VCTR vs BLK vs STT vs BEN

For growth investors, Victory Capital Holdings, Inc.

(VCTR) is the stronger pick with 46. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 5% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). State Street Corporation (STT) offers the better valuation at 18. 4x trailing P/E (12. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. (VCTR) a "Buy" — based on 13 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, State Street Corporation (STT) is the cheapest at 18.

4x versus Franklin Resources, Inc. at 34. 2x. On forward P/E, Franklin Resources, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 4x — 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: Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 43x versus BlackRock, Inc. 's 2. 49x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Victory Capital Holdings, Inc.

(VCTR) delivered a total return of +215. 0%, compared to +9. 7% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VCTR returned +670. 8% versus BEN's +24. 7%. 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), State Street Corporation (STT) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

19β versus Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 32β — meaning VCTR is approximately 11% more volatile than STT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 145% for State Street Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Victory Capital Holdings, Inc.

(VCTR) is pulling ahead at 46. 2% versus 3. 5% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: State Street Corporation grew EPS 47. 1% year-over-year, compared to -6. 8% for Victory Capital Holdings, 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.

BlackRock, Inc.

(BLK) is the more profitable company, earning 31. 2% net margin versus 6. 0% for Franklin Resources, Inc. — meaning it keeps 31. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VCTR leads at 42. 5% versus 6. 9% for BEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BEN leads at 80. 3%, 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, Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. (VCTR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 43x versus BlackRock, Inc. 's 2. 49x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) trades at 11. 4x forward P/E versus 20. 2x for BlackRock, Inc. — 8. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BLK: 22. 2% to $1311. 78.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, versus 1. 9% for BlackRock, Inc. (BLK).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Victory Capital Holdings, Inc.

(VCTR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2. 3% yield, +670. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VCTR: +670. 8%, BEN: +24. 7%), 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: VCTR is a small-cap high-growth stock; BLK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; STT is a mid-cap high-growth stock; BEN is a mid-cap income-oriented 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.