Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
ARCC vs BNS
Ares Capital Corporation versus Bank of Nova Scotia — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
BNS wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but ARCC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | ARCC | BNS | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 10.31% | 4.02% | ARCC wins |
| Dividend safety | 3.8/10 | 7.3/10 | BNS wins |
| Growth trend | +1.31% vs 5y | -1.51% vs 5y | BNS wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.62 | 1.22 | ARCC wins |
| Scale | $13.0B | $99.0B | BNS wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 3 wins | BNS wins |
Dimension by dimension
ARCC wins on yield (10.31% vs 4.02%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $629 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
BNS wins on safety (7.3/10 vs 3.8/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. BNS scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
BNS shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
BNS's yield is 1.51% below its 5y average, versus 1.31% for ARCC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
ARCC is less volatile (beta 0.62 vs 1.22)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
BNS is 7.6× 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.
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
Which is better, ARCC or BNS?
BNS wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but ARCC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does ARCC or BNS have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $629 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is ARCC or BNS a safer dividend?
ARCC scores 3.8/10 (Weak) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. BNS scores 7.3/10 (Solid). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both ARCC and BNS?
It depends on overlap. Two ETFs in similar categories often hold many of the same companies — owning both can mean paying two expense ratios for similar exposure. Check the underlying holdings before stacking.
Already own ARCC or BNS? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding BNS to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →