TRIN
Trinity Capital Inc.
Asset Management
Market Cap$1.20B
5Y Perf.+15.2%
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Stock Comparison
TRIN vs ARCC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ARCC
Ares Capital Corporation
Asset Management
Market Cap$13.76B
5Y Perf.+10.8%
TRIN vs ARCC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | TRIN | ARCC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Asset Management | Asset Management |
| Market Cap | $1.20B | $13.76B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $232M | $3.15B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $154M | $1.15B |
| Gross Margin | 100.0% | 75.7% |
| Operating Margin | 93.1% | 69.7% |
| Forward P/E | 8.3x | 10.0x |
| Total Debt | $1.31B | $15.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $19M | $924M |
TRIN vs ARCC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
TRIN
ARCC
| Stock | Jan 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Capital Inc. (TRIN) | 100 | 115.2 | +15.2% |
| Ares Capital Corpor… (ARCC) | 100 | 110.8 | +10.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: TRIN vs ARCC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: TRIN leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. Ares Capital Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
TRIN
Trinity Capital Inc.
The Banking Pick
TRIN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.69, yield 11.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.69, current ratio 22.79x
- Beta 0.69, yield 11.4%, current ratio 22.79x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
ARCC
Ares Capital Corporation
The Banking Pick
ARCC is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 32.9%, EPS growth -23.8%
- 139.7% 10Y total return vs TRIN's 86.3%
- 32.9% NII/revenue growth vs TRIN's -2.2%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ARCC | 32.9% NII/revenue growth vs TRIN's -2.2% |
| Value | TRIN | Lower P/E (8.3x vs 10.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | ARCC | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs TRIN's 0.1% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | TRIN | Beta 0.69 vs ARCC's 0.77 |
| Dividends | TRIN | 11.4% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs ARCC's 2.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | TRIN | +38.2% vs ARCC's +1.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ARCC | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs TRIN's 0.1% |
TRIN vs ARCC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLTRINLAGGINGARCC
ARCCAres Capital Corporat…
0leads
TRINTrinity Capital Inc.
6leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ARCCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
TRIN4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
TRIN3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
TRIN6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
TRIN5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
TRIN2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
TRIN2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TRIN leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ARCC is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.1B annually — 13.5x TRIN's $232M. TRIN is the more profitable business, keeping 58.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ARCC's 41.3%.
| Metric | TRINTrinity Capital I… | ARCCAres Capital Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $232M | $3.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $195M | $2.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $154M | $1.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $25M | $1.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +100.0% | +75.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +93.1% | +69.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +58.4% | +41.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.3% | +36.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +23.3% | -63.9% |
TRIN leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
TRIN leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 8.8x trailing earnings, TRIN trades at a 14% valuation discount to ARCC's 10.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, TRIN's 11.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ARCC's 13.2x.
| Metric | TRINTrinity Capital I… | ARCCAres Capital Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.2B | $13.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.5B | $28.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.82x | 10.30x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.31x | 10.02x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.00x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.52x | 13.16x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.16x | 4.37x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.09x | 0.94x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 12.05x |
TRIN leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
TRIN leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
TRIN delivers a 14.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $8 for ARCC. ARCC carries lower financial leverage with a 1.12x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TRIN's 1.20x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ARCC scores 4/9 vs TRIN's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | TRINTrinity Capital I… | ARCCAres Capital Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.7% | +8.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.6% | +3.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.9% | +5.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.2% | +7.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.20x | 1.12x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.3B | $15.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $19M | $924M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.3B | $16.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.54x | 2.98x |
TRIN leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
TRIN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in TRIN five years ago would be worth $18,260 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,948 for ARCC. Over the past 12 months, TRIN leads with a +38.2% total return vs ARCC's +1.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TRIN at 25.9% vs ARCC's 10.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | TRINTrinity Capital I… | ARCCAres Capital Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +19.3% | -3.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +38.2% | +1.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +99.7% | +35.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +82.6% | +49.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +86.3% | +139.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +25.9% | +10.6% |
TRIN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TRIN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TRIN is the less volatile stock with a 0.69 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ARCC's 0.77 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. TRIN currently trades 99.4% from its 52-week high vs ARCC's 81.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | TRINTrinity Capital I… | ARCCAres Capital Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.69x | 0.77x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.38 | $23.42 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $13.75 | $17.40 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.4% | +81.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 73.6 | 60.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 7.5M |
TRIN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
TRIN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates TRIN as "Buy" and ARCC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.2% upside for ARCC (target: $22) vs -0.6% for TRIN (target: $17). For income investors, TRIN offers the higher dividend yield at 11.39% vs ARCC's 2.00%.
| Metric | TRINTrinity Capital I… | ARCCAres Capital Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $17.17 | $21.88 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 7 | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +11.4% | +2.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.97 | $0.38 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
TRIN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
TRIN leads in 6 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics.
Best OverallTrinity Capital Inc. (TRIN)Leads 6 of 6 categories
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TRIN vs ARCC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is TRIN or ARCC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) is the stronger pick with 32.
9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 2% for Trinity Capital Inc. (TRIN). Trinity Capital Inc. (TRIN) offers the better valuation at 8. 8x trailing P/E (8. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Trinity Capital Inc. (TRIN) a "Buy" — based on 7 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.
02Which has the better valuation — TRIN or ARCC?
On trailing P/E, Trinity Capital Inc.
(TRIN) is the cheapest at 8. 8x versus Ares Capital Corporation at 10. 3x. On forward P/E, Trinity Capital Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — TRIN or ARCC?
Over the past 5 years, Trinity Capital Inc.
(TRIN) delivered a total return of +82. 6%, compared to +49. 5% for Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ARCC returned +139. 7% versus TRIN's +86. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — TRIN or ARCC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Trinity Capital Inc.
(TRIN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 69β versus Ares Capital Corporation's 0. 77β — meaning ARCC is approximately 12% more volatile than TRIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 112% versus 120% for Trinity Capital Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — TRIN or ARCC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) is pulling ahead at 32.
9% versus -2. 2% for Trinity Capital Inc. (TRIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Trinity Capital Inc. grew EPS -6. 7% year-over-year, compared to -23. 8% for Ares Capital 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.
06Which has better profit margins — TRIN or ARCC?
Trinity Capital Inc.
(TRIN) is the more profitable company, earning 58. 4% net margin versus 41. 3% for Ares Capital Corporation — meaning it keeps 58. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TRIN leads at 93. 1% versus 69. 7% for ARCC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TRIN leads at 100. 0%, 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.
07Is TRIN or ARCC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Trinity Capital Inc.
(TRIN) trades at 8. 3x forward P/E versus 10. 0x for Ares Capital Corporation — 1. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ARCC: 14. 2% to $21. 88.
08Which pays a better dividend — TRIN or ARCC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Trinity Capital Inc. (TRIN) offers the highest yield at 11. 4%, versus 2. 0% for Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC).
09Is TRIN or ARCC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Trinity Capital Inc.
(TRIN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 69), 11. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TRIN: +86. 3%, ARCC: +139. 7%), 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.
10What are the main differences between TRIN and ARCC?
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: TRIN is a small-cap deep-value stock; ARCC is a mid-cap high-growth 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(TRIN: -2.2% · ARCC: 32.9%)Net Margin>
%
(TRIN: 58.4% · ARCC: 41.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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