BLK vs AMG vs STT vs BEN

For growth investors, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the stronger pick with 19. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 5% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) offers the better valuation at 13. 1x trailing P/E (9. 0x 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, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the cheapest at 13. 1x versus Franklin Resources, Inc. at 33. 5x. On forward P/E, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 0x. 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, State Street Corporation (STT) delivered a total return of +86.

2%, compared to +7. 4% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BLK returned +245. 8% versus BEN's +23. 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. 14β versus Franklin Resources, Inc. 's 1. 31β — meaning BEN is approximately 15% more volatile than AMG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 145% for State Street Corporation — 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 3. 5% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. grew EPS 50. 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 — 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, BEN (4.

3% yield), STT (2. 3% yield), BLK (1. 9% yield) pay a dividend. AMG does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, State Street Corporation (STT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

19), 2. 3% yield, +186. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (STT: +186. 8%, AMG: +86. 2%), 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: BLK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AMG is a small-cap high-growth stock; STT is a mid-cap high-growth stock; BEN is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. BLK, STT, BEN pay a dividend while AMG does 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.