Ares Capital Corporation vs Williams Companies Inc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.77 (market cap $13.48B), while Williams Companies Inc trades at $75.26 (market cap $91.75B). The key difference: Williams Companies Inc is far larger — about 6.8× 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 | WMB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | $91.75B |
Sector | Financials | Energy |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $79.40 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $56.51 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | 2.8% |
Enterprise Value | — | $121.14B |
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.
Williams Companies (WMB) trades at $75.02, down 0.57% on the day, with strong analyst consensus (79% buy ratings) and a $85.58 price target suggesting 14% upside. The stock shows bullish technical signals with moving averages supporting upward momentum, while fundamentals reveal robust profitability (23.4% net margin) and positive cash flow trends. Recent news highlights WMB's potential $5.5 billion acquisition of Momentum Midstream to expand natural gas infrastructure.
WMB presents a compelling investment case with stable fee-based revenue, dividend growth potential, and strategic expansion plans. Key risks include execution of large acquisitions, commodity price volatility exposure, and high debt levels. The current valuation at 32.9x P/E appears elevated but justified by strong earnings growth and sector-leading margins.
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 →Williams is a midstream energy company that owns and operates the large Transco and Northwest pipeline systems and associated natural gas gathering, processing, and storage assets. In August 2018, the firm acquired the remaining 26% ownership of its limited partner, Williams Partners.
Read more on WMB →