Affirm (AFRM) vs Ares Capital (ARCC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Affirm (AFRM) has outperformed Ares Capital (ARCC) over the past year, losing 1.8% versus a loss of 7.2%. Over five years, ARCC leads with a -12.3% price change compared with -48.7% for AFRM. Affirm is the larger company by market cap ($25.41 billion vs $13.25 billion), about 1.9 times the size.
On valuation, Ares Capital trades at a lower forward P/E (9.5x vs 15.6x for Affirm). Ares Capital pays a dividend yielding 10.41%, while Affirm does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AFRM | ARCC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $75.31 | $18.45 |
| Market cap | $25.41B | $13.25B |
| 1-day change | +0.57% | -1.02% |
| YTD return | +1.14% | -8.91% |
| 1-year return | -1.79% | -7.21% |
| 5-year return | -48.69% | -12.31% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.62 | 13.77 |
| Forward P/E | 15.60 | 9.54 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.53 | $1.34 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 10.41% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.92 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.26B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +32.15% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.93B | $1.30B |
| Operating margin | 9.79% | — |
| Net margin | 45.29% | — |
| 52-week high | $90.44 | $21.14 |
| 52-week low | $42.10 | $17.40 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -16.73% | -12.72% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +31.01% | +12.57% |
| Average volume | 4.22M | 4.47M |
| Shares outstanding | 296.88M | 718.02M |
| Employees | 2,358 | — |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Finance: Consumer Services | Finance: Consumer Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Ares Capital offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (10.41% vs 0.00%).
About Affirm
AFRM stock →Affirm Holdings, Inc. operates payment network in the United States, Canada, and internationally.
Finance · Finance: Consumer Services · 2,358 employees
About Ares Capital
ARCC stock →Ares Capital Corporation is a business development company specializing in growth capital, acquisition, recapitalization, mezzanine debt, restructurings, rescue financing, and leveraged buyout transactions of middle market companies. It also makes growth capital and general refinancing.
Finance · Finance: Consumer Services
AFRM vs ARCC FAQ
Which is bigger, Affirm or Ares Capital?
Affirm (AFRM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $25.41B compared with $13.25B for Ares Capital (ARCC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AFRM or ARCC?
AFRM returned -1.79% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.21% for ARCC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AFRM or ARCC?
AFRM has the lower trailing P/E at 13.6, versus 13.8 for ARCC. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Affirm or Ares Capital?
Ares Capital pays a dividend yielding 10.41%, while Affirm does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Affirm and Ares Capital in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Finance: Consumer Services industry within the Finance sector.