COMP vs RMR vs AMG vs EXP vs ARES

For growth investors, Ares Management Corporation (ARES) is the stronger pick with 66.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 0% for The RMR Group Inc. (RMR). Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) offers the better valuation at 13. 5x trailing P/E (9. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Compass, Inc. (COMP) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the cheapest at 13. 5x versus Ares Management Corporation at 63. 2x. On forward P/E, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. wins at 0. 23x versus Ares Management Corporation's 1. 15x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Ares Management Corporation (ARES) delivered a total return of +161.

3%, compared to -44. 0% for Compass, Inc. (COMP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ARES returned +938. 3% versus COMP's -54. 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), The RMR Group Inc.

(RMR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 65β versus Compass, Inc. 's 1. 79β — meaning COMP is approximately 176% more volatile than RMR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The RMR Group Inc. (RMR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 171% for Ares Management Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ares Management Corporation (ARES) is pulling ahead at 66.

6% versus -22. 0% for The RMR Group Inc. (RMR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Compass, Inc. grew EPS 67. 7% year-over-year, compared to -25. 4% for The RMR Group Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EXP leads at 6. 7% annualised revenue growth. 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.

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 3% net margin versus -0. 8% for Compass, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AMG leads at 31. 8% versus -0. 4% for COMP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMG 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.

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, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 23x versus Ares Management Corporation's 1. 15x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) trades at 9. 2x forward P/E versus 56. 5x for Compass, Inc. — 47. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RMR: 63. 1% to $32. 00.

In this comparison, RMR (9.

3% yield), ARES (6. 5% yield), EXP (0. 5% yield) pay a dividend. COMP, AMG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The RMR Group Inc.

(RMR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 65), 9. 3% yield). Compass, Inc. (COMP) carries a higher beta of 1. 79 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (RMR: +59. 7%, COMP: -54. 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 (COMP (Technology) and RMR (Real Estate) and AMG (Financial Services) and EXP (Basic Materials) and ARES (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: COMP is a small-cap high-growth stock; RMR is a small-cap income-oriented stock; AMG is a small-cap high-growth stock; EXP is a small-cap deep-value stock; ARES is a mid-cap high-growth stock. RMR, ARES pay a dividend while COMP, AMG, EXP do 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.