Ares Capital Corporation vs VF Corp — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.66 (market cap $13.48B), while VF Corp trades at $16.94 (market cap $6.58B). The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation is far larger — about 2× VF Corp's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (10.22%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | VFC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $6.58B |
Sector | Financials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $21.55 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $11.66 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | 2.15% |
Enterprise Value | — | $10.73B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ARCC trades at $18.64, down 0.75% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $20.58. The stock has a P/E of 11.52 and P/B of 0.96, trading below book value. Recent quarterly EPS results have slightly missed expectations, but the company maintains a strong net income margin of 84.5% and recently declared a $0.48 dividend.
The outlook remains positive given strong analyst support (24 buy ratings, 0 sell) and a high dividend yield, though risks include earnings misses and sensitivity to interest rate changes. Revenue has declined from $1.7B in 2024 to $1.5B in 2025, requiring monitoring of top-line performance for sustained growth.
VFC trades at $16.88, up 0.66% today, with a bearish technical signal and neutral oscillators. Recent earnings show mixed results with Q1 2026 missing expectations. Revenue declined to $9.50B in 2025, with a net loss of $189.72M, though gross margin remains strong at 54.78%. Analyst consensus is a $20.00 price target with 43.1% buy ratings. The company maintains a dividend and shows improving cash flow trends into 2026.
VFC presents a turnaround opportunity with improving margins and debt reduction, but faces near-term headwinds from weak consumer confidence and brand-specific challenges. The stock's current valuation below analyst targets suggests potential upside if execution improves, though volatility and competitive pressures remain key risks.
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 →VF designs, produces, and distributes branded apparel and accessories. Its largest apparel categories include action sports, outdoor, and workwear. Its portfolio of about a dozen brands includes Vans, The North Face, Timberland, Supreme, and Dickies. VF markets its products in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific through wholesale sales to retailers, e-commerce, and branded stores owned by the company and partners. The company has grown through multiple acquisitions and traces its roots to 1899.
Read more on VFC →