KKRS vs ARES vs KKR vs APO

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

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 0% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR). 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 62. 8x. On forward P/E, Apollo Global Management, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Apollo Global Management, Inc. wins at 0. 19x versus Ares Management Corporation's 1. 15x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Ares Management Corporation (ARES) delivered a total return of +160.

2%, 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 KKR & Co. Inc. 's 1. 70β — meaning KKR is approximately 150% more volatile than KKRS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 171% for Ares Management Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

6% versus -11. 0% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR). 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 -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.

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 2. 4% for KKR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — APO leads at 88. 5%, 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, Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 19x versus Ares Management Corporation's 1. 15x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO) trades at 14. 4x forward P/E versus 20. 2x for Ares Management Corporation — 5. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ARES: 44. 0% to $177. 38.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Ares Management Corporation (ARES) offers the highest yield at 6. 6%, versus 0. 8% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR).

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). KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR) carries a higher beta of 1. 70 — 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%, KKR: +715. 5%), 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: KKRS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; ARES is a mid-cap high-growth stock; KKR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; APO 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.