AB
AllianceBernstein Holding L.P.
Asset Management
Market Cap$4.40B
5Y Perf.+59.5%
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Stock Comparison
AB vs BLK
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
BLK
BlackRock, Inc.
Asset Management
Market Cap$165.65B
5Y Perf.+102.0%
AB vs BLK — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AB | BLK |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Asset Management | Asset Management |
| Market Cap | $4.40B | $165.65B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $333M | $20.41B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $300M | $6.10B |
| Gross Margin | 100.0% | 49.4% |
| Operating Margin | 100.0% | 37.1% |
| Forward P/E | 11.5x | 20.1x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $14.22B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $0.00 | $12.76B |
AB vs BLK — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AB
BLK
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| AllianceBernstein H… (AB) | 100 | 159.5 | +59.5% |
| BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) | 100 | 202.0 | +102.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AB vs BLK
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AB leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. BlackRock, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
AB
AllianceBernstein Holding L.P.
The Banking Pick
AB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.60, yield 8.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.60
- Beta 0.60, yield 8.8%
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
BLK
BlackRock, Inc.
The Banking Pick
BLK is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 14.3%, EPS growth 15.1%
- 245.8% 10Y total return vs AB's 199.2%
- PEG 2.47 vs AB's 18.67
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BLK | 14.3% NII/revenue growth vs AB's -28.0% |
| Value | AB | Lower P/E (11.5x vs 20.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AB | 90.1% margin vs BLK's 31.2% |
| Stability / Safety | AB | Beta 0.60 vs BLK's 1.28 |
| Dividends | AB | 8.8% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs BLK's 1.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | BLK | +18.3% vs AB's +3.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AB | 18.7% ROA vs BLK's 3.7%, ROIC 15.3% vs 9.9% |
AB vs BLK — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2024
AB vs BLK — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLABLAGGINGBLK
BLKBlackRock, Inc.
1leads
ABAllianceBernstein Hol…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs BLKMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AB5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AB5/7
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AB6/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
BLK5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
AB2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AB leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BLK is the larger business by revenue, generating $20.4B annually — 61.3x AB's $333M. AB is the more profitable business, keeping 90.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BLK's 31.2%.
| Metric | ABAllianceBernstein… | BLKBlackRock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $333M | $20.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $243M | $8.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $300M | $6.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $352M | $3.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +100.0% | +49.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +100.0% | +37.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +90.1% | +31.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +105.9% | +23.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.2% | -22.7% |
AB leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
AB leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 13.4x trailing earnings, AB trades at a 47% valuation discount to BLK's 25.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), BLK offers better value at 3.13x vs AB's 18.67x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ABAllianceBernstein… | BLKBlackRock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.4B | $165.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.4B | $167.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.41x | 25.42x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.52x | 20.10x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 18.67x | 3.13x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.11x | 20.62x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 13.23x | 8.12x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.25x | 3.28x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 12.49x | 35.24x |
AB leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AB leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AB delivers a 18.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $10 for BLK. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BLK scores 6/9 vs AB's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ABAllianceBernstein… | BLKBlackRock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +18.8% | +9.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +18.7% | +3.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.3% | +9.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +20.3% | +5.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.29x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $0 | $1.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $0 | $12.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $14.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 9.27x |
AB leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
BLK leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in BLK five years ago would be worth $13,352 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,550 for AB. Over the past 12 months, BLK leads with a +18.3% total return vs AB's +3.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BLK at 20.7% vs AB's 12.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ABAllianceBernstein… | BLKBlackRock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +5.5% | -1.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +3.2% | +18.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.9% | +75.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.5% | +33.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +199.2% | +245.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.1% | +20.7% |
BLK leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AB is the less volatile stock with a 0.60 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BLK's 1.28 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ABAllianceBernstein… | BLKBlackRock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.60x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $44.11 | $1219.94 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $35.59 | $914.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.3% | +87.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.3 | 61.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 312K | 790K |
AB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — AB and BLK each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AB as "Buy" and BLK as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 22.8% upside for BLK (target: $1312) vs 2.3% for AB (target: $41). For income investors, AB offers the higher dividend yield at 8.76% vs BLK's 1.92%.
| Metric | ABAllianceBernstein… | BLKBlackRock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $40.75 | $1311.78 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +8.8% | +1.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.49 | $20.46 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.2% |
Evenly matched — AB and BLK each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
AB leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). BLK leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallAllianceBernstein Holding L… (AB)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
AB vs BLK: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AB or BLK a better buy right now?
For growth investors, BlackRock, Inc.
(BLK) is the stronger pick with 14. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -28. 0% for AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. (AB). AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. (AB) offers the better valuation at 13. 4x trailing P/E (11. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. (AB) a "Buy" — based on 13 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.
02Which has the better valuation — AB or BLK?
On trailing P/E, AllianceBernstein Holding L.
P. (AB) is the cheapest at 13. 4x versus BlackRock, Inc. at 25. 4x. On forward P/E, AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. is actually cheaper at 11. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: BlackRock, Inc. wins at 2. 47x versus AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. 's 18. 67x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AB or BLK?
Over the past 5 years, BlackRock, Inc.
(BLK) delivered a total return of +33. 5%, compared to +25. 5% for AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. (AB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BLK returned +245. 8% versus AB's +199. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — AB or BLK?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AllianceBernstein Holding L.
P. (AB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 60β versus BlackRock, Inc. 's 1. 28β — meaning BLK is approximately 114% more volatile than AB relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — AB or BLK?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), BlackRock, Inc.
(BLK) is pulling ahead at 14. 3% versus -28. 0% for AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. (AB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: BlackRock, Inc. grew EPS 15. 1% year-over-year, compared to -19. 9% for AllianceBernstein Holding L. P.. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — AB or BLK?
AllianceBernstein Holding L.
P. (AB) is the more profitable company, earning 90. 1% net margin versus 31. 2% for BlackRock, Inc. — meaning it keeps 90. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AB leads at 100. 0% versus 37. 1% for BLK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AB leads at 100. 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.
07Is AB or BLK more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 47x versus AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. 's 18. 67x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. (AB) trades at 11. 5x forward P/E versus 20. 1x for BlackRock, Inc. — 8. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BLK: 22. 8% to $1311. 78.
08Which pays a better dividend — AB or BLK?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. (AB) offers the highest yield at 8. 8%, versus 1. 9% for BlackRock, Inc. (BLK).
09Is AB or BLK better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, AllianceBernstein Holding L.
P. (AB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 60), 8. 8% yield, +199. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AB: +199. 2%, BLK: +245. 8%), 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.
10What are the main differences between AB and BLK?
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: AB is a small-cap deep-value stock; BLK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(AB: -28.0% · BLK: 14.3%)Net Margin>
%
(AB: 90.1% · BLK: 31.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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