Investment - Banking & Investment Services
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UCFI vs ARCC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Asset Management
UCFI vs ARCC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Investment - Banking & Investment Services | Asset Management |
| Market Cap | $288M | $13.61B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $11M | $3.15B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $4M | $1.15B |
| Gross Margin | 66.5% | 75.7% |
| Operating Margin | 48.8% | 69.7% |
| Forward P/E | — | 9.9x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $15.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $41M | $924M |
UCFI vs ARCC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Jun 20 | Mar 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Financial In… (UCFI) | 100 | 1020.4 | +920.4% |
| Ares Capital Corpor… (ARCC) | 100 | 126.2 | +26.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: UCFI vs ARCC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
UCFI is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 330.5% 10Y total return vs ARCC's 139.2%
- Better valuation composite
ARCC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.77, current ratio 1.71x
- Beta 0.77, yield 2.0%, current ratio 1.71x
- NIM 3.6% vs UCFI's 0.1%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Better valuation composite | |
| Quality / Margins | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs UCFI's 0.2% (lower = leaner) | |
| Dividends | 2.0% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +0.4% vs UCFI's -45.4% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs UCFI's 0.2% |
UCFI vs ARCC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ARCC leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ARCC is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.1B annually — 277.2x UCFI's $11M. ARCC is the more profitable business, keeping 41.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to UCFI's 35.2%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $11M | $3.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | — | $2.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | — | $1.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | — | $1.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +66.5% | +75.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +48.8% | +69.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +35.2% | +41.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.7% | +36.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -63.9% |
Valuation Metrics
ARCC leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, ARCC's 13.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than UCFI's 42.9x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $288M | $13.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $246M | $28.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | — | 10.19x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 9.92x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.99x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 42.95x | 13.09x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 25.36x | 4.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 0.93x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 6.84x | 11.92x |
Profitability & Efficiency
UCFI leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UCFI delivers a 37.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $37 in annual profit, vs $8 for ARCC. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), UCFI scores 7/9 vs ARCC's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +37.0% | +8.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.9% | +3.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +38.4% | +5.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +51.3% | +7.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 1.12x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$41M | $15.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $41M | $924M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $16.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 2.98x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — UCFI and ARCC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in UCFI five years ago would be worth $84,769 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,704 for ARCC. Over the past 12 months, ARCC leads with a +0.4% total return vs UCFI's -45.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ARCC at 10.3% vs UCFI's -18.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | 0.0% | -4.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -45.4% | +0.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -45.4% | +34.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +747.7% | +47.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +330.5% | +139.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -18.3% | +10.3% |
Risk & Volatility
ARCC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Risk & Volatility
ARCC currently trades 81.0% from its 52-week high vs UCFI's 50.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | — | 0.77x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.00 | $23.42 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.41 | $17.40 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +50.1% | +81.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 33.5 | 56.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 0 | 7.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
ARCC is the only dividend payer here at 2.02% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $21.88 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.38 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
ARCC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). UCFI leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
UCFI vs ARCC: Frequently Asked Questions
6 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UCFI or ARCC a better buy right now?
Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) offers the better valuation at 10.
2x trailing P/E (9. 9x forward), 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — UCFI or ARCC?
Over the past 5 years, United Financial Investments Company PSC (UCFI) delivered a total return of +747.
7%, compared to +47. 0% for Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UCFI returned +330. 5% versus ARCC's +139. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which has better profit margins — UCFI or ARCC?
Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) is the more profitable company, earning 41.
3% net margin versus 35. 2% for United Financial Investments Company PSC — meaning it keeps 41. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ARCC leads at 69. 7% versus 48. 8% for UCFI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ARCC leads at 75. 7%, 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.
04Which pays a better dividend — UCFI or ARCC?
In this comparison, ARCC (2.
0% yield) pays a dividend. UCFI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
05Is UCFI or ARCC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
77), 2. 0% yield, +139. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ARCC: +139. 2%, UCFI: +330. 5%), 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.
06What are the main differences between UCFI 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: UCFI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ARCC is a mid-cap high-growth stock. ARCC pays a dividend while UCFI does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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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