Ares Capital Corporation vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.77 (market cap $13.48B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $235.74 (market cap $93.70B). The key difference: Waste Management, Inc. is far larger — about 7× Ares Capital Corporation's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (10.22%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $93.70B |
Sector | Financials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $196.77 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | 1.52% |
Enterprise Value | — | $116.43B |
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.
WM trades at $233.33, up 0.72% today, showing steady performance near its 52-week high. The stock maintains a bullish technical signal with strong moving average support. Fundamentally, revenue grew to $25.20B in 2025 with a net income margin of 10.99%, though recent quarters show mixed earnings results. Analyst consensus remains positive with a $263.57 price target. The company continues its dividend payments, with the next $0.95 dividend scheduled for June 2026.
Outlook: WM's defensive business model and pricing power provide stability, but elevated valuation ratios (P/E 33.77) pose risks if growth slows. Upside potential exists if the company meets Q2 2026 earnings expectations. Key risks include debt levels and economic sensitivity. Wall Street's strong buy sentiment (57% buy ratings) supports a cautiously optimistic view.
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 →Waste Management ranks as the largest integrated provider of traditional solid waste services in the United States, operating approximately 260 active landfills and about 340 transfer stations. The company serves residential, commercial, and industrial end markets and is also a leading recycler in North America.
Read more on WM →