ARCC vs. CME: Ares Capital vs. CME Stock Comparison
How do Ares Capital (ARCC) and CME (CME) 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 CME (CME) both belong to the Capital Markets industry, though ARCC is classified under Asset Management & Custody Banks while CME falls under Financial Exchanges & Data.
| Profile Item | ARCC | CME |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ares Capital Corp. | CME Group Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| 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 | Financial Exchanges & Data |
| Market Capitalization | 13.82 billion USD | 109.49 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | October 5, 2004 | December 6, 2002 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | CME |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.40% | 14.24% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.48% | 16.88% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.26% | 11.09% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | CME |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.97% | 24.87% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.59 | 0.16 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -21.76% | -31.74% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.45M | 1.91M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | CME |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.06 | 0.40 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.09 | 0.56 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 6.19% and CME (CME) at 16.13% 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%
CME
Financial Services industry group
16.13%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- CME
- 16.13%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
CME (CME) at 63.48% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Ares Capital (ARCC) at 28.35% also retains a top-quartile 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%
CME
Financial Services industry group
63.48%
- CME
- 63.48%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 72.74% and CME (CME) at 65.85% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
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%
CME
Financial Services industry group
65.85%
- Max
- 107.33%
- CME
- 65.85%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | CME |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 6.19% | 16.13% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.78% | 1.52% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.35% | 63.48% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 72.74% | 65.85% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
CME (CME) at 6.37% 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 CME (CME) at 15.41% 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 | CME |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -12.08% | 6.37% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 26.67% | 9.11% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -23.77% | 15.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.05% | 14.68% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Ares Capital (ARCC) in Financial Services and CME (CME) 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 CME (CME) 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 | CME |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
CME (CME) at 1.68% 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%
CME
Financial Services industry group
1.68%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- CME
- 1.68%
- 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 CME (CME) reports 92.62%, 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%
CME
Financial Services industry group
92.62%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- CME
- 92.62%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | CME |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 9.92% | 1.68% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 157.38% | 92.62% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Ares Capital (ARCC) at 15.68 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CME (CME) at 25.07 sits in the richer quartile — CME 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
CME
Financial Services industry group
25.07
- Max
- 45.85
- CME
- 25.07
- 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 CME (CME) at 15.74 clears its benchmark range — CME 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
CME
Financial Services industry group
15.74
- CME
- 15.74
- 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 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while CME (CME) at 4.12 carries an above-peer premium to book — CME is pricier on assets.
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
CME
Financial Services industry group
4.12
- Max
- 7.79
- CME
- 4.12
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | CME |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.68 | 25.07 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.48 | 15.74 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.99 | 4.12 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |