Ares Capital Corporation vs Clear Secure Inc — how do they compare? Ares Capital Corporation trades at $19.94 (market cap $14.35B), while Clear Secure Inc trades at $48.23 (market cap $5.28B). The key difference: Ares Capital Corporation is far larger — about 2.7× Clear Secure Inc's market cap, and Ares Capital Corporation pays the higher dividend (9.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARCC | YOU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.35B | $5.28B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $22.68 | $62.36 |
52-Week Low | $17.45 | $29.61 |
Dividend Yield | 9.61% | 1.12% |
Enterprise Value | — | $4.43B |
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.
Clear Secure (YOU) trades at $51.29, down 3.26% in 24 hours, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including 66.66% gross margins and 90.29% ROE. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat estimates with EPS of $0.49 versus $0.40 expected, driven by double-digit revenue growth and record free cash flow. The company launched corporate memberships to expand its identity platform, enhancing business travel offerings.
Outlook is mixed: robust profitability and growth initiatives support upside, but high valuation (P/E 34.6) and technical weakness near support at $50 pose risks. Analyst consensus is balanced with 44% buy ratings, yet insider selling and competitive pressures require caution for near-term volatility.
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 →Clear Secure operates a secure identity platform that uses biometrics—specifically eyes, face, and fingerprints—to automate and expedite identity verification. While its most visible application is the CLEAR Plus airport subscription service, the company functions as a broad-based identity layer for travel, healthcare, and digital services, aiming to replace physical IDs with a secure, biometric link.
Read more on YOU →