ARCC vs. FDS: Ares Capital vs. FactSet Research Systems Stock Comparison
How do Ares Capital (ARCC) and FactSet Research Systems (FDS) 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) both belong to the Capital Markets industry, though ARCC is classified under Asset Management & Custody Banks while FDS falls under Financial Exchanges & Data.
| Profile Item | ARCC | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ares Capital Corp. | FactSet Research Systems 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 | Financial Exchanges & Data |
| Market Capitalization | 13.82 billion USD | 11.56 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 5, 2004 | June 28, 1996 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.40% | 27.49% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.48% | -8.71% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.26% | -4.88% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.97% | 48.03% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.59 | 0.69 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -21.76% | -61.13% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.45M | 803.71K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.06 | 0.48 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.09 | 0.71 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 25.48% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ares Capital (ARCC) at 6.19% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for FDS.
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%
FDS
Financial Services industry group
25.48%
- Max
- 44.78%
- FDS
- 25.48%
- 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 21.54%, 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%
FDS
Financial Services industry group
21.54%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- FDS
- 21.54%
- 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 22.22%, 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%
FDS
Financial Services industry group
22.22%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- FDS
- 22.22%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 6.19% | 25.48% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.78% | 10.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.35% | 21.54% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 72.74% | 22.22% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 6.65% 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at -6.30% 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 | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -12.08% | 6.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 26.67% | 5.89% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -23.77% | -6.30% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.05% | 6.59% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Ares Capital (ARCC) in Financial Services and FactSet Research Systems (FDS) 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) 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 | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 1.33% 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%
FDS
Financial Services industry group
1.33%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- FDS
- 1.33%
- 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) reports 31.02%, 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%
FDS
Financial Services industry group
31.02%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- FDS
- 31.02%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 9.92% | 1.33% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 157.38% | 31.02% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 15.68 and FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 22.50 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
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
FDS
Financial Services industry group
22.50
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- FDS
- 22.50
- 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 4.67 sits in the pricier quartile — FDS 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
FDS
Financial Services industry group
4.67
- Max
- 9.23
- FDS
- 4.67
- 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 5.77 carries an above-peer premium to book — FDS 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
FDS
Financial Services industry group
5.77
- Max
- 7.79
- FDS
- 5.77
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.68 | 22.50 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.48 | 4.67 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.99 | 5.77 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |