ARCC vs SJM Comparison

Ares Capital Corp is a United States-based closed-ended specialty finance company. Its investment objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments. The company focuses on investing in first lien senior secured loans (including unitranche loans, which are loans that combine both senior and subordinated debt, generally in a first lien position) and second lien senior secured loans. In addition to senior secured loans, the company also invests in subordinated loans and preferred equity, it also makes common equity investments.

J.M. Smucker is a packaged food company that primarily sells through the US retail channel (73% of fiscal 2025 revenue came through its retail pet foods, coffee, and frozen handheld/spreads segments), with the remaining share consisting of sweet baked snacks (through the Hostess acquisition) and international (primarily Canada). Retail coffee is its largest category (32% of sales) with brands Folgers and Dunkin'. Pet foods (19% of sales) holds leading brands like Milk-Bone and Meow Mix. Of its remaining, approximately 22% comes from frozen handhelds and spreads, through brands Jif, Smucker's, and Uncrustables. The company acquired Hostess Brands in fiscal 2024 to boost its snack and convenience store presence.