Ares Capital Corporation vs Vanguard Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.72 (market cap $13.48B), while Vanguard Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF trades at $81.55. The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation pays a 10.22% dividend while Vanguard Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF pays none, and Ares Capital Corporation is trading nearer its 52-week high, Vanguard Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | VCIT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | — |
Sector | Financials | Fixed Income |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $84.82 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $81.54 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Ares Capital (ARCC) trades at $18.78, up 2.01% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong analyst support. The stock shows a P/E of 11.52 and P/B of 0.96, trading below the consensus price target of $20.58. Recent earnings have missed expectations, with Q2 2026 results pending, while revenue declined to $1.51B in 2025 from $1.7B in 2024. A dividend of $0.48 is scheduled for payment on June 30, 2026, supporting income appeal amid mixed sentiment.
ARCC presents a value opportunity with a high dividend yield and undervaluation relative to analyst targets, but faces headwinds from earnings misses and a bearish technical outlook. Risks include revenue volatility and competitive pressures in the BDC space, though institutional buy ratings suggest confidence in recovery potential. Investors should weigh income stability against growth challenges.
VCIT, the Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF, trades at $81.81, down 0.13% with a bearish technical signal. The fund maintains a low 0.03% expense ratio and offers monthly dividend distributions, with recent payouts around $0.33-$0.34. Technical indicators show oversold conditions with RSI at 19.28, while moving averages signal bearish momentum. The fund provides exposure to over 2,000 investment-grade corporate bonds with a current SEC yield around 5.17%.
VCIT offers income-focused investors a balanced approach to intermediate-term corporate bonds with competitive yields and low costs. Key risks include interest rate sensitivity and corporate credit quality concerns. The fund's diversification across investment-grade issuers provides stability, though economic uncertainty could impact bond valuations. Current technical weakness may present entry opportunities for yield-seeking investors.
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 →VCIT tracks the Bloomberg U.S. 5-10 Year Corporate Bond Index, providing exposure to investment-grade debt from industrial, utility, and financial companies. It acts as a middle-ground bond fund, offering higher yields than short-term bonds with less price volatility than long-term corporate debt.
Read more on VCIT →