GCMG vs BX vs KKR vs HLNE vs APO

For growth investors, Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) is the stronger pick with 28.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 0% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR). Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) offers the better valuation at 16. 4x trailing P/E (14. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate GCM Grosvenor Inc. (GCMG) a "Buy" — based on 8 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, Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) is the cheapest at 16.

4x versus KKR & Co. Inc. at 42. 9x. On forward P/E, GCM Grosvenor Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. 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. 19x versus Blackstone Inc. 's 0. 98x — 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 -0. 8% for GCM Grosvenor Inc. (GCMG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APO returned +759. 2% versus GCMG's +36. 9%. 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), GCM Grosvenor Inc.

(GCMG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 89β versus KKR & Co. Inc. 's 1. 70β — meaning KKR is approximately 91% more volatile than GCMG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 4% for GCM Grosvenor Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) is pulling ahead at 28.

7% versus -11. 0% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: GCM Grosvenor Inc. grew EPS 1124% year-over-year, compared to -28. 7% for KKR & Co. 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.

Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) is the more profitable company, earning 30.

5% net margin versus 8. 2% for GCM Grosvenor Inc. — meaning it keeps 30. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BX leads at 51. 9% versus 2. 4% for KKR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GCMG leads at 99. 2%, 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. 19x versus Blackstone Inc. 's 0. 98x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, GCM Grosvenor Inc. (GCMG) trades at 12. 5x forward P/E versus 20. 5x for Blackstone Inc. — 8. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GCMG: 115. 1% to $24. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Blackstone Inc. (BX) offers the highest yield at 6. 3%, versus 0. 8% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR).

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, +759. 2% 10Y return). 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 (APO: +759. 2%, BX: +476. 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.

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: GCMG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; BX is a mid-cap high-growth stock; KKR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HLNE is a small-cap high-growth stock; APO 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.