IMXI vs PAX vs BX vs WU vs KKR

For growth investors, Blackstone Inc.

(BX) is the stronger pick with 21. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -21. 0% for International Money Express, Inc. (IMXI). The Western Union Company (WU) offers the better valuation at 5. 9x trailing P/E (5. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate International Money Express, Inc. (IMXI) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, The Western Union Company (WU) is the cheapest at 5.

9x versus KKR & Co. Inc. at 42. 9x. On forward P/E, The Western Union Company is actually cheaper at 5. 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 Patria Investments Limited's 2. 99x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, KKR & Co.

Inc. (KKR) delivered a total return of +76. 5%, compared to -45. 3% for The Western Union Company (WU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KKR returned +715. 5% versus PAX's -19. 3%. 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), International Money Express, Inc.

(IMXI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 37β versus KKR & Co. Inc. 's 1. 70β — meaning KKR is approximately 358% more volatile than IMXI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Patria Investments Limited (PAX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 134% for International Money Express, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Blackstone Inc.

(BX) is pulling ahead at 21. 6% versus -21. 0% for International Money Express, Inc. (IMXI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Patria Investments Limited grew EPS 14. 9% year-over-year, compared to -44. 2% for The Western Union Company. 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.

Patria Investments Limited (PAX) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

3% net margin versus 6. 3% for International Money Express, Inc. — meaning it keeps 22. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BX leads at 51. 9% versus -3. 8% for IMXI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PAX leads at 96. 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, Blackstone Inc. (BX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 98x versus Patria Investments Limited's 2. 99x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, The Western Union Company (WU) trades at 5. 1x forward P/E versus 20. 5x for Blackstone Inc. — 15. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IMXI: 70. 2% to $27. 00.

In this comparison, WU (10.

4% yield), BX (6. 3% yield), PAX (5. 0% yield), KKR (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. IMXI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Western Union Company (WU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

63), 10. 4% 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 (WU: -7. 6%, 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (IMXI (Technology) and PAX (Financial Services) and BX (Financial Services) and WU (Financial Services) and KKR (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: IMXI is a small-cap deep-value stock; PAX is a small-cap income-oriented stock; BX is a mid-cap high-growth stock; WU is a small-cap deep-value stock; KKR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. PAX, BX, WU, KKR pay a dividend while IMXI 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.