Ares Capital (ARCC) vs Main Street Capital (MAIN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Ares Capital (ARCC) has outperformed Main Street Capital (MAIN) over the past year, losing 7.1% versus a loss of 12.3%. Over five years, MAIN leads with a +27.2% price change compared with -12.3% for ARCC. Ares Capital is the larger company by market cap ($13.25 billion vs $5.07 billion), about 2.6 times the size.
On valuation, Ares Capital trades at a lower forward P/E (9.5x vs 14.0x for Main Street Capital). Ares Capital offers the higher dividend yield (10.41% vs 5.70%).
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 | MAIN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $18.45 | $54.18 |
| Market cap | $13.25B | $5.07B |
| 1-day change | -1.02% | -1.08% |
| YTD return | -8.80% | -10.28% |
| 1-year return | -7.10% | -12.29% |
| 5-year return | -12.31% | +27.18% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.77 | 10.88 |
| Forward P/E | 9.54 | 13.95 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.34 | $4.98 |
| Dividend yield | 10.41% | 5.70% |
| Annual dividend | $1.92 | $3.09 |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.30B | $493.40M |
| 52-week high | $21.14 | $65.23 |
| 52-week low | $17.40 | $48.95 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.72% | -16.94% |
| Analyst consensus | none | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +12.57% | +11.35% |
| Average volume | 4.46M | 529.96K |
| Shares outstanding | 718.02M | 93.51M |
| Employees | — | 110 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Finance: Consumer Services | Finance/Investors 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 is about 2.6 times larger than Main Street Capital by market value ($13.25B vs $5.07B).
- Ares Capital trades at a higher earnings multiple (13.8x vs 10.9x trailing P/E).
- Ares Capital offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (10.41% vs 5.70%).
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 Main Street Capital
MAIN stock →Main Street Capital Corporation is a business development company and a small business investment company specializing in direct and indirect investments. In direct investments, the firm specializes in private equity capital to lower middle market companies.
Finance · Finance/Investors Services · 110 employees
ARCC vs MAIN FAQ
Which is bigger, Ares Capital or Main Street Capital?
Ares Capital (ARCC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $13.25B compared with $5.07B for Main Street Capital (MAIN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ARCC or MAIN?
ARCC returned -7.10% over the past 12 months, compared with -12.29% for MAIN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ARCC or MAIN?
MAIN has the lower trailing P/E at 10.9, 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, Ares Capital or Main Street Capital?
Ares Capital has the higher yield at 10.41%, compared with 5.70% for Main Street Capital.
Are Ares Capital and Main Street Capital in the same industry?
Both are in the Finance sector, but in different industries: Finance: Consumer Services for Ares Capital and Finance/Investors Services for Main Street Capital.