GSBD vs GS vs BX vs KKR

For growth investors, Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.

(GSBD) is the stronger pick with 26. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 0% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR). Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. (GSBD) offers the better valuation at 9. 7x trailing P/E (8. 1x 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 trailing P/E, Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.

(GSBD) is the cheapest at 9. 7x versus KKR & Co. Inc. at 42. 9x. On forward P/E, Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Blackstone Inc. wins at 0. 98x versus The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. 's 1. 12x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(GS) delivered a total return of +164. 4%, compared to -3. 4% for Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. (GSBD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KKR returned +715. 5% versus GSBD's +44. 7%. 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), Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.

(GSBD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 50β versus KKR & Co. Inc. 's 1. 70β — meaning KKR is approximately 243% more volatile than GSBD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Blackstone Inc. (BX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 61% versus 5% for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.

(GSBD) is pulling ahead at 26. 0% versus -11. 0% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. grew EPS 87. 3% 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.

Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.

(GSBD) is the more profitable company, earning 49. 2% net margin versus 11. 3% for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 49. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GSBD leads at 98. 4% versus 2. 4% for KKR. 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.

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, Blackstone Inc. (BX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 98x versus The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. 's 1. 12x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. (GSBD) trades at 8. 1x forward P/E versus 20. 5x for Blackstone Inc. — 12. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KKR: 42. 5% to $143. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. (GSBD) offers the highest yield at 20. 3%, versus 0. 8% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.

(GSBD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 50), 20. 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 (GSBD: +44. 7%, 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: GSBD is a small-cap high-growth stock; GS is a large-cap high-growth stock; BX is a mid-cap high-growth stock; KKR is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.