ARCC Stock Today: Ares Capital’s 9.5% Dividend, Q3 Record NAV, and Fresh Insider Buying (Nov. 9, 2025)

by Mateusz Kaczmarek

9 November 2025

Insider confidence: CEO Kort Schnabel disclosed a 13,000‑share purchase on Oct. 31 at a $20.39 average price (Form 4 filed Nov. 3). ^[1]
Dividend locked in: ARCC’s Q4 2025 dividend of $0.48/share is payable Dec. 30 to holders of record Dec. 15. At today’s ~$20.20 price, the forward yield is ~9.5%. ^[2]
Fundamentals in focus: In Q3 2025, Core EPS was $0.50 (covering the dividend), GAAP EPS $0.57, and NAV/share rose to $20.01—which management described as another record. ^[3]
What moved today: Weekend investor coverage kept ARCC in the dividend spotlight, and a new note flagged position changes among smaller holders. ^[4]

What’s new on November 9, 2025

Investor attention stays high: The Motley Fool highlighted ARCC among the “smartest dividend stocks” to consider now, citing its elevated yield and long-term total-return record since 2004. While opinionated, it underscores ongoing retail interest around the name. ^[5]
Holdings churn headlines: MarketBeat’s weekend feed noted updated filings including a stake reduction by Golden State Wealth Management LLC—typical of 13F-driven flows that can color near-term sentiment but rarely change the long-term story alone. ^[6]

By the numbers — Ares Capital’s Q3 2025 snapshot

Earnings:GAAP EPS $0.57; Core EPS $0.50. With a $0.48 dividend, coverage was a little over 1.04× this quarter. ^[7]
Balance sheet & liquidity:Cash $1.0B, total debt $15.6B, with about $5.2B of undrawn capacity on credit facilities. Debt/equity 1.09× (1.02× net of available cash). ^[8]
Portfolio scale & mix:$28.7B of investments at fair value across 587 portfolio companies; 61% first‑lien exposure, 71% floating‑rate by fair value. ^[9]
Credit quality:Non‑accruals were ~1.8% of cost (about 1.0% of fair value) at quarter‑end—still low by historical BDC standards. ^[10]
Origination pulse (platform context): ARCC is managed by Ares Management. Ares reported $15.2B of U.S. direct‑lending commitments closed in Q3 and $49.3B over the past 12 months, reinforcing robust deal flow behind ARCC’s pipeline. ^[11]

Dividend watch: dates, yield and coverage

Declared:$0.48 regular quarterly dividend.
Record date:Dec. 15, 2025.
Payable:Dec. 30, 2025.
At today’s price (~$20.20), the forward yield is ~9.5% ($1.92 annualized ÷ price). With Core EPS of $0.50, the Q3 payout was covered by earnings, a constructive signal for income investors tracking coverage and spillover income. ^[12]

Insider buying: why it matters

CEO Kort Schnabel’s open‑market purchase—13,000 shares for $265,070—adds a tangible vote of confidence from the top. The Form 4 shows prices ranged $20.29–$20.49 on Oct. 31. Insider buys don’t guarantee performance, but they often support sentiment when paired with stable fundamentals and dividend coverage. ^[13]

Valuation check (today)

Price vs. NAV: With ARCC near $20.20 and NAV/share at $20.01, shares trade around a ~1% premium to NAV—roughly in line with a “quality at par” setup that many income investors favor when credit quality is steady. (NAV from Q3 release; price from live quote above.) ^[14]

What to watch next

Dividend logistics: Settlement into the Dec. 30 payable date; trading dynamics as the Dec. 15 record date approaches. ^[15]
Credit trends: Keep an eye on non‑accruals, realized losses, and repayments given a moderating rate backdrop and sponsor exits. ^[16]
Origination pace: Ares’ platform activity (debt commitments, deal mix) often foreshadows ARCC deployment and fee income trajectory. ^[17]

Media & analyst chatter you may have missed this week

Insider‑buy + yield screens: ARCC popped up in BNK Invest’s Top Dividend Stock with Insider Buying roundup after the CEO purchase, pegging yield near 9.47% at mid‑week prices. ^[18]
Earnings‑call briefs: Roundups highlighted 10% annualized ROE and a sequential EPS uptick cited around the call. (For primary details, defer to the official Business Wire release.) ^[19]

Bottom line

For Nov. 9, 2025, the ARCC narrative remains income‑first with steady coverage, record NAV/share, and fresh insider alignment—all against a backdrop of healthy direct‑lending origination at its manager. Near‑par valuation to NAV gives investors a clean read on total‑return expectations heading into year‑end, with the Dec. 30 dividend the next tangible catalyst. ^[20]

Sources

Ares Capital Q3 2025 press release (dividend, NAV, liquidity, portfolio & credit metrics). ^[21]
SEC Form 4 (CEO insider purchase on Oct. 31, 2025). ^[22]
Ares Management press update (Q3 2025 U.S. direct‑lending origination). ^[23]
Investor/press coverage (dividend features, weekend highlights; holdings changes). ^[24]

This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Do your own research (DYOR) and consider consulting a licensed advisor.

Investing $10k Into Ares Capital (ARCC) 💰

Watch this video on YouTube.

References

Tags:

Mateusz Kaczmarek Latest posts

A technology and finance expert writing for TS2.tech. He analyzes developments in satellites, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on their impact on global markets. Author of industry reports and market commentary, often cited in tech and business media. Passionate about innovation and the digital economy.

View all

November 2025: Top Undervalued Asian Small Caps With Insider Activity
November 9, 2025, 6:17 PM EST. Amid global jitters, November 2025 highlights a cohort of undervalued Asian small caps showing notable insider activity and favorable valuations. The screener flags stocks across finance, agriculture, healthcare devices, and consumer services with attractive discount to fair value, reasonable PE and PS ratios, and solid Value Ratings. Highlights include banks with 4.5x/1.0x blends, consumer and manufacturing plays, and stories like PolyNovo NovoSorb push and Sinofert Holdings' fertilizer footprint, underscoring momentum from insider purchases and governance shifts. The analysis leverages Simply Wall St's Value Rating framework and a mix of legacy firms and growth-oriented players, including a former index member navigated by management changes. Investors are urged to weigh fundamentals against leverage and funding needs as macro headwinds persist, while insider activity adds a layer of conviction.
Starbucks (SBUX) Valuation After Recent Share Price Rebound
November 9, 2025, 6:04 PM EST. Starbucks (SBUX) stock has rebound to about $85.57 after a ~9% monthly gain, with a 1-year total return still in the red. A fair value of $94.17 supports an UNDERVALUED call as investors weigh a path to an operational recovery and top-line growth. The narrative emphasizes the Back to Starbucks/Green Apron initiatives, store restructuring, and cost reductions, plus growth in markets-especially China-as a lever for revenue growth. Risks include a dip in comparable-store sales and margin pressure that could temper gains. Valuation remains rich at about 37x earnings versus a sector average of 21.2x and a fair multiple of 31.8x, prompting questions whether the premium is justified or if momentum has already priced in future upside.
Ensurge Micropower ASA launches NOK 100 million private placement at NOK 0.90 per share; potential subsequent offering
November 9, 2025, 5:46 PM EST. Ensurge Micropower ASA has announced a private placement aiming to raise NOK 100 million at a subscription price of NOK 0.90 per share. A possible subsequent offering could add up to NOK 20 million at the same price, pending approval at an upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting expected around 2 December 2025. The terms and record dates are: last day including right 7 November 2025; ex-date 10 November 2025; record date 11 November 2025. The prospectus for the Subsequent Offering will be published for approval by the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority. The move is disclosed under the Continuing Obligations.
Pony AI (PONY) Valuation After Share Price Slide
November 9, 2025, 5:44 PM EST. Pony AI (Pony AI (PONY)) has seen its shares slide about 25% in the past month, with a 30-day return of -30.8%, fueling investor skepticism about near-term profitability. The stock trades at a price-to-book ratio of 7.1, well below peers at 13.1 but above the industry average of 3.7, highlighting a split between value versus sector pricing. A DCF-based fair value of $21.75 contrasts with the current price of $14.04, suggesting upside of over 35% if earnings power materializes. Ongoing net losses and sector volatility are key risks, even as the setup signals undervalued relative to peers. Investors must weigh whether the pullback reflects overhangs that may persist.
Ensurge Micropower ASA raises NOK 100m in private placement; insiders allocated shares
November 9, 2025, 5:32 PM EST. Ensurge Micropower ASA announced a private placement raising NOK 100 million at NOK 0.90 per share. The deal allocated shares to primary insiders and close associates: AS Mascot Holding (close to Chairman Alexander Munch-Thore), Coretech AS (close to Board member Thomas Ramm), Nina Riibe (Board member), Shauna McIntyre (CEO), and Lars Eikeland (CFO). The disclosure follows section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Attachments provide the forms with transaction details.