AB
AllianceBernstein Holding L.P.
Asset Management
Market Cap$4.40B
5Y Perf.+59.5%
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Stock Comparison
AB vs VRTS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
VRTS
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
Asset Management
Market Cap$949M
5Y Perf.+52.5%
AB vs VRTS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AB | VRTS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Asset Management | Asset Management |
| Market Cap | $4.40B | $949M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $333M | $831M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $300M | $138M |
| Gross Margin | 100.0% | 74.9% |
| Operating Margin | 100.0% | 17.4% |
| Forward P/E | 11.5x | 5.5x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $2.84B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $0.00 | $477M |
AB vs VRTS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AB
VRTS
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| AllianceBernstein H… (AB) | 100 | 159.5 | +59.5% |
| Virtus Investment P… (VRTS) | 100 | 152.5 | +52.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AB vs VRTS
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 profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. 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 long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.60, yield 8.8%
- 199.2% 10Y total return vs VRTS's 142.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.60
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
VRTS
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
The Banking Pick
VRTS is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and valuation efficiency.
- Rev growth -8.0%, EPS growth 18.2%
- PEG 0.38 vs AB's 18.67
- -8.0% NII/revenue growth vs AB's -28.0%
Best for: growth exposure and valuation efficiency
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | VRTS | -8.0% NII/revenue growth vs AB's -28.0% |
| Value | VRTS | Lower P/E (5.5x vs 11.5x), PEG 0.38 vs 18.67 |
| Quality / Margins | AB | 90.1% margin vs VRTS's 16.7% |
| Stability / Safety | AB | Beta 0.60 vs VRTS's 1.14 |
| Dividends | AB | 8.8% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs VRTS's 6.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AB | +3.2% vs VRTS's -5.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AB | 18.7% ROA vs VRTS's 3.6%, ROIC 15.3% vs 3.0% |
AB vs VRTS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
AB vs VRTS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLABLAGGINGVRTS
VRTSVirtus Investment Par…
1leads
ABAllianceBernstein Hol…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs VRTSMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AB4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
VRTS6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AB6/6
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AB6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
AB2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AB leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
VRTS is the larger business by revenue, generating $831M annually — 2.5x AB's $333M. AB is the more profitable business, keeping 90.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VRTS's 16.7%.
| Metric | ABAllianceBernstein… | VRTSVirtus Investment… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $333M | $831M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $243M | $205M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $300M | $138M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $352M | -$67M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +100.0% | +74.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +100.0% | +17.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +90.1% | +16.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +105.9% | -8.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.2% | +10.9% |
AB leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
VRTS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.1x trailing earnings, VRTS trades at a 47% valuation discount to AB's 13.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), VRTS offers better value at 0.48x vs AB's 18.67x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ABAllianceBernstein… | VRTSVirtus Investment… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.4B | $949M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.4B | $3.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.41x | 7.10x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.52x | 5.55x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 18.67x | 0.48x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.11x | 16.20x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 13.23x | 1.14x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.25x | 0.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 12.49x | — |
VRTS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AB leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AB delivers a 18.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $14 for VRTS.
| Metric | ABAllianceBernstein… | VRTSVirtus Investment… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +18.8% | +13.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +18.7% | +3.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.3% | +3.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +20.3% | +3.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 2.74x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $0 | $2.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $0 | $477M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $2.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 2.15x |
AB leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AB leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AB five years ago would be worth $12,550 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,496 for VRTS. Over the past 12 months, AB leads with a +3.2% total return vs VRTS's -5.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AB at 12.1% vs VRTS's 0.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ABAllianceBernstein… | VRTSVirtus Investment… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +5.5% | -9.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +3.2% | -5.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.9% | +0.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.5% | -35.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +199.2% | +142.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.1% | +0.0% |
AB leads this category, winning 6 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 VRTS's 1.14 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AB currently trades 90.3% from its 52-week high vs VRTS's 65.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ABAllianceBernstein… | VRTSVirtus Investment… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.60x | 1.14x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $44.11 | $215.06 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $35.59 | $121.61 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.3% | +65.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.3 | 55.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 312K | 101K |
AB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — AB and VRTS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AB as "Buy" and VRTS as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 15.0% upside for VRTS (target: $163) vs 2.3% for AB (target: $41). For income investors, AB offers the higher dividend yield at 8.76% vs VRTS's 6.58%.
| Metric | ABAllianceBernstein… | VRTSVirtus Investment… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $40.75 | $163.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +8.8% | +6.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 7 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.49 | $9.32 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +6.3% |
Evenly matched — AB and VRTS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
AB leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). VRTS leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallAllianceBernstein Holding L… (AB)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
AB vs VRTS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AB or VRTS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
(VRTS) is the stronger pick with -8. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -28. 0% for AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. (AB). Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS) offers the better valuation at 7. 1x trailing P/E (5. 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 VRTS?
On trailing P/E, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
(VRTS) is the cheapest at 7. 1x versus AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. at 13. 4x. On forward P/E, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. is actually cheaper at 5. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. wins at 0. 38x versus AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. 's 18. 67x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AB or VRTS?
Over the past 5 years, AllianceBernstein Holding L.
P. (AB) delivered a total return of +25. 5%, compared to -35. 0% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AB returned +199. 2% versus VRTS's +142. 6%. 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 VRTS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AllianceBernstein Holding L.
P. (AB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 60β versus Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. 's 1. 14β — meaning VRTS is approximately 89% more volatile than AB relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — AB or VRTS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
(VRTS) is pulling ahead at -8. 0% versus -28. 0% for AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. (AB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. grew EPS 18. 2% 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 VRTS?
AllianceBernstein Holding L.
P. (AB) is the more profitable company, earning 90. 1% net margin versus 16. 7% for Virtus Investment Partners, 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 17. 4% for VRTS. 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 VRTS 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, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 38x versus AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. 's 18. 67x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS) trades at 5. 5x forward P/E versus 11. 5x for AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. — 6. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VRTS: 15. 0% to $163. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — AB or VRTS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
AllianceBernstein Holding L. P. (AB) offers the highest yield at 8. 8%, versus 6. 6% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS).
09Is AB or VRTS 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%, VRTS: +142. 6%), 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 VRTS?
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(AB: -28.0% · VRTS: -8.0%)Net Margin>
%
(AB: 90.1% · VRTS: 16.7%)P/E Ratio<
x
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