APAM vs VRTS vs DHIL vs CNNE vs AMG

For growth investors, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the stronger pick with 19. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 0% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS). Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS) offers the better valuation at 7. 2x trailing P/E (5. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cannae Holdings, Inc. (CNNE) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.

(VRTS) is the cheapest at 7. 2x versus Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. at 13. 4x. On forward P/E, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. is actually cheaper at 5. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. wins at 0. 23x versus Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. 's 2. 76x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) delivered a total return of +80. 2%, compared to -61. 4% for Cannae Holdings, Inc. (CNNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VRTS returned +170. 7% versus CNNE's -20. 0%. 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), Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.

(DHIL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 57β versus Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. 's 1. 17β — meaning APAM is approximately 104% more volatile than DHIL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cannae Holdings, Inc. (CNNE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 33% versus 36% for Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is pulling ahead at 19. 8% versus -8. 0% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. grew EPS 50. 3% year-over-year, compared to -92. 0% for Cannae 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.

Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.

(DHIL) is the more profitable company, earning 30. 9% net margin versus -99. 2% for Cannae Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 30. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DHIL leads at 38. 4% versus -28. 2% for CNNE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DHIL leads at 96. 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.

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, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 23x versus Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. 's 2. 76x. 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. 6x forward P/E versus 9. 8x for Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. — 4. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CNNE: 24. 4% to $17. 00.

In this comparison, APAM (10.

4% yield), VRTS (6. 5% yield), DHIL (5. 7% yield) pay a dividend. CNNE, AMG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.

(DHIL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 57), 5. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DHIL: +54. 5%, AMG: +89. 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 (APAM (Financial Services) and VRTS (Financial Services) and DHIL (Financial Services) and CNNE (Consumer Cyclical) and AMG (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: APAM is a small-cap deep-value stock; VRTS is a small-cap deep-value stock; DHIL is a small-cap deep-value stock; CNNE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AMG is a small-cap high-growth stock. APAM, VRTS, DHIL pay a dividend while CNNE, AMG 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.