KKRS vs ARES

For growth investors, Ares Management Corporation (ARES) is the stronger pick with 66.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 50. 9% for KKR Group Finance Co. IX LLC 4. (KKRS). KKR Group Finance Co. IX LLC 4. (KKRS) offers the better valuation at 3. 2x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ares Management Corporation (ARES) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, KKR Group Finance Co.

IX LLC 4. (KKRS) is the cheapest at 3. 2x versus Ares Management Corporation at 63. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Ares Management Corporation (ARES) delivered a total return of +161.

3%, compared to -12. 3% for KKR Group Finance Co. IX LLC 4. (KKRS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ARES returned +929. 6% versus KKRS's -13. 0%. 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), KKR Group Finance Co.

IX LLC 4. (KKRS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 68β versus Ares Management Corporation's 1. 62β — meaning ARES is approximately 138% more volatile than KKRS relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ares Management Corporation (ARES) is pulling ahead at 66.

6% versus 50. 9% for KKR Group Finance Co. IX LLC 4. (KKRS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: KKR Group Finance Co. IX LLC 4. grew EPS 28. 6% year-over-year, compared to -5. 3% for Ares Management 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.

KKR Group Finance Co.

IX LLC 4. (KKRS) is the more profitable company, earning 22. 4% net margin versus 8. 2% for Ares Management Corporation — meaning it keeps 22. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KKRS leads at 74. 2% versus 27. 2% for ARES. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KKRS leads at 80. 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Ares Management Corporation (ARES) offers the highest yield at 6. 5%, versus 3. 9% for KKR Group Finance Co. IX LLC 4. (KKRS).

For long-horizon retirement investors, KKR Group Finance Co.

IX LLC 4. (KKRS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 68), 3. 9% yield). Ares Management Corporation (ARES) carries a higher beta of 1. 62 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KKRS: -13. 0%, ARES: +929. 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.

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.