ARES vs. FDS: Ares Management vs. FactSet Research Systems Stock Comparison
How do Ares Management (ARES) and FactSet Research Systems (FDS) 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) both belong to the Capital Markets industry, though ARES is classified under Asset Management & Custody Banks while FDS falls under Financial Exchanges & Data.
| Profile Item | ARES | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ares Management Corp. Class A Common Stock | FactSet Research Systems 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 | Financial Exchanges & Data |
| Market Capitalization | 44.45 billion USD | 11.56 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 2, 2014 | June 28, 1996 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ARES | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -5.55% | 27.49% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 13.18% | -8.71% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.38% | -4.88% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Ares Management (ARES) has an aggressive beta of 1.45, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while FactSet Research Systems (FDS) is defensive at 0.69 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | ARES | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 44.09% | 48.03% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.45 | 0.69 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -49.97% | -61.13% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.20M | 803.71K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ARES | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.22 | 0.48 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.31 | 0.71 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: FactSet Research Systems (FDS) earns 25.48% 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
- --
FDS
Financial Services industry group
25.48%
- Max
- 44.78%
- FDS
- 25.48%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Ares Management (ARES) at 8.69% and FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 21.54% 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%
FDS
Financial Services industry group
21.54%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- FDS
- 21.54%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 22.22% 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%
FDS
Financial Services industry group
22.22%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- FDS
- 22.22%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ARES | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 25.48% |
| ROA (TTM) | -- | 10.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 8.69% | 21.54% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 2.89% | 22.22% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Ares Management (ARES) at 44.19% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 6.65% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ARES.
EPS Growth
Both Ares Management (ARES) at -16.67% and FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at -6.30% 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 | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 44.19% | 6.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 22.39% | 5.89% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -16.67% | -6.30% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 25.02% | 6.59% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Ares Management (ARES) in Financial Services and FactSet Research Systems (FDS) 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) 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 | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Ares Management (ARES) at 3.87% and FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 1.33% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
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%
FDS
Financial Services industry group
1.33%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- FDS
- 1.33%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Ares Management (ARES) reports payout ratio above 100% at 423.77%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile FactSet Research Systems (FDS) reports 31.02%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
FDS
Financial Services industry group
31.02%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- FDS
- 31.02%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ARES | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.87% | 1.33% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 423.77% | 31.02% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 22.50 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Ares Management (ARES) at 109.82 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for ARES’s trailing earnings.
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
FDS
Financial Services industry group
22.50
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- FDS
- 22.50
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Ares Management (ARES) at 8.92 and FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 4.67 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
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
FDS
Financial Services industry group
4.67
- Max
- 9.23
- FDS
- 4.67
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 5.77 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Ares Management (ARES) at 12.15 prices even higher, above its industry 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
FDS
Financial Services industry group
5.77
- Max
- 7.79
- FDS
- 5.77
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ARES | FDS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 109.82 | 22.50 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.92 | 4.67 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 12.15 | 5.77 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |