GSBD vs GS vs BX vs KKR vs CG

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: The Carlyle Group Inc. wins at 0. 65x 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 The Carlyle Group Inc. 's 1. 88β — meaning CG is approximately 278% 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, The Carlyle Group Inc. (CG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 65x 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). The Carlyle Group Inc. (CG) carries a higher beta of 1. 88 — 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%, CG: +281. 0%), 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; CG 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.