ARCC vs. ICE: Ares Capital vs. Intercontinental Exchange Stock Comparison
How do Ares Capital (ARCC) and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) 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 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) both belong to the Capital Markets industry, though ARCC is classified under Asset Management & Custody Banks while ICE falls under Financial Exchanges & Data.
| Profile Item | ARCC | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ares Capital Corp. | Intercontinental Exchange, 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 | 96.27 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 5, 2004 | November 16, 2005 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.40% | 18.71% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.48% | 18.62% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.26% | 6.59% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.97% | 25.87% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.59 | 0.82 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -21.76% | -33.97% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.45M | 3.09M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.06 | 0.56 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.09 | 0.80 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 6.19% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 14.40% 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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
14.40%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- ICE
- 14.40%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 28.35% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 38.14% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
38.14%
- Max
- 62.84%
- ICE
- 38.14%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- 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 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 52.77%, 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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
52.77%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- ICE
- 52.77%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 6.19% | 14.40% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.78% | 2.28% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.35% | 38.14% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 72.74% | 52.77% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 7.47% 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 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 20.71% 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 | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -12.08% | 7.47% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 26.67% | 9.47% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -23.77% | 20.71% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.05% | 30.77% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Ares Capital (ARCC) in Financial Services and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) 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 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) 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 | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 1.17% 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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
1.17%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- ICE
- 1.17%
- 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 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) reports 27.79%, 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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
27.79%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- ICE
- 27.79%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 9.92% | 1.17% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 157.38% | 27.79% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 15.68 and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 23.47 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
ICE
Financial Services industry group
23.47
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- ICE
- 23.47
- 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 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 8.82 sits in the pricier quartile — ICE 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
ICE
Financial Services industry group
8.82
- Max
- 9.23
- ICE
- 8.82
- 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 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 3.22 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
ICE
Financial Services industry group
3.22
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- ICE
- 3.22
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.68 | 23.47 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.48 | 8.82 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.99 | 3.22 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |