ARES vs. BX: Ares Management vs. Blackstone Stock Comparison
How do Ares Management (ARES) and Blackstone (BX) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Ares Management (ARES) and Blackstone (BX) are both classified in the Asset Management & Custody Banks sub-industry within the broader Capital Markets industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | ARES | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ares Management Corp. Class A Common Stock | Blackstone Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Asset Management & Custody Banks | Asset Management & Custody Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 44.45 billion USD | 148.61 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 2, 2014 | June 22, 2007 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ARES | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -5.55% | -11.29% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 13.18% | 12.22% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.38% | 0.26% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ARES | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 44.09% | 38.63% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.45 | 1.50 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -49.97% | -49.29% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.20M | 4.75M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ARES | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.22 | -0.40 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.31 | -0.57 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Blackstone (BX) earns 32.38% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Ares Management (ARES) has no ROE this period.
ARES
Financial Services industry group
--
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
- ARES
- --
BX
Financial Services industry group
32.38%
- Max
- 44.78%
- BX
- 32.38%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Ares Management (ARES) at 8.69% and Blackstone (BX) at 22.99% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
ARES
Financial Services industry group
8.69%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- ARES
- 8.69%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
BX
Financial Services industry group
22.99%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- BX
- 22.99%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Blackstone (BX) at 48.86% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Ares Management (ARES) at 2.89% operates in the bottom quartile.
ARES
Financial Services industry group
2.89%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- ARES
- 2.89%
- Min
- -44.34%
BX
Financial Services industry group
48.86%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- BX
- 48.86%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ARES | BX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 32.38% |
| ROA (TTM) | -- | 14.27% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 8.69% | 22.99% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 2.89% | 48.86% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Ares Management (ARES) at 44.19% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Blackstone (BX) at 13.54% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ARES.
EPS Growth
Both Ares Management (ARES) at -16.67% and Blackstone (BX) at 6.91% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ARES | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 44.19% | 13.54% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 22.39% | 20.27% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -16.67% | 6.91% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 25.02% | 17.92% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Ares Management (ARES) in Financial Services and Blackstone (BX) in Financial Services both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Ares Management (ARES) in Financial Services and Blackstone (BX) in Financial Services run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ARES | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Blackstone (BX) at 4.22% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ares Management (ARES) at 3.87% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BX the richer one.
ARES
Financial Services industry group
3.87%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- ARES
- 3.87%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BX
Financial Services industry group
4.22%
- Max
- 9.77%
- BX
- 4.22%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Ares Management (ARES) at 423.77% and Blackstone (BX) at 111.19% report payout ratio above 100%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings on both sides.
ARES
Financial Services industry group
423.77%
- ARES
- 423.77%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BX
Financial Services industry group
111.19%
- Max
- 241.07%
- BX
- 111.19%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ARES | BX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.87% | 4.22% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 423.77% | 111.19% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Blackstone (BX) at 26.61 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Ares Management (ARES) at 109.82 is richer still, above its industry range.
ARES
Financial Services industry group
109.82
- ARES
- 109.82
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
BX
Financial Services industry group
26.61
- Max
- 45.85
- BX
- 26.61
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Ares Management (ARES) at 8.92 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Blackstone (BX) at 9.61 prices even higher, above its industry range.
ARES
Financial Services industry group
8.92
- Max
- 9.23
- ARES
- 8.92
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
BX
Financial Services industry group
9.61
- BX
- 9.61
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Ares Management (ARES) at 12.15 and Blackstone (BX) at 10.81 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
ARES
Financial Services industry group
12.15
- ARES
- 12.15
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
BX
Financial Services industry group
10.81
- BX
- 10.81
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ARES | BX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 109.82 | 26.61 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.92 | 9.61 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 12.15 | 10.81 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |