →