VATE vs CODI vs BBUC vs KKR vs BX

For growth investors, Blackstone Inc.

(BX) is the stronger pick with 21. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 2% for INNOVATE Corp. (VATE). 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 Brookfield Business Corporation (BBUC) a "Buy" — based on 1 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, Blackstone Inc.

(BX) is the cheapest at 31. 5x versus KKR & Co. Inc. at 42. 9x. On forward P/E, Brookfield Business Corporation is actually cheaper at 6. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, KKR & Co.

Inc. (KKR) delivered a total return of +76. 5%, compared to -63. 9% for INNOVATE Corp. (VATE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KKR returned +715. 5% versus VATE's +23. 8%. 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), INNOVATE Corp.

(VATE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 94β versus KKR & Co. Inc. 's 1. 70β — meaning KKR is approximately 82% more volatile than VATE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Blackstone Inc. (BX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 61% versus 3% for Brookfield Business Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(BX) is pulling ahead at 21. 6% versus -22. 2% for INNOVATE Corp. (VATE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: INNOVATE Corp. grew EPS 42. 9% year-over-year, compared to -1426. 1% for Compass Diversified. Over a 3-year CAGR, CODI leads at 2. 2% annualised revenue growth. 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.

Blackstone Inc.

(BX) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 8% net margin versus -12. 2% for Compass Diversified — 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 0. 8% for BBUC. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Brookfield Business Corporation (BBUC) trades at 6.

1x forward P/E versus 150. 4x for Compass Diversified — 144. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KKR: 42. 5% to $143. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Blackstone Inc. (BX) offers the highest yield at 6. 3%, versus 0. 7% for INNOVATE Corp. (VATE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, INNOVATE Corp.

(VATE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 94), 0. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VATE: +23. 8%, BBUC: +23. 8%), 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 (VATE (Industrials) and CODI (Industrials) and BBUC (Financial Services) and KKR (Financial Services) and BX (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: VATE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CODI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; BBUC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KKR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BX 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.