ARCC BDC — Ares Capital Corporation

Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC)

ARCC is a low-cost BDC. As of August 19, 2026, its distribution rate is 9.78%, its trailing-12-month yield is 9.76%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 91/100 (Safe). Fund total return is 1161.7% over the past 21.9 years, 255.4 points ahead of SPY at 906.3%.

At the current 9.78% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $978 per year, or $81.50 per month on an equivalent basis. Actual quarterly payments vary.

ARCC performance versus SPY

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Fund total return is 1161.7% over the past 21.9 years, 255.4 points ahead of SPY at 906.3%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 16.6%.

ARCC key facts

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Distribution Safety Score™

91 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

8.90%

Issuer

Ares Management

Asset type

BDC

Asset class

Equity

Distribution rate

9.78%

Distribution frequency

Quarterly

Trailing yield

9.76%

5-year average yield

9.0

Last close

$19.67

Market cap

$14,101,967,872

Average volume

2681582.0

Last dividend

$0.4800

Ex-dividend date

09/15/2026

Payment date

09/30/2026

Beta

0.62

Payout ratio

0.9897

P/E ratio

14.8788

Forward P/E

10.5152

EPS

$1.32

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (9.78%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield (9.76%) is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. We show a 30-day SEC yield when the fund publishes one. Schwab and other issuers may report a TTM distribution yield or SEC yield on a different date — all can be valid; they are not interchangeable. Fund total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is what the fund did, not your personal gain/loss. Figures below use Dividend Vision data as of August 19, 2026.

Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology · SEC yield

Sources and review

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Primary sources: Ares Management fund page; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

ARCC risks and drawbacks

Payments are quarterly, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 16.6%.

Who may consider ARCC — and who may not

ARCC may suit someone looking for low-cost broad dividend exposure, a high Distribution Safety Score. It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (ARCC pays quarterly). This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Compare ARCC

ARCC vs similar funds:

• ARCC vs SCHD
• ARCC vs BXSL
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• ARCC vs MAIN
• ARCC vs OBDC

Frequently asked questions

More funds from Ares Management.