AACG vs EDU vs TAL vs COE

For growth investors, 51Talk Online Education Group (COE) is the stronger pick with 87.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 7% for ATA Creativity Global (AACG). TAL Education Group (TAL) offers the better valuation at 9. 0x trailing P/E (18. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (EDU) a "Buy" — based on 24 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, TAL Education Group (TAL) is the cheapest at 9.

0x versus New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. at 24. 5x. On forward P/E, New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, ATA Creativity Global (AACG) delivered a total return of -59.

1%, compared to -79. 7% for TAL Education Group (TAL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EDU returned +47. 3% versus COE's -66. 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), New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.

(EDU) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 82β versus ATA Creativity Global's 1. 74β — meaning AACG is approximately 112% more volatile than EDU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, TAL Education Group (TAL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 144% for ATA Creativity Global — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), 51Talk Online Education Group (COE) is pulling ahead at 87.

0% versus -2. 7% for ATA Creativity Global (AACG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TAL Education Group grew EPS 24. 7% year-over-year, compared to -27. 8% for ATA Creativity Global. Over a 3-year CAGR, COE leads at 300. 7% annualised revenue growth. 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.

New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.

(EDU) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 6% net margin versus -17. 9% for ATA Creativity Global — meaning it keeps 7. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EDU leads at 8. 7% versus -15. 9% for COE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — COE leads at 78. 0%, 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, New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.

(EDU) trades at 16. 2x forward P/E versus 446. 1x for 51Talk Online Education Group — 429. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TAL: 57. 9% to $18. 00.

In this comparison, EDU (1.

1% yield) pays a dividend. AACG, TAL, COE do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.

(EDU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 82), 1. 1% yield). ATA Creativity Global (AACG) carries a higher beta of 1. 74 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (EDU: +47. 3%, AACG: -59. 1%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (AACG (Consumer Defensive) and EDU (Consumer Defensive) and TAL (Consumer Defensive) and COE (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: AACG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EDU is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TAL is a small-cap high-growth stock; COE is a small-cap high-growth stock. EDU pays a dividend while AACG, TAL, COE do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.