OCSL vs ARCC vs FSCO

For growth investors, Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL) is the stronger pick with 60.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -17. 4% for FS Credit Opportunities Corp. (FSCO). FS Credit Opportunities Corp. (FSCO) offers the better valuation at 5. 6x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) a "Buy" — based on 32 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, FS Credit Opportunities Corp.

(FSCO) is the cheapest at 5. 6x versus Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation at 31. 2x. On forward P/E, Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, FS Credit Opportunities Corp.

(FSCO) delivered a total return of +74. 0%, compared to +11. 4% for Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ARCC returned +142. 3% versus FSCO's +74. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), FS Credit Opportunities Corp.

(FSCO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 64β versus Ares Capital Corporation's 0. 77β — meaning ARCC is approximately 20% more volatile than FSCO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FS Credit Opportunities Corp. (FSCO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 112% for Ares Capital Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL) is pulling ahead at 60.

9% versus -17. 4% for FS Credit Opportunities Corp. (FSCO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: FS Credit Opportunities Corp. grew EPS -22. 8% year-over-year, compared to -45. 8% for Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

FS Credit Opportunities Corp.

(FSCO) is the more profitable company, earning 74. 2% net margin versus 11. 3% for Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation — meaning it keeps 74. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FSCO leads at 77. 5% versus 50. 4% for OCSL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OCSL leads at 87. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL) trades at 8.

0x forward P/E versus 10. 1x for Ares Capital Corporation — 2. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ARCC: 13. 1% to $21. 88.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL) offers the highest yield at 14. 2%, versus 2. 0% for Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

64), 14. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (OCSL: +86. 3%, ARCC: +142. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: OCSL is a small-cap high-growth stock; ARCC is a mid-cap high-growth stock; FSCO is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.