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Ares Capital Corporation(ARCC)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$18.56
10/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
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Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for ARCC

10/09/2026: ARCC (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Ares Capital Corporation is the largest publicly traded business development company (BDC), providing specialized debt and equity financing to middle-market firms. The company benefits from the extensive deal-sourcing capabilities of Ares Management, which helps maintain a diverse and robust investment portfolio. Its primary growth opportunity lies in the continued migration of middle-market lending from traditional banks to private credit providers. However, investors must monitor risks related to interest rate volatility, potential borrower defaults, and increased competition that may compress loan yields. ARCC is generally suited for dividend-focused investors seeking exposure to private credit markets, with total returns derived primarily from consistent quarterly income distributions.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorWeak fitARCC is primarily an income-oriented vehicle rather than a capital appreciation play.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum is conditional on positive price trends and a strong credit market signal.
Value investorStrong fitInvestors often look for opportunities to buy at or near Net Asset Value (NAV).
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company is specifically designed to provide consistent income through dividends.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile diversified, the nature of credit and leverage inherent in BDCs creates underlying risk.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumAs a publicly traded stock, the market price can fluctuate based on interest rate sentiment and economic data.
Valuation riskMediumTrading at a significant premium to NAV may present valuation risks for new investors.
Competition risk (Private Credit)Medium / highThe entry of more capital into private credit can compress yields on new loans.
Business qualityStrongThe company has a long track record of managing a large, diversified credit portfolio.
Dividend incomeStrongThe income stream is a core component of the total return proposition.
Execution riskMediumSuccess depends on the manager's ability to select credit-worthy borrowers and manage non-accruals.

Price Behavior

Steady Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Steady Uptrend

The stock demonstrates consistent and steady upward price momentum.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 8.24%
Avg. Invested days 56
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 2.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
ARCC receives a 4-star rating, supported by strong unit economics, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
ARCC has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with strong financial health, moderate growth momentum, and soft ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong cash generation (FCF margin 50.9%) and strong profitability (net margin 57.9%) are partially offset by negative earnings growth (-14.7%), negative revenue growth (-5.3%), very low insider ownership of 0.56%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
ARCC's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $1.1B (50.9% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 5-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
ARCC's growth profile is soft, with the least-weak measure being revenue growth at -5.3% FY2025 versus FY2024. By comparison, while earnings growth (-14.7%, negative) and free-cash-flow growth (-10.9%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 36.0% (moderate) and 0.0% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable (soft). Insider ownership is only 0.56%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Morgan Stanley - Brokerage Accounts 2.28%
UBS Group AG 1.92%
Van Eck Associates Corporation 1.85%
STRS OHIO 1.48%
Bank of America Corp 1.24%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
ARCC generates approximately $672 of gross profit, $624 of operating income, and $509 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong margins and strong cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains weak.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 7.08%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
ARCC has a large-cap, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedLow VolatilityLarge / Mega Cap StabilityShort Squeeze Risk

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 13.46B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 13.99
1Y Target Price 20.77
Price to earnings Ratio 13.99
1Y Target Price 20.77
Volume (30-day avg) 4.8M shares
Beta 0.66
52 Weeks Range 16.55 - 19.83
Updated Date 10/09/2026
52 Weeks Range 16.55 - 19.83
Updated Date 10/09/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 10.41%
Basic EPS (TTM) 1.34

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Direct LendingInterest and fee income from a portfolio of middle-market loans.You are effectively investing in a fund that lends money to companies; you get paid the interest.
GeographyOperations are primarily focused within the United States.Domestic economic health and interest rates are the primary drivers of performance.
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Valuation

Trailing PE 13.99
Forward PE 10.03
Enterprise Value 28.91B
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.33
Enterprise Value 28.91B
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.33
Enterprise Value to Revenue 25.15
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 10.19
Shares Outstanding 718.02M
Shares Floating -
Shares Outstanding 718.02M
Shares Floating -
Percent Insiders 0.56
Percent Institutions 35.96

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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