Ares Capital (ARCC) vs Equifax (EFX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Ares Capital (ARCC) has outperformed Equifax (EFX) over the past year, losing 7.2% versus a loss of 40.2%. Over five years, ARCC leads with a -12.3% price change compared with -46.0% for EFX. Equifax is the larger company by market cap ($16.73 billion vs $13.25 billion), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, Ares Capital trades at a lower forward P/E (9.5x vs 14.1x for Equifax). Ares Capital offers the higher dividend yield (10.41% vs 1.49%).
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 | ARCC | EFX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $18.45 | $142.43 |
| Market cap | $13.25B | $16.73B |
| 1-day change | -1.02% | -0.04% |
| YTD return | -8.91% | -34.36% |
| 1-year return | -7.21% | -40.15% |
| 5-year return | -12.31% | -46.04% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.77 | 25.08 |
| Forward P/E | 9.54 | 14.07 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.34 | $5.68 |
| Dividend yield | 10.41% | 1.49% |
| Annual dividend | $1.92 | $2.12 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $6.07B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +6.92% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.30B | $660.30M |
| Gross margin | — | 56.45% |
| Operating margin | — | 18.03% |
| Net margin | — | 10.87% |
| 52-week high | $21.14 | $244.37 |
| 52-week low | $17.40 | $137.01 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.72% | -41.72% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +12.57% | +43.16% |
| Average volume | 4.47M | 1.60M |
| Shares outstanding | 718.02M | 117.48M |
| Employees | — | 15,000 |
| 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
- ARCC has outperformed EFX by 32.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Equifax trades at a higher earnings multiple (25.1x vs 13.8x trailing P/E).
- Ares Capital offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (10.41% vs 1.49%).
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
About Equifax
EFX stock →Equifax Inc. operates as a data, analytics, and technology company.
Finance · Finance: Consumer Services · 15,000 employees
ARCC vs EFX FAQ
Which is bigger, Ares Capital or Equifax?
Equifax (EFX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $16.73B compared with $13.25B for Ares Capital (ARCC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ARCC or EFX?
ARCC returned -7.21% over the past 12 months, compared with -40.15% for EFX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ARCC or EFX?
ARCC has the lower trailing P/E at 13.8, versus 25.1 for EFX. 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, Ares Capital or Equifax?
Ares Capital has the higher yield at 10.41%, compared with 1.49% for Equifax.
Are Ares Capital and Equifax in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Finance: Consumer Services industry within the Finance sector.