ARCC vs. MSCI: Ares Capital vs. MSCI Stock Comparison
How do Ares Capital (ARCC) and MSCI (MSCI) 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 MSCI (MSCI) both belong to the Capital Markets industry, though ARCC is classified under Asset Management & Custody Banks while MSCI falls under Financial Exchanges & Data.
| Profile Item | ARCC | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ares Capital Corp. | MSCI 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 | 46.60 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 5, 2004 | November 15, 2007 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.40% | 12.76% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.48% | 9.86% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.26% | 1.00% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.97% | 29.82% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.59 | 1.17 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -21.76% | -43.74% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.45M | 590.34K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.06 | 0.28 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.09 | 0.40 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Ares Capital (ARCC) earns 6.19% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; MSCI (MSCI) has no ROE this period.
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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
--
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
- MSCI
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 28.35% and MSCI (MSCI) at 40.31% 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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
40.31%
- Max
- 62.84%
- MSCI
- 40.31%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 72.74% and MSCI (MSCI) at 56.41% 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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
56.41%
- Max
- 107.33%
- MSCI
- 56.41%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 6.19% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.78% | 21.75% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.35% | 40.31% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 72.74% | 56.41% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
MSCI (MSCI) at 9.75% 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 MSCI (MSCI) at 11.67% 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 | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -12.08% | 9.75% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 26.67% | 11.71% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -23.77% | 11.67% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.05% | 13.54% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Ares Capital (ARCC) in Financial Services and MSCI (MSCI) 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 MSCI (MSCI) 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 | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
MSCI (MSCI) at 1.21% 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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
1.21%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- MSCI
- 1.21%
- 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 MSCI (MSCI) reports 42.04%, 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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
42.04%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- MSCI
- 42.04%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 9.92% | 1.21% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 157.38% | 42.04% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Ares Capital (ARCC) at 15.68 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while MSCI (MSCI) at 33.90 sits in the richer quartile — MSCI 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
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
33.90
- Max
- 45.85
- MSCI
- 33.90
- 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 MSCI (MSCI) at 13.58 clears its benchmark range — MSCI 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
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
13.58
- MSCI
- 13.58
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
MSCI (MSCI) reports a negative P/B ratio of -15.24, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Ares Capital (ARCC) reports 0.99, ranking against industry peers normally.
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
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
-15.24
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
- MSCI
- -15.24
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.68 | 33.90 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.48 | 13.58 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.99 | -15.24 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |