Ares Capital (ARCC Quick QuoteARCC - Free Report) reported $763 million in revenue for the quarter ended September 2026, representing a year-over-year decline of 2.4%. EPS of $0.46 for the same period compares to $0.50 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -2.2% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $780.18 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.48, the EPS surprise was -4.17%.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

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: $160 million versus $154.67 million estimated by two analysts on average.
• Other Income: $22 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $19.28 million.
• Capital Structuring Service Fees: $23 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $43.26 million.
• Interest Income from Investments: $558 million versus $554.49 million estimated by two analysts on average.

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

Shares of Ares Capital have returned -2.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.