For the quarter ended September 2025, Ares Capital (ARCC Quick QuoteARCC - Free Report) reported revenue of $782 million, up 0.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.50, compared to $0.58 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $763.74 million, representing a surprise of +2.39%. The company has not delivered EPS surprise, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.50.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Ares Capital performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Dividend income: $141 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $153.44 million.
• Other Income: $32 million versus $17.43 million estimated by three analysts on average.
• Capital Structuring Service Fees: $48 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $41.1 million.
• Interest Income from Investments: $561 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $545.92 million.

View all Key Company Metrics for Ares Capital here>>>

Shares of Ares Capital have returned -0.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.