Asset Management
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Stock Comparison
CNS vs GROW
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Asset Management - Global
CNS vs GROW — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Asset Management | Asset Management - Global |
| Market Cap | $3.63B | $35M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $517M | $8M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $164M | $98K |
| Gross Margin | 46.8% | 41.7% |
| Operating Margin | 33.4% | -35.3% |
| Forward P/E | 20.8x | — |
| Total Debt | $141M | $83K |
| Cash & Equiv. | $183M | $25M |
CNS vs GROW — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS) | 100 | 111.9 | +11.9% |
| U.S. Global Investo… (GROW) | 100 | 125.4 | +25.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CNS vs GROW
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CNS is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 5.7%, EPS growth 14.2%
- 154.3% 10Y total return vs GROW's 67.4%
- 5.7% NII/revenue growth vs GROW's -23.1%
GROW carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.71, yield 3.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.71, Low D/E 0.2%, current ratio 20.87x
- Beta 0.71, yield 3.5%, current ratio 20.87x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 5.7% NII/revenue growth vs GROW's -23.1% | |
| Value | Better valuation composite | |
| Quality / Margins | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs GROW's 0.8% (lower = leaner) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.71 vs CNS's 0.98, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 3.5% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs CNS's 3.3% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +27.8% vs CNS's -5.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs GROW's 0.8% |
CNS vs GROW — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CNS vs GROW — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CNS leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CNS is the larger business by revenue, generating $517M annually — 61.2x GROW's $8M. CNS is the more profitable business, keeping 29.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GROW's -4.0%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $517M | $8M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $198M | -$2M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $164M | $98,000 |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$94M | -$235,000 |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +46.8% | +41.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +33.4% | -35.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +29.2% | -4.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.4% | -9.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.2% | — |
Valuation Metrics
GROW leads this category, winning 3 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.6B | $35M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.6B | $10M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.94x | -104.80x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 20.79x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 19.03x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 19.48x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 7.01x | 4.14x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.30x | 0.77x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 42.64x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
CNS leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CNS delivers a 28.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $28 in annual profit, vs $0 for GROW. GROW carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CNS's 0.25x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CNS scores 5/9 vs GROW's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +28.3% | +0.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +20.5% | +0.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +19.2% | -4.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +22.8% | -6.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.25x | 0.00x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$42M | -$24M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $183M | $25M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $141M | $83,000 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 600.00x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CNS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CNS five years ago would be worth $11,824 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,143 for GROW. Over the past 12 months, GROW leads with a +27.8% total return vs CNS's -5.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CNS at 13.0% vs GROW's 1.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.9% | +7.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -5.2% | +27.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +44.3% | +3.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.2% | -58.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +154.3% | +67.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +13.0% | +1.1% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CNS and GROW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GROW is the less volatile stock with a 0.71 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CNS's 0.98 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CNS currently trades 84.7% from its 52-week high vs GROW's 71.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.98x | 0.71x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $83.99 | $3.65 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $58.39 | $2.10 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +84.7% | +71.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.1 | 46.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 323K | 25K |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CNS and GROW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
For income investors, GROW offers the higher dividend yield at 3.46% vs CNS's 3.29%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Sell | — |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $76.00 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | — |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.3% | +3.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.34 | $0.09 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +5.6% |
CNS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). GROW leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
CNS vs GROW: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CNS or GROW a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Cohen & Steers, Inc.
(CNS) is the stronger pick with 5. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 1% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW). Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS) offers the better valuation at 23. 9x trailing P/E (20. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS) a "Sell" — based on 13 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — CNS or GROW?
Over the past 5 years, Cohen & Steers, Inc.
(CNS) delivered a total return of +18. 2%, compared to -58. 6% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CNS returned +154. 3% versus GROW's +67. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — CNS or GROW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), U.
S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 71β versus Cohen & Steers, Inc. 's 0. 98β — meaning CNS is approximately 39% more volatile than GROW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 25% for Cohen & Steers, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — CNS or GROW?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cohen & Steers, Inc.
(CNS) is pulling ahead at 5. 7% versus -23. 1% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cohen & Steers, Inc. grew EPS 14. 2% year-over-year, compared to -126. 6% for U. S. Global Investors, 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.
05Which has better profit margins — CNS or GROW?
Cohen & Steers, Inc.
(CNS) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 2% net margin versus -4. 0% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CNS leads at 33. 4% versus -35. 3% for GROW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CNS leads at 46. 8%, 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — CNS or GROW?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, versus 3. 3% for Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS).
07Is CNS or GROW better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, U.
S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 71), 3. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GROW: +67. 4%, CNS: +154. 3%), 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.
08What are the main differences between CNS and GROW?
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.
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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.