CODI vs BX

For growth investors, Blackstone Inc.

(BX) is the stronger pick with 21. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 8% for Compass Diversified (CODI). Blackstone Inc. (BX) offers the better valuation at 32. 1x trailing P/E (20. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Blackstone Inc. (BX) a "Buy" — based on 29 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 forward P/E, Blackstone Inc.

is actually cheaper at 20. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, Blackstone Inc.

(BX) delivered a total return of +64. 8%, compared to -37. 0% for Compass Diversified (CODI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BX returned +487. 1% versus CODI's +52. 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), Compass Diversified (CODI) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

09β versus Blackstone Inc. 's 1. 53β — meaning BX is approximately 41% more volatile than CODI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Blackstone Inc. (BX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 61% versus 3% for Compass Diversified — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(BX) is pulling ahead at 21. 6% versus 4. 8% for Compass Diversified (CODI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Blackstone Inc. grew EPS 7. 2% year-over-year, compared to -1426. 1% for Compass Diversified. 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. 2% for Compass Diversified — 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. 3% for CODI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BX 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.

On forward earnings alone, Blackstone Inc.

(BX) trades at 20. 9x forward P/E versus 145. 3x for Compass Diversified — 124. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CODI: 29. 1% to $15. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Blackstone Inc. (BX) offers the highest yield at 6. 2%, versus 4. 3% for Compass Diversified (CODI).

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

09), 4. 3% yield). Blackstone Inc. (BX) carries a higher beta of 1. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CODI: +52. 1%, BX: +487. 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 (CODI (Industrials) and BX (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CODI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; BX 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.