STEP
StepStone Group Inc.
Asset Management
Market Cap$2.11B
5Y Perf.+103.6%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
STEP vs BX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
BX
Blackstone Inc.
Asset Management
Market Cap$95.85B
5Y Perf.+134.3%
STEP vs BX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | STEP | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Asset Management | Asset Management |
| Market Cap | $2.11B | $95.85B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.17B | $13.83B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-547M | $3.02B |
| Gross Margin | -7.6% | 86.0% |
| Operating Margin | -21.3% | 51.9% |
| Forward P/E | 25.9x | 20.5x |
| Total Debt | $383M | $13.31B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $289M | $2.63B |
STEP vs BX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
STEP
BX
| Stock | Sep 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) | 100 | 203.6 | +103.6% |
| Blackstone Inc. (BX) | 100 | 234.3 | +134.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: STEP vs BX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: STEP leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Blackstone Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
STEP
StepStone Group Inc.
The Banking Pick
STEP carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 65.1%, EPS growth -376.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.73, Low D/E 21.6%, current ratio 1.01x
- 65.1% NII/revenue growth vs BX's 21.6%
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
BX
Blackstone Inc.
The Banking Pick
BX is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.53, yield 6.3%
- 476.1% 10Y total return vs STEP's 136.6%
- Beta 1.53, yield 6.3%, current ratio 0.91x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | STEP | 65.1% NII/revenue growth vs BX's 21.6% |
| Value | STEP | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | STEP | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs BX's 0.3% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | BX | Beta 1.53 vs STEP's 1.73 |
| Dividends | BX | 6.3% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs STEP's 2.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | STEP | +3.9% vs BX's -6.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | STEP | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs BX's 0.3% |
STEP vs BX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
STEP vs BX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSTEPLAGGINGBX
BXBlackstone Inc.
2leads
STEPStepStone Group Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs BXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
BX5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
STEP4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
BX6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
STEP5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BX leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BX is the larger business by revenue, generating $13.8B annually — 11.8x STEP's $1.2B. BX is the more profitable business, keeping 21.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to STEP's -15.3%.
| Metric | STEPStepStone Group I… | BXBlackstone Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.2B | $13.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$948M | $7.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$547M | $3.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $19M | $3.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -7.6% | +86.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -21.3% | +51.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -15.3% | +21.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.1% | +12.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +40.6% | +41.3% |
BX leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
STEP leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | STEPStepStone Group I… | BXBlackstone Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.1B | $95.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.2B | $106.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -21.50x | 31.53x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 25.90x | 20.50x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.51x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 14.77x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.80x | 6.93x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.17x | 4.37x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 35.34x | 54.93x |
STEP leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BX leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BX delivers a 14.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $-10 for STEP. STEP carries lower financial leverage with a 0.22x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BX's 0.61x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BX scores 5/9 vs STEP's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | STEPStepStone Group I… | BXBlackstone Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -9.8% | +14.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -10.4% | +6.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -8.7% | +16.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -10.6% | +16.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.22x | 0.61x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $93M | $10.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $289M | $2.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $383M | $13.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -126.38x | 14.12x |
BX leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
STEP leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in STEP five years ago would be worth $17,862 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,900 for BX. Over the past 12 months, STEP leads with a +3.9% total return vs BX's -6.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors STEP at 38.3% vs BX's 18.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | STEPStepStone Group I… | BXBlackstone Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.2% | -21.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +3.9% | -6.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +164.7% | +65.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +78.6% | +59.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +136.6% | +476.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +38.3% | +18.4% |
STEP leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — STEP and BX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BX is the less volatile stock with a 1.53 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than STEP's 1.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. STEP currently trades 69.7% from its 52-week high vs BX's 64.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | STEPStepStone Group I… | BXBlackstone Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.73x | 1.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $77.80 | $190.09 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $40.58 | $101.73 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +69.7% | +64.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.3 | 54.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 7.1M |
Evenly matched — STEP and BX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — STEP and BX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates STEP as "Buy" and BX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 33.8% upside for STEP (target: $73) vs 27.8% for BX (target: $156). For income investors, BX offers the higher dividend yield at 6.30% vs STEP's 1.97%.
| Metric | STEPStepStone Group I… | BXBlackstone Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $72.50 | $156.29 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.0% | +6.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.07 | $7.70 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.3% |
Evenly matched — STEP and BX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
BX leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). STEP leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallStepStone Group Inc. (STEP)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
STEP vs BX: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is STEP or BX a better buy right now?
For growth investors, StepStone Group Inc.
(STEP) is the stronger pick with 65. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 21. 6% for Blackstone Inc. (BX). Blackstone Inc. (BX) offers the better valuation at 31. 5x trailing P/E (20. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — STEP or BX?
On forward P/E, Blackstone Inc.
is actually cheaper at 20. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — STEP or BX?
Over the past 5 years, StepStone Group Inc.
(STEP) delivered a total return of +78. 6%, compared to +59. 0% for Blackstone Inc. (BX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BX returned +476. 1% versus STEP's +136. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — STEP or BX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Blackstone Inc.
(BX) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 53β versus StepStone Group Inc. 's 1. 73β — meaning STEP is approximately 13% more volatile than BX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% versus 61% for Blackstone Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — STEP or BX?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), StepStone Group Inc.
(STEP) is pulling ahead at 65. 1% versus 21. 6% for Blackstone Inc. (BX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Blackstone Inc. grew EPS 7. 2% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — STEP or BX?
Blackstone Inc.
(BX) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 8% net margin versus -15. 3% for StepStone Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BX leads at 51. 9% versus -21. 3% for STEP. 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.
07Is STEP or BX more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Blackstone Inc.
(BX) trades at 20. 5x forward P/E versus 25. 9x for StepStone Group Inc. — 5. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for STEP: 33. 8% to $72. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — STEP or BX?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Blackstone Inc. (BX) offers the highest yield at 6. 3%, versus 2. 0% for StepStone Group Inc. (STEP).
09Is STEP or BX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Blackstone Inc.
(BX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (6. 3% yield, +476. 1% 10Y return). StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (BX: +476. 1%, STEP: +136. 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.
10What are the main differences between STEP and BX?
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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
- Sector: Financial Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 32%
- Dividend Yield > 0.7%
Revenue Growth>
%
(STEP: 65.1% · BX: 21.6%)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.