Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
ARCC vs GAIN
Ares Capital Corp. versus Gladstone Investment Corporation — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
ARCC and GAIN are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
ARCC or GAIN — which is better?
Neither ARCC nor GAIN wins outright — the two are nearly equivalent across all 6 dimensions, making the choice largely a matter of which account you hold them in and personal preference on yield vs stability. ARCC and GAIN are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
On yield alone, ARCC generates 10.05% vs 6.17% — a 3.88% difference that translates to $3,880 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, GAIN scores 6.3/10 (Mixed) vs 3.8/10 (Weak) for ARCC — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | ARCC | GAIN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 10.05% | 6.17% | ARCC wins |
| Dividend safety | 3.8/10 | 6.3/10 | GAIN wins |
| Growth trend | +0.93% vs 5y | -0.44% vs 5y | GAIN wins |
| Volatility (beta) | — | — | Tie |
| Scale | $14.0B | $620M | ARCC wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
ARCC wins on yield (10.05% vs 6.17%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $388 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
ARCC's higher yield (10.05%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus GAIN's 6.17% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
GAIN wins on safety (6.3/10 vs 3.8/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. GAIN scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
GAIN (6.3/10) scores 2.5 points higher than ARCC (3.8/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
GAIN shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
GAIN's yield is 0.44% below its 5y average, versus 0.93% for ARCC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
Volatility comparison unavailable
Beta data missing for one or both tickers.
ARCC is 22.6× larger by market cap
Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
Full breakdown per ticker: are ARCC dividends qualified and are GAIN dividends qualified — each with the after-tax income at every federal bracket.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice. Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
ARCC or GAIN — which is better?
Neither — ARCC and GAIN tie 2–2 across the six dimensions we score. ARCC and GAIN are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Which is better for income, ARCC or GAIN?
ARCC and GAIN are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
ARCC vs GAIN: which has a higher dividend yield?
ARCC yields 10.05% and GAIN yields 6.17%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $388 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is ARCC or GAIN a safer dividend in 2026?
ARCC scores 3.8/10 (Weak) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. GAIN scores 6.3/10 (Mixed). GAIN is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, ARCC or GAIN?
GAIN's yield is 0.44% below its 5y average, versus 0.93% for ARCC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
ARCC vs GAIN: which is more tax-efficient?
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put ARCC and GAIN into the free analyzer with the rest of your portfolio. You'll see what each one contributes to your annual income, your weighted safety score, and whether adding either diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.