Ares Capital Corporation vs Vistra Corp — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.95 (market cap $14.35B), while Vistra Corp trades at $145.5 (market cap $47.95B). The key difference: Vistra Corp is far larger — about 3.3× 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 | VST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $47.95B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $217.92 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $134.71 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 0.64% |
Enterprise Value | — | $69.89B |
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.
Vistra (VST) trades at $140.59, down 0.56% on the day, with a bearish technical signal driven by selling pressure in moving averages. The stock shows strong profitability with a net income margin of 11.55% and ROE of 75.73%, though recent quarterly EPS results were mixed with two misses against expectations. Analyst consensus remains overwhelmingly bullish with a 90.91% buy rating and a $239.75 price target, highlighting growth potential from data center electricity demand.
The outlook is supported by strategic positioning in power generation for AI infrastructure, but risks include volatile hedging impacts and high P/B valuation. Earnings growth from hyperscaler deals and nuclear assets offers upside, while technical weakness near support at $136 requires monitoring for stability.
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 →Vistra is a leading integrated retail electricity and power generation company that serves as a critical infrastructure provider for the digital economy. It operates a diversified portfolio of zero-carbon nuclear and renewable assets alongside a massive, flexible natural gas fleet, positioning it as an indispensable partner for energy-intensive AI data centers and industrial electrification.
Read more on VST →