RMR vs AMG vs ARES vs BX vs KKR

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

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 0% for The RMR Group Inc. (RMR). 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 Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) 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, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the cheapest at 13. 1x versus Ares Management Corporation at 62. 8x. On forward P/E, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 0x. 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 -13. 5% for The RMR Group Inc. (RMR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ARES returned +929. 6% versus RMR's +57. 5%. 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), The RMR Group Inc.

(RMR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 65β versus KKR & Co. Inc. 's 1. 70β — meaning KKR is approximately 163% more volatile than RMR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The RMR Group Inc. (RMR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% 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 -22. 0% for The RMR Group Inc. (RMR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. grew EPS 50. 3% 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.

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 3% net margin versus 2. 5% for The RMR Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BX leads at 51. 9% versus 2. 4% for KKR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BX 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, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) trades at 9. 0x forward P/E versus 26. 4x for The RMR Group Inc. — 17. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RMR: 65. 1% to $32. 00.

In this comparison, RMR (9.

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

For long-horizon retirement investors, The RMR Group Inc.

(RMR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 65), 9. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RMR: +57. 5%, AMG: +86. 2%), 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 (RMR (Real Estate) and AMG (Financial Services) and ARES (Financial Services) and BX (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: RMR is a small-cap income-oriented stock; AMG is a small-cap high-growth stock; ARES is a mid-cap high-growth stock; BX is a mid-cap high-growth stock; KKR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. RMR, ARES, BX, KKR 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.