CG vs KKR vs BX vs APO

For growth investors, Blackstone Inc.

(BX) is the stronger pick with 21. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 0% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR). Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO) offers the better valuation at 17. 6x trailing P/E (14. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Carlyle Group Inc. (CG) a "Buy" — based on 25 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, Apollo Global Management, Inc.

(APO) is the cheapest at 17. 6x versus KKR & Co. Inc. at 42. 9x. On forward P/E, The Carlyle Group 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: Apollo Global Management, Inc. wins at 0. 19x versus Blackstone Inc. 's 0. 98x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Apollo Global Management, Inc.

(APO) delivered a total return of +135. 1%, compared to +23. 4% for The Carlyle Group Inc. (CG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APO returned +759. 2% versus CG's +281. 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), Apollo Global Management, Inc.

(APO) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 43β versus The Carlyle Group Inc. 's 1. 88β — meaning CG is approximately 31% more volatile than APO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 197% for The Carlyle Group Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(BX) is pulling ahead at 21. 6% versus -11. 0% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Blackstone Inc. grew EPS 7. 2% year-over-year, compared to -28. 7% for KKR & Co. 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.

Blackstone Inc.

(BX) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 8% net margin versus 12. 3% for KKR & Co. Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BX leads at 51. 9% versus 2. 4% for KKR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — APO leads at 88. 5%, 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, Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 19x versus Blackstone Inc. 's 0. 98x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, The Carlyle Group Inc. (CG) trades at 11. 4x forward P/E versus 20. 5x for Blackstone Inc. — 9. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KKR: 42. 5% to $143. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Blackstone Inc. (BX) offers the highest yield at 6. 3%, versus 0. 8% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Apollo Global Management, Inc.

(APO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 7% yield, +759. 2% 10Y return). The Carlyle Group Inc. (CG) carries a higher beta of 1. 88 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (APO: +759. 2%, CG: +281. 0%), 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: CG is a mid-cap high-growth stock; KKR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BX is a mid-cap high-growth stock; APO is a mid-cap high-growth 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.