PX vs AMG vs STEP vs IVZ vs ARES

For growth investors, P10, Inc.

(PX) is the stronger pick with 113. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 1% for Invesco Ltd. (IVZ). Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) offers the better valuation at 13. 1x trailing P/E (9. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate P10, Inc. (PX) a "Buy" — based on 8 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, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the cheapest at 13. 1x versus Ares Management Corporation at 62. 8x. On forward P/E, P10, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 9x — 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: Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. wins at 0. 23x 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 -33. 0% for P10, Inc. (PX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ARES returned +929. 6% versus PX's -33. 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), Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 14β versus P10, Inc. 's 1. 79β — meaning PX is approximately 57% more volatile than AMG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% versus 171% for Ares Management Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), P10, Inc.

(PX) is pulling ahead at 113. 6% versus 5. 1% for Invesco Ltd. (IVZ). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: P10, Inc. grew EPS 90. 3% year-over-year, compared to -376. 9% for StepStone Group 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.

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 3% net margin versus -15. 3% for StepStone Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AMG leads at 31. 8% versus -21. 3% for STEP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMG 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, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 23x 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, P10, Inc. (PX) trades at 6. 9x forward P/E versus 25. 9x for StepStone Group Inc. — 19. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PX: 231. 1% to $25. 00.

In this comparison, ARES (6.

6% yield), IVZ (3. 1% yield), STEP (2. 0% yield), PX (1. 7% yield) pay a dividend. AMG does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ares Management Corporation (ARES) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (6.

6% yield, +929. 6% 10Y return). P10, Inc. (PX) carries a higher beta of 1. 79 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ARES: +929. 6%, PX: -33. 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: PX is a small-cap high-growth stock; AMG is a small-cap high-growth stock; STEP is a small-cap high-growth stock; IVZ is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; ARES is a mid-cap high-growth stock. PX, STEP, IVZ, ARES pay a dividend while AMG 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.