ASST vs BLK vs IVZ vs AMG vs TROW

For growth investors, Strive, Inc.

(ASST) is the stronger pick with 476. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 1% for T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW). T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW) offers the better valuation at 11. 2x trailing P/E (11. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) a "Buy" — based on 33 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, T.

Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW) is the cheapest at 11. 2x versus BlackRock, Inc. at 25. 4x. On forward P/E, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. 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 BlackRock, Inc. 's 2. 47x — 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 +71. 7%, compared to -95. 6% for Strive, Inc. (ASST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BLK returned +245. 8% versus ASST's -95. 6%. 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. 14β versus Strive, Inc. 's 2. 47β — meaning ASST is approximately 117% more volatile than AMG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Strive, Inc. (ASST) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 78% for Invesco Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(ASST) is pulling ahead at 476. 2% versus 3. 1% for T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Strive, Inc. grew EPS 98. 6% year-over-year, compared to -235. 6% for Invesco Ltd.. 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.

BlackRock, Inc.

(BLK) is the more profitable company, earning 31. 2% net margin versus -591. 2% for Strive, Inc. — meaning it keeps 31. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BLK leads at 37. 1% versus -620. 7% for ASST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMG leads at 86. 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 BlackRock, Inc. 's 2. 47x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) trades at 9. 0x forward P/E versus 20. 1x for BlackRock, Inc. — 11. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BLK: 22. 8% to $1311. 78.

In this comparison, TROW (4.

9% yield), IVZ (3. 1% yield), BLK (1. 9% yield) pay a dividend. ASST, AMG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, BlackRock, Inc.

(BLK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 28), 1. 9% yield, +245. 8% 10Y return). Strive, Inc. (ASST) carries a higher beta of 2. 47 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (BLK: +245. 8%, ASST: -95. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (ASST (Communication Services) and BLK (Financial Services) and IVZ (Financial Services) and AMG (Financial Services) and TROW (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ASST is a small-cap high-growth stock; BLK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; IVZ is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; AMG is a small-cap high-growth stock; TROW is a mid-cap deep-value stock. BLK, IVZ, TROW pay a dividend while ASST, 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.