WHG vs AMG

For growth investors, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the stronger pick with 19. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 2% for Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (WHG). Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) offers the better valuation at 13. 3x trailing P/E (8. 8x 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. 3x versus Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. at 20. 8x. On forward P/E, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 2. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) delivered a total return of +74. 0%, compared to +8. 3% for Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (WHG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMG returned +89. 4% versus WHG's -43. 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), Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.

(WHG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 47β versus Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. 's 1. 11β — meaning AMG is approximately 136% more volatile than WHG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (WHG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 61% for Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is pulling ahead at 19. 8% versus 3. 2% for Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (WHG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. grew EPS 203. 8% year-over-year, compared to 50. 3% for Affiliated Managers 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.

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(AMG) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 3% net margin versus 7. 2% for Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AMG leads at 31. 8% versus 7. 1% for WHG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WHG leads at 86. 5%, 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, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.

(WHG) trades at 2. 0x forward P/E versus 8. 8x for Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. — 6. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, WHG (3.

7% yield) pays a dividend. AMG does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.

(WHG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 47), 3. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WHG: -43. 8%, AMG: +89. 4%), 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: WHG is a small-cap income-oriented stock; AMG is a small-cap high-growth stock. WHG pays 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.