ARCC vs. NLY: Ares Capital vs. Annaly Capital Management Stock Comparison
How do Ares Capital (ARCC) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 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 Annaly Capital Management (NLY) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but ARCC is classified in Capital Markets while NLY is classified in Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).
Ares Capital (ARCC) is an ordinary operating company, while Annaly Capital Management (NLY) is a REIT — read its payout ratio and P/E alongside FFO (funds from operations) rather than comparing them directly to ARCC’s multiples.
| Profile Item | ARCC | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ares Capital Corp. | Annaly Capital Management, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Asset Management & Custody Banks | Mortgage REITs |
| Market Capitalization | 13.82 billion USD | 14.77 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 5, 2004 | October 8, 1997 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | REIT |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.40% | -0.90% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.48% | 19.10% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.26% | 1.83% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.97% | 20.57% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.59 | 1.22 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -21.76% | -49.57% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.45M | 10.28M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.06 | -0.25 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.09 | -0.36 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 6.19% and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 7.35% 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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
7.35%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- NLY
- 7.35%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 80.27% 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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
80.27%
- NLY
- 80.27%
- 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 Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 107.33% 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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
107.33%
- NLY
- 107.33%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 6.19% | 7.35% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.78% | 0.84% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.35% | 80.27% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 72.74% | 107.33% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 87.29% delivers above-range revenue growth, while Ares Capital (ARCC) at -12.08% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 80.25% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Ares Capital (ARCC) at -23.77% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for NLY.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -12.08% | 87.29% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 26.67% | 4.72% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -23.77% | 80.25% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.05% | -9.35% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Ares Capital (ARCC) in Financial Services and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 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 Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 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 | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 9.92% and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 15.38% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
15.38%
- NLY
- 15.38%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 157.38% and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 201.39% 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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
201.39%
- Max
- 241.07%
- NLY
- 201.39%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 9.92% | 15.38% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 157.38% | 201.39% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Ares Capital (ARCC) at 15.68 and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 13.02 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
NLY
Financial Services industry group
13.02
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- NLY
- 13.02
- 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 Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 10.62 clears its benchmark range — NLY 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
NLY
Financial Services industry group
10.62
- NLY
- 10.62
- Max
- 9.23
- 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 Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 1.05 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
NLY
Financial Services industry group
1.05
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- NLY
- 1.05
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ARCC | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.68 | 13.02 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.48 | 10.62 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.99 | 1.05 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |