CNS vs HNNA

For growth investors, Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is the stronger pick with 19. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 7% for Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS). Hennessy Advisors, Inc. (HNNA) offers the better valuation at 8. 0x trailing P/E, 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.

On trailing P/E, Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is the cheapest at 8. 0x versus Cohen & Steers, Inc. at 23. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) delivered a total return of +37. 6%, compared to +18. 2% for Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CNS returned +154. 3% versus HNNA's -35. 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), Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 30β versus Cohen & Steers, Inc. 's 0. 98β — meaning CNS is approximately 225% more volatile than HNNA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 25% versus 41% for Hennessy Advisors, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is pulling ahead at 19. 9% versus 5. 7% for Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hennessy Advisors, Inc. grew EPS 38. 0% year-over-year, compared to 14. 2% for Cohen & Steers, 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.

Cohen & Steers, Inc.

(CNS) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 2% net margin versus 28. 0% for Hennessy Advisors, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HNNA leads at 37. 0% versus 33. 4% for CNS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HNNA leads at 70. 1%, 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Hennessy Advisors, Inc. (HNNA) offers the highest yield at 5. 3%, versus 3. 3% for Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 30), 5. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HNNA: -35. 0%, 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.

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: CNS is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HNNA is a small-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.