PRUAX vs. ARCC

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

PRUAX (PGIM Jennison Utility Fund) is Utilities Equities fund managed by PGIM, while ARCC (Ares Capital Corporation) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, PRUAX returned 10.25%/yr vs 12.56%/yr for ARCC. At a 0.44 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

PRUAX vs. ARCC - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in PGIM Jennison Utility Fund (PRUAX) and Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PRUAX achieves a 1.53% return, which is significantly higher than ARCC's -5.14% return. Over the past 10 years, PRUAX has underperformed ARCC with an annualized return of 10.25%, while ARCC has yielded a comparatively higher 12.56% annualized return.

PRUAX

• 1D: -3.13%
• 1M: -7.56%
• YTD: 1.53%
• 6M: -0.75%
• 1Y: 8.21%
• 3Y*: 17.00%
• 5Y*: 10.93%
• 10Y*: 10.25%

ARCC

• 1D: -1.53%
• 1M: -2.61%
• YTD: -5.14%
• 6M: -5.66%
• 1Y: -6.58%
• 3Y*: 9.07%
• 5Y*: 8.64%
• 10Y*: 12.56%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

PRUAX vs. ARCC - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PRUAX PGIM Jennison Utility Fund	1.53%	11.47%	39.83%	-3.96%	-0.18%	14.89%	4.14%	27.06%	1.14%	13.78%
ARCC Ares Capital Corporation	-5.14%	1.07%	19.78%	20.03%	-3.84%	36.14%	0.86%	31.30%	8.81%	4.50%

Correlation

The correlation between PRUAX and ARCC is 0.09, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.09
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.27
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.36
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.33
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 7, 2004	0.44

Over the past year, the correlation between PRUAX and ARCC has dropped to 0.09 - well below their long-term average of 0.44, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

PRUAX vs. ARCC — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

PRUAX

PRUAX Risk / Return Rank: 7
PRUAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7
PRUAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 6
PRUAX Omega Ratio Rank: 6
PRUAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 10
PRUAX Martin Ratio Rank: 8

ARCC

ARCC Risk / Return Rank: 25
ARCC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 25
ARCC Sortino Ratio Rank: 21
ARCC Omega Ratio Rank: 22
ARCC Calmar Ratio Rank: 29
ARCC Martin Ratio Rank: 29

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

PRUAX vs. ARCC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for PGIM Jennison Utility Fund (PRUAX) 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.

	PRUAX	ARCC	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.56	-0.36	+0.92
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.84	-0.38	+1.22
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.11	0.95	+0.15
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.03	-0.34	+1.37
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	2.34	-0.63	+2.97
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PRUAX vs. ARCC - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PRUAX Sharpe Ratio is 0.56, which is higher than the ARCC Sharpe Ratio of -0.36. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PRUAX and ARCC, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	PRUAX	ARCC	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.56	-0.36	+0.92
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.64	0.43	+0.20
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.58	0.49	+0.08
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.65	0.37	+0.28

Drawdowns

PRUAX vs. ARCC - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PRUAX drawdown since its inception was -58.20%, smaller than the maximum ARCC drawdown of -79.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PRUAX and ARCC.

Drawdown Indicators

	PRUAX	ARCC	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-58.20%	-79.36%	+21.16%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.25%	-19.35%	+10.10%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.92%	-19.35%	+4.43%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-20.65%	-21.76%	+1.11%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-35.54%	-56.77%	+21.23%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.81%	-13.66%	+4.85%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.43%	-9.10%	-0.33%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.07%	10.48%	-6.41%

Volatility

PRUAX vs. ARCC - Volatility Comparison

PGIM Jennison Utility Fund (PRUAX) has a higher volatility of 5.41% compared to Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) at 3.94%. This indicates that PRUAX'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.

Volatility by Period

	PRUAX	ARCC	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.41%	3.94%	+1.47%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.62%	14.71%	-2.09%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.45%	18.40%	-2.95%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.20%	19.96%	-2.76%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.89%	25.58%	-7.69%

Dividends

PRUAX vs. ARCC - Dividend Comparison

PRUAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.18%, more than ARCC's 10.28% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ARCC Ares Capital Corporation	10.28%	9.49%	8.77%	9.59%	10.12%	7.65%	9.47%	9.01%	9.88%	9.67%	9.22%	11.02%
PRUAX PGIM Jennison Utility Fund	11.18%	11.24%	18.59%	9.82%	8.33%	13.94%	2.07%	5.62%	9.19%	4.19%	7.64%	11.96%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PRUAX and ARCC in my portfolio?

PRUAX and ARCC have a correlation of 0.09, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, PRUAX or ARCC?

PRUAX has higher volatility (5.41%) compared to ARCC (3.94%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PRUAX dropped -58.20% vs ARCC's -79.36%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

PRUAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.56 vs -0.36), 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.