ARCC vs. BX: Ares Capital vs. Blackstone Stock Comparison
How do Ares Capital (ARCC) and Blackstone (BX) 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 Blackstone (BX) 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 | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ares Capital Corp. | Blackstone 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 | 148.61 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 5, 2004 | June 22, 2007 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.40% | -11.29% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.48% | 12.22% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.26% | 0.26% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Blackstone (BX) has an aggressive beta of 1.50, 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 | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.97% | 38.63% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.59 | 1.50 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -21.76% | -49.29% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.45M | 4.75M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.06 | -0.40 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.09 | -0.57 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Blackstone (BX) at 32.38% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ares Capital (ARCC) at 6.19% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BX.
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%
BX
Financial Services industry group
32.38%
- Max
- 44.78%
- BX
- 32.38%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- 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 Blackstone (BX) at 22.99%, 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%
BX
Financial Services industry group
22.99%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- BX
- 22.99%
- 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 Blackstone (BX) at 48.86%, 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%
BX
Financial Services industry group
48.86%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- BX
- 48.86%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | BX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 6.19% | 32.38% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.78% | 14.27% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.35% | 22.99% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 72.74% | 48.86% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Blackstone (BX) at 13.54% 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 Blackstone (BX) at 6.91% 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 | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -12.08% | 13.54% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 26.67% | 20.27% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -23.77% | 6.91% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.05% | 17.92% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Ares Capital (ARCC) in Financial Services and Blackstone (BX) 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 Blackstone (BX) 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 | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Blackstone (BX) at 4.22% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Ares Capital (ARCC) at 9.92% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.
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%
BX
Financial Services industry group
4.22%
- Max
- 9.77%
- BX
- 4.22%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 157.38% and Blackstone (BX) at 111.19% report payout ratio above 100%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings on both sides.
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%
BX
Financial Services industry group
111.19%
- Max
- 241.07%
- BX
- 111.19%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 9.92% | 4.22% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 157.38% | 111.19% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Ares Capital (ARCC) at 15.68 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Blackstone (BX) at 26.61 sits in the richer quartile — BX 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
BX
Financial Services industry group
26.61
- Max
- 45.85
- BX
- 26.61
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Ares Capital (ARCC) at 4.48 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Blackstone (BX) at 9.61 clears its benchmark range — BX looks notably rich on 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
BX
Financial Services industry group
9.61
- BX
- 9.61
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Ares Capital (ARCC) at 0.99 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Blackstone (BX) at 10.81 prices above its benchmark range — BX looks rich relative to book.
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
BX
Financial Services industry group
10.81
- BX
- 10.81
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | BX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.68 | 26.61 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.48 | 9.61 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.99 | 10.81 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |