ARCC vs. BLK: Ares Capital vs. BlackRock Stock Comparison
How do Ares Capital (ARCC) and BlackRock (BLK) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Ares Capital (ARCC) and BlackRock (BLK) are both classified in the Asset Management & Custody Banks sub-industry within the broader Capital Markets industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | ARCC | BLK |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ares Capital Corp. | BlackRock, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Asset Management & Custody Banks | Asset Management & Custody Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 13.82 billion USD | 182.05 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 5, 2004 | October 1, 1999 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | BLK |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.40% | 15.55% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.48% | 26.16% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.26% | 7.41% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
BlackRock (BLK) has an aggressive beta of 1.34, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Ares Capital (ARCC) is defensive at 0.59 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | ARCC | BLK |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.97% | 28.45% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.59 | 1.34 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -21.76% | -43.90% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.45M | 600.75K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | BLK |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.06 | 0.40 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.09 | 0.58 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 6.19% and BlackRock (BLK) at 11.61% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
ARCC
Financial Services industry group
6.19%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- ARCC
- 6.19%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
BLK
Financial Services industry group
11.61%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- BLK
- 11.61%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Ares Capital (ARCC) at 28.35% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of BlackRock (BLK) at 24.22%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
ARCC
Financial Services industry group
28.35%
- Max
- 62.84%
- ARCC
- 28.35%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
BLK
Financial Services industry group
24.22%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- BLK
- 24.22%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Ares Capital (ARCC) at 72.74% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of BlackRock (BLK) at 37.90%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
ARCC
Financial Services industry group
72.74%
- Max
- 107.33%
- ARCC
- 72.74%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
BLK
Financial Services industry group
37.90%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- BLK
- 37.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | BLK |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 6.19% | 11.61% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.78% | 3.85% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.35% | 24.22% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 72.74% | 37.90% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
BlackRock (BLK) at 18.67% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Ares Capital (ARCC) at -12.08% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at -23.77% and BlackRock (BLK) at -15.95% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | BLK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -12.08% | 18.67% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 26.67% | 10.65% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -23.77% | -15.95% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.05% | 1.30% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Ares Capital (ARCC) in Financial Services and BlackRock (BLK) in Financial Services both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Ares Capital (ARCC) in Financial Services and BlackRock (BLK) in Financial Services run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | BLK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
BlackRock (BLK) at 1.91% pays an industry-typical yield; Ares Capital (ARCC) at 9.92% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
ARCC
Financial Services industry group
9.92%
- ARCC
- 9.92%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BLK
Financial Services industry group
1.91%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- BLK
- 1.91%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Ares Capital (ARCC) reports payout ratio above 100% at 157.38%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile BlackRock (BLK) reports 51.00%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ARCC
Financial Services industry group
157.38%
- Max
- 241.07%
- ARCC
- 157.38%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BLK
Financial Services industry group
51.00%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- BLK
- 51.00%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | BLK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 9.92% | 1.91% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 157.38% | 51.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Ares Capital (ARCC) at 15.68 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while BlackRock (BLK) at 26.84 sits in the richer quartile — BLK needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
ARCC
Financial Services industry group
15.68
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- ARCC
- 15.68
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
BLK
Financial Services industry group
26.84
- Max
- 45.85
- BLK
- 26.84
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Ares Capital (ARCC) at 4.48 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while BlackRock (BLK) at 6.38 sits in the pricier quartile — BLK costs more per dollar of sales.
ARCC
Financial Services industry group
4.48
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- ARCC
- 4.48
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
BLK
Financial Services industry group
6.38
- Max
- 9.23
- BLK
- 6.38
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 0.99 and BlackRock (BLK) at 3.14 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
ARCC
Financial Services industry group
0.99
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- ARCC
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
BLK
Financial Services industry group
3.14
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- BLK
- 3.14
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | BLK |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.68 | 26.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.48 | 6.38 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.99 | 3.14 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |