Compare Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) vs Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) Price & Performance
Price performance
Price movement over the last 24 hours
Key statistics
Key statistics
Ares Capital Corporation vs Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.75 (market cap $13.48B), while Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF trades at $78.7. The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation pays a 10.22% dividend while Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF pays none, and Ares Capital Corporation is trading nearer its 52-week high, Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | VCSH | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | — |
Sector | Financials | Fixed Income |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $80.20 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $78.61 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | — |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
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.
VCSH trades at $78.61, down 0.1% with a bearish technical outlook showing 16 sell signals versus 1 buy. The ETF maintains consistent dividend distributions with recent payments of $0.29-$0.30 per share. News coverage highlights VCSH's competitive expense ratio and yield advantages over comparable short-term bond ETFs, though institutional positions show mixed adjustments.
The short-term corporate bond ETF faces headwinds from the Fed's indication of no rate cuts in 2026, potentially limiting near-term upside. Current technical weakness suggests cautious positioning, though the neutral oscillator reading and institutional interest from firms like BlueSky Wealth Advisors provide some support. The primary risk remains interest rate sensitivity in the current monetary policy environment.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Ares Capital Corporation
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 →About Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF
VCSH tracks the Bloomberg U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Bond Index, focusing on high-quality, investment-grade debt with short maturities. It is designed to offer higher income than Treasury bills with significantly lower interest rate sensitivity than intermediate or long-term bond funds.
Read more on VCSH →
