Price movement over the last 24 hours
Ares Capital Corporation vs Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $18.77 (market cap $13.48B), while Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $55.75. The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation pays a 10.22% dividend while Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund pays none, and Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund is trading nearer its 52-week high, Ares Capital Corporation nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | XLE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.48B | — |
Sector | Financials | — |
52-Week High | $23.25 | $62.57 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $42.12 |
Dividend Yield | 10.22% | — |
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.
XLE, the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF, trades at $55.08, up 0.49% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The ETF has gained 21% year-to-date as of July 2, 2026 (ETF Trends), benefiting from oil price volatility and geopolitical tensions. Recent news highlights sector strength, though oil price fluctuations and concentration in 21 holdings pose considerations.
Outlook remains supported by energy demand and disciplined capital expenditure, but risks include oil price sensitivity and political pressure. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with technical strength offsetting fundamental valuation gaps. The dividend yield and expense ratio advantages are positive, yet investors face volatility from crude market dynamics and election-related policy shifts.
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 →In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes companies that have been identified as energy companies by the GICS®, including securities of companies from the following industries: oil, gas and consumable fuels; and energy equipment and services. It is non-diversified.
Read more on XLE →