CNNE vs KKR vs BAM 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. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cannae Holdings, Inc. (CNNE) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, Apollo Global Management, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 9x. 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. 20x versus Blackstone Inc. 's 0. 99x — 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 -60. 5% for Cannae Holdings, Inc. (CNNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APO returned +790. 9% versus CNNE's -17. 1%. 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), Cannae Holdings, Inc.

(CNNE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 96β versus KKR & Co. Inc. 's 1. 66β — meaning KKR is approximately 74% more volatile than CNNE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (BAM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 67% for KKR & Co. 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: Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. grew EPS 10. 5% year-over-year, compared to -92. 0% for Cannae Holdings, 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.

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd.

(BAM) is the more profitable company, earning 54. 5% net margin versus -99. 2% for Cannae Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 54. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BAM leads at 69. 4% versus -28. 2% for CNNE. 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. 20x versus Blackstone Inc. 's 0. 99x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO) trades at 14. 9x forward P/E versus 26. 4x for Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. — 11. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KKR: 40. 7% to $141. 14.

In this comparison, BX (6.

3% yield), APO (1. 7% yield), KKR (0. 8% yield), BAM (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. CNNE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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, +790. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (APO: +790. 9%, CNNE: -17. 1%), 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 (CNNE (Consumer Cyclical) and KKR (Financial Services) and BAM (Financial Services) and BX (Financial Services) and APO (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CNNE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KKR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BAM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BX is a mid-cap high-growth stock; APO is a mid-cap high-growth stock. KKR, BAM, BX, APO pay a dividend while CNNE 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.