ASST vs IVZ vs TROW vs AMG vs VRTS

For growth investors, Strive, Inc.

(ASST) is the stronger pick with 476. 2% 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. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) a "Buy" — based on 12 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. 3x. On forward P/E, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. is actually cheaper at 5. 8x. 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. 22x versus Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. 's 0. 39x — 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 +74. 0%, compared to -95. 5% for Strive, Inc. (ASST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VRTS returned +145. 1% versus ASST's -95. 5%. 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. 11β versus Strive, Inc. 's 2. 43β — meaning ASST is approximately 120% 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 3% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(ASST) is pulling ahead at 476. 2% versus -8. 0% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS). 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.

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 3% net margin versus -591. 2% for Strive, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AMG leads at 31. 8% 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. 22x versus Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. 's 0. 39x. 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. 8x forward P/E versus 11. 2x for T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. — 5. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMG: 32. 9% to $402. 50.

In this comparison, VRTS (6.

5% yield), TROW (4. 8% yield), IVZ (3. 0% 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, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.

(VRTS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 12), 6. 5% yield, +145. 1% 10Y return). Strive, Inc. (ASST) carries a higher beta of 2. 43 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (VRTS: +145. 1%, ASST: -95. 5%), 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 IVZ (Financial Services) and TROW (Financial Services) and AMG (Financial Services) and VRTS (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; IVZ is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; TROW is a mid-cap deep-value stock; AMG is a small-cap high-growth stock; VRTS is a small-cap deep-value stock. IVZ, TROW, VRTS 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.