AAMI vs CLSK vs AMG vs MARA vs BEN

For growth investors, CleanSpark, Inc.

(CLSK) is the stronger pick with 102. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 5% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSK) offers the better valuation at 14. 7x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSK) a "Buy" — based on 11 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, CleanSpark, Inc.

(CLSK) is the cheapest at 14. 7x versus Acadian Asset Management at 35. 5x. On forward P/E, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Acadian Asset Management (AAMI) delivered a total return of +253.

9%, compared to -53. 0% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (MARA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAMI returned +471. 7% versus CLSK's -82. 2%. 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), Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 09β versus CleanSpark, Inc. 's 3. 62β — meaning CLSK is approximately 231% more volatile than AMG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 38% versus 4% for Acadian Asset Management — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CleanSpark, Inc.

(CLSK) is pulling ahead at 102. 2% versus 3. 5% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CleanSpark, Inc. grew EPS 262. 3% year-over-year, compared to -314. 5% for Marathon Digital Holdings, 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.

CleanSpark, Inc.

(CLSK) is the more profitable company, earning 47. 6% net margin versus -144. 6% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 47. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CLSK leads at 41. 6% versus -90. 6% for MARA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AAMI leads at 92. 9%, 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, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) trades at 10. 1x forward P/E versus 16. 4x for Acadian Asset Management — 6. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CLSK: 14. 7% to $18. 90.

In this comparison, BEN (4.

1% yield), CLSK (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. AAMI, AMG, MARA do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Franklin Resources, Inc.

(BEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (4. 1% yield). CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSK) carries a higher beta of 3. 62 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (BEN: +39. 2%, CLSK: -82. 2%), 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.

In terms of investment character: AAMI is a small-cap high-growth stock; CLSK is a small-cap high-growth stock; AMG is a small-cap high-growth stock; MARA is a small-cap high-growth stock; BEN is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. BEN pays a dividend while AAMI, CLSK, AMG, MARA 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.