HLNE vs BN

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 7% for Brookfield Corporation (BN). Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) offers the better valuation at 17. 1x trailing P/E (15. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) 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, Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) is the cheapest at 17.

1x versus Brookfield Corporation at 9999. 0x. On forward P/E, Hamilton Lane Incorporated is actually cheaper at 15. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Brookfield Corporation (BN) delivered a total return of +90.

7%, compared to +11. 5% for Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HLNE returned +483. 9% versus BN's +300. 6%. 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), Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

25β versus Brookfield Corporation's 1. 57β — meaning BN is approximately 25% more volatile than HLNE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 40% versus 159% for Brookfield Corporation — 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 -9. 7% for Brookfield Corporation (BN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hamilton Lane Incorporated grew EPS 46. 6% year-over-year, compared to -99. 8% for Brookfield Corporation. 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 1. 7% for Brookfield Corporation — meaning it keeps 30. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HLNE leads at 44. 4% versus 39. 9% for BN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HLNE leads at 70. 8%, 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, Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) trades at 15.

3x forward P/E versus 16. 4x for Brookfield Corporation — 1. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HLNE: 85. 6% to $171. 50.

In this comparison, HLNE (2.

7% yield) pays a dividend. BN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

25), 2. 7% yield, +483. 9% 10Y return). Brookfield Corporation (BN) carries a higher beta of 1. 57 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HLNE: +483. 9%, BN: +300. 6%), 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: HLNE is a small-cap high-growth stock; BN is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. HLNE pays a dividend while BN does 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.