BEN vs MS vs GS vs BLK

For growth investors, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(GS) is the stronger pick with 17. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 5% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) offers the better valuation at 23. 1x trailing P/E (15. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Morgan Stanley (MS) a "Buy" — based on 52 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, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(GS) is the cheapest at 23. 1x versus Franklin Resources, Inc. at 34. 2x. On forward P/E, Franklin Resources, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 4x — 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: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. wins at 1. 13x versus BlackRock, Inc. 's 2. 49x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(GS) delivered a total return of +171. 1%, compared to +9. 7% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MS returned +739. 4% versus BEN's +24. 7%. 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), BlackRock, Inc.

(BLK) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 28β versus The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. 's 1. 47β — meaning GS is approximately 14% more volatile than BLK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 5% for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(GS) is pulling ahead at 17. 0% versus 3. 5% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. grew EPS 77. 3% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Franklin Resources, 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.

BlackRock, Inc.

(BLK) is the more profitable company, earning 31. 2% net margin versus 6. 0% for Franklin Resources, 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 6. 9% for BEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BEN leads at 80. 3%, 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, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 13x versus BlackRock, Inc. 's 2. 49x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) trades at 11. 4x forward P/E versus 20. 2x for BlackRock, Inc. — 8. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BLK: 22. 2% to $1311. 78.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, versus 1. 4% for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Morgan Stanley (MS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2.

0% yield, +739. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MS: +739. 4%, BEN: +24. 7%), 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.

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: BEN is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; MS is a large-cap high-growth stock; GS is a large-cap high-growth 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.