CG vs APO

For growth investors, The Carlyle Group Inc.

(CG) is the stronger pick with 19. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 16. 0% for Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO). Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO) offers the better valuation at 17. 8x trailing P/E (14. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Carlyle Group Inc. (CG) a "Buy" — based on 25 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Apollo Global Management, Inc.

(APO) is the cheapest at 17. 8x versus The Carlyle Group Inc. at 23. 3x. On forward P/E, The Carlyle Group Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Apollo Global Management, Inc.

(APO) delivered a total return of +142. 4%, compared to +27. 9% for The Carlyle Group Inc. (CG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APO returned +768. 9% versus CG's +292. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apollo Global Management, Inc.

(APO) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 43β versus The Carlyle Group Inc. 's 1. 88β — meaning CG is approximately 31% more volatile than APO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 197% for The Carlyle Group Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Carlyle Group Inc.

(CG) is pulling ahead at 19. 8% versus 16. 0% for Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Apollo Global Management, Inc. grew EPS -1. 0% year-over-year, compared to -21. 3% for The Carlyle Group Inc.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

The Carlyle Group Inc.

(CG) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 5% net margin versus 14. 8% for Apollo Global Management, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: APO leads at 34. 4% versus 26. 2% for CG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — APO leads at 88. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, The Carlyle Group Inc.

(CG) trades at 11. 8x forward P/E versus 14. 6x for Apollo Global Management, Inc. — 2. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CG: 32. 5% to $67. 33.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Carlyle Group Inc. (CG) offers the highest yield at 2. 7%, versus 1. 6% for Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Apollo Global Management, Inc.

(APO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 6% yield, +768. 9% 10Y return). The Carlyle Group Inc. (CG) carries a higher beta of 1. 88 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (APO: +768. 9%, CG: +292. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.