ARCC vs TSM Stock Comparison
TSM currently leads ARCC in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 57 vs 47. The clearest difference is quality, while ARCC has the stronger momentum profile.
What is the main difference between ARCC and TSM?
TSM leads the current stock comparison as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Ares Capital Corporation vs Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
TSM leads
TSM leads by 10 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Risk Resilience, but the lead has narrowed from 30 points over 30 sessions.
Fragile: 4 of 6 evidence groups support TSM, its lead is narrowing, and its current signal state is conflicted.
Ares Capital Corporation
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors TSM over ARCC, 57 versus 47 as of Oct 24, 2026. TSM's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and risk resilience, while ARCC holds the stronger momentum profile. TSM also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor TSM today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the leader's advantage has been narrowing. TSM lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 30 to 10 points over 30 sessions.
Compare Ares Capital Corporation and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare ARCC and TSM against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality50 vs 98TSM +48
- Momentum39 vs 16ARCC +23
- Risk Resilience57 vs 65TSM +8
- Value47 vs 45Even
4 of 6 evidence groups favor TSM. TSM’s edge is concentrated in quality and risk resilience; ARCC keeps a meaningful momentum edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-23, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-22.
Largest factor move: Momentum -2
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 3 active signals are unchanged.
Largest factor move: Momentum +1
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.
TSM's lead widened by 2 AIQ points in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — ARCC and TSM both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
TSM (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and risk resilience.
ARCC (Ares Capital Corporation): the counter-case, on momentum, fundamentals.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
TSMTSM on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
ARCCARCC on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
EvenThe two are level on Value.
Momentum
ARCCARCC on the Momentum factor, by 23 points.
Lower downside
TSMTSM on Risk Resilience, by 8 points.
Analyst upside
TSMTSM on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | ARCC | TSM | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +1.9% | +40.7% | TSM has more room |
| Target dispersion | 0% | +34% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 1 | 7 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | ARCC | TSM |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 3.71% | 15.29% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $1.600 | $1.360 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $1.920 | $2.769 |
| Years increased | — | 4 |
| No cut in window | — | No (1) |
| Cohort rank | not ranked | not ranked |
TSM grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 15.29% a year against ARCC's 3.71%. They are ranked in different cohorts — business development companies and US dividend-paying corporations — so their ranks are not comparable with each other.
Yield and payout ratio shown elsewhere on this page are current values, not part of the study window.
Split-adjusted regular dividends per share, 2020–2025, excluding special dividends. Research as of Sep 19, 2026.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor TSM. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | TSM | 47 vs 57 |
| Fundamentals | ARCCon balance | revenue growth 120.1% vs 17.6%; EPS growth 84.6% vs 8%; TTM ROE 6.8% vs 41.2%; gross margin 67% vs 65.8%; operating margin 62.9% vs 57.9% — ARCC takes 4 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | Even | Value 47 vs 45 |
| Technicals | TSM | Price vs 50-day -3.5% vs -3.6%; vs 200-day -2.2% vs 5.3% |
| Risk Resilience | TSM | Risk Resilience 57 vs 65 |
| Analyst expectations | TSM | Target upside 1.9% vs 40.7% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of ARCC and TSM and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is moderate at 10 points.
- The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has swung materially session to session. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on TSM.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 24 – Oct 23TSM lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 30 to 10 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- TSM +10
- 47 vs 57
- 7 sessions ago
- TSM +11
- 47 vs 58
- 30 sessions ago
- TSM +30
- 44 vs 74
- 90 sessions ago
- Level
- 64 vs 64
The lead changed hands 6 times in this window, most recently on Sep 2 when TSM moved ahead of ARCC.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
2 bullish / 0 bearish / 1 neutral
Only ARCC
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
2 bullish / 2 bearish, conflicted
Only TSM
- Keltner Channel Breakdown — bearish, volatility, short horizon
- RSI Oversold - Potential Bounce — bullish, momentum, short horizon
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
Both carry 1 more signal that do not separate them: Golden Cross Active.
TSM leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price and the AIQ Score both moved down over the latest session (price -0.8%, AIQ -1 points).
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +1.49%, AIQ +1 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1ARCC closes the Quality gap — currently 48 points behind, the largest single contributor to TSM's edge.
- 2ARCC's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend.
- 3TSM's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 2 bearish rules at once.
- 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 20 points over 30 sessions, and a further 10-point move would eliminate TSM's advantage entirely.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
ARCC leads on balance| Metric | ARCC | TSM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 120.1% | 17.6% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 84.6% | 8% |
| Gross margin | 67% | 65.8% |
| Operating margin | 62.9% | 57.9% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 6.8% | 41.2% |
| Debt to equity | 1.14 | 0.14 |
Performance
TSM leads 5 of 6 windows| Metric | ARCC | TSM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -0.4% | 1.4% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -2.9% | -7.1% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -1.3% | 4.9% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | -0.2% | 7.8% |
| Year to date | -7.9% | 37.7% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | -6.4% | 42.1% |
Technicals
TSM has the stronger structure| Metric | ARCC | TSM |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 46.5 | 26.2 |
| ADX (14) | 22.9 | 22.4 |
| Price vs 50-day | -3.5% | -3.6% |
| Price vs 200-day | -2.2% | 5.3% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 17.8% | 33.5% |
Risk
TSM is the more resilient| Metric | ARCC | TSM |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.65 | 2.12 |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.46 | 1.05 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.7 | 1.66 |
| Max drawdown | -17% | -21.6% |
| Current drawdown | -11.4% | -13.8% |
| Annualized volatility | 19.3% | 39.1% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.1% | -4.1% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, ARCC or TSM?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, TSM is the stronger of the two as of Oct 24, 2026, scoring 57 against ARCC's 47. The edge comes from quality and risk resilience. ARCC is not without a case — it holds the better momentum profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is ARCC or TSM the better buy right now?
TSM carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 24, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 4 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the leader's advantage has been narrowing. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor TSM over ARCC?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. TSM leads Quality by 48 points; ARCC leads Momentum by 23 points; TSM leads Risk Resilience by 8 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, ARCC or TSM?
Analyst price targets imply +1.9% upside for ARCC and +40.7% for TSM, so the Street currently favors TSM. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, ARCC or TSM?
Neither name separates on the peer-relative Value factor. The two are level on Value. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, ARCC or TSM?
ARCC on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, ARCC or TSM?
ARCC on the Momentum factor, by 23 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, ARCC or TSM?
TSM is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. TSM on Risk Resilience, by 8 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is ARCC more profitable than TSM?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 67% vs 65.8%; operating margin 62.9% vs 57.9%; ttm roe 6.8% vs 41.2%. ARCC leads on two measures and TSM on one measure, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is TSM's lead over ARCC getting stronger or weaker?
TSM lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 30 to 10 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-24 and 2026-10-23. The lead has changed hands 6 times in that window, most recently on 2026-09-02, when TSM moved ahead of ARCC.
What would change the ARCC vs TSM verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: ARCC closes the Quality gap — currently 48 points behind, the largest single contributor to TSM's edge; ARCC's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend; TSM's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 2 bearish rules at once; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 20 points over 30 sessions, and a further 10-point move would eliminate TSM's advantage entirely.
What do the current signals say about ARCC and TSM?
ARCC: 2 bullish / 0 bearish / 1 neutral. TSM: 2 bullish / 2 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on ARCC is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On TSM it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare ARCC and TSM with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.