^GSPC vs. ARCC
^GSPC (S&P 500 Index) is an index, while ARCC (Ares Capital Corporation) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, ^GSPC returned 13.81%/yr vs 13.10%/yr for ARCC. A 0.56 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
^GSPC vs. ARCC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ^GSPC achieves a 10.35% return, which is significantly higher than ARCC's -3.03% return. Over the past 10 years, ^GSPC has outperformed ARCC with an annualized return of 13.81%, while ARCC has yielded a comparatively lower 13.10% annualized return.
^GSPC
- 1D
- 1.65%
- 1M
- 1.97%
- YTD
- 10.35%
- 6M
- 10.82%
- 1Y
- 26.39%
- 3Y*
- 19.66%
- 5Y*
- 12.33%
- 10Y*
- 13.81%
ARCC
- 1D
- -0.85%
- 1M
- 1.04%
- YTD
- -3.03%
- 6M
- -3.41%
- 1Y
- -4.69%
- 3Y*
- 9.74%
- 5Y*
- 8.73%
- 10Y*
- 13.10%
^GSPC vs. ARCC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
^GSPC S&P 500 Index | 10.35% | 16.39% | 23.31% | 24.23% | -19.44% | 26.89% | 16.26% | 28.88% | -6.24% | 19.42% |
ARCC Ares Capital Corporation | -3.03% | 1.07% | 19.78% | 20.03% | -3.84% | 36.14% | 0.86% | 31.30% | 8.81% | 4.50% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^GSPC and ARCC is 0.44, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.44 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.50 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 6, 2004 | 0.56 |
The correlation between ^GSPC and ARCC shifts across timeframes, from 0.44 (1 year) to 0.56 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
^GSPC vs. ARCC — Risk / Return Rank
^GSPC
ARCC
^GSPC vs. ARCC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) and Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ^GSPC | ARCC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.39 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.12 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 0.97 | +0.42 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.91 | -0.24 | +3.16 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.08 | -0.44 | +13.52 |
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Drawdowns
^GSPC vs. ARCC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^GSPC drawdown since its inception was -56.78%, smaller than the maximum ARCC drawdown of -79.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^GSPC and ARCC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ^GSPC | ARCC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -56.78% | -79.36% | +22.58% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.10% | -19.35% | +10.25% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.90% | -19.35% | +0.45% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.43% | -21.76% | -3.67% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.92% | -56.77% | +22.85% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.73% | -11.74% | +11.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.72% | -9.10% | -1.62% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.02% | 10.70% | -8.68% |
Volatility
^GSPC vs. ARCC - Volatility Comparison
S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) has a higher volatility of 4.67% compared to Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) at 3.76%. This indicates that ^GSPC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ARCC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ^GSPC | ARCC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.67% | 3.76% | +0.91% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.83% | 14.83% | -5.00% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.44% | 18.49% | -6.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.99% | 19.95% | -2.96% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.11% | 25.58% | -7.47% |
Frequently Asked Questions
^GSPC and ARCC have a correlation of 0.44, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
^GSPC has higher volatility (4.67%) compared to ARCC (3.76%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^GSPC dropped -56.78% vs ARCC's -79.36%.
^GSPC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.14 vs -0.26), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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