TPG vs MS vs GS vs KKR

For growth investors, TPG Inc.

(TPG) is the stronger pick with 77. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 0% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR). The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) offers the better valuation at 23. 1x trailing P/E (15. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate TPG Inc. (TPG) a "Buy" — based on 17 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, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(GS) is the cheapest at 23. 1x versus KKR & Co. Inc. at 43. 1x. On forward P/E, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. wins at 1. 13x versus Morgan Stanley's 1. 83x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(GS) delivered a total return of +171. 1%, compared to +52. 2% for TPG Inc. (TPG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MS returned +739. 4% versus TPG's +52. 2%. 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), Morgan Stanley (MS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

37β versus KKR & Co. Inc. 's 1. 70β — meaning KKR is approximately 24% more volatile than MS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, TPG Inc. (TPG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 42% versus 5% for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(TPG) is pulling ahead at 77. 9% versus -11. 0% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TPG Inc. grew EPS 1779% 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.

Morgan Stanley (MS) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

0% net margin versus 4. 0% for TPG Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MS leads at 17. 1% versus 2. 4% for KKR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TPG leads at 96. 9%, 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, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 13x versus Morgan Stanley's 1. 83x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) trades at 15. 8x forward P/E versus 16. 5x for KKR & Co. Inc. — 0. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TPG: 44. 4% to $65. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

TPG Inc. (TPG) offers the highest yield at 17. 9%, versus 0. 8% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Morgan Stanley (MS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2.

0% yield, +739. 4% 10Y return). TPG Inc. (TPG) carries a higher beta of 1. 61 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MS: +739. 4%, TPG: +52. 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.

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: TPG is a mid-cap high-growth stock; MS is a large-cap high-growth stock; GS is a large-cap high-growth stock; KKR is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.