ARES vs. NDAQ: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ARES and NDAQ, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
ARES’s market capitalization stands at 38.26 billion USD, while NDAQ’s is 51.71 billion USD, indicating their market valuations are broadly comparable.
With betas of 1.40 for ARES and 1.01 for NDAQ, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.
| Symbol | ARES | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Ares Management Corporation | Nasdaq, Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| Industry | Asset Management | Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges |
| CEO | Michael J. Arougheti | Adena T. Friedman |
| Price | 177.96 USD | 90.07 USD |
| Market Cap | 38.26 billion USD | 51.71 billion USD |
| Beta | 1.40 | 1.01 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| IPO Date | May 2, 2014 | July 1, 2002 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ARES and NDAQ by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
ARES
17.03%
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 34.25%
- Q3
- 18.22%
- Median
- 11.24%
- Q1
- 5.81%
- Min
- -5.72%
ARES’s Return on Equity of 17.03% is on par with the norm for the Asset Management industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
NDAQ
11.43%
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 26.26%
- Q3
- 23.14%
- Median
- 14.33%
- Q1
- 11.12%
- Min
- -0.64%
NDAQ’s Return on Equity of 11.43% is on par with the norm for the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Return on Invested Capital
ARES
15.74%
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 42.18%
- Q3
- 20.06%
- Median
- 8.68%
- Q1
- 3.13%
- Min
- -16.42%
ARES’s Return on Invested Capital of 15.74% is in line with the norm for the Asset Management industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
NDAQ
6.79%
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 18.31%
- Q3
- 14.86%
- Median
- 11.07%
- Q1
- 6.75%
- Min
- 4.04%
NDAQ’s Return on Invested Capital of 6.79% is in line with the norm for the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
Net Profit Margin
ARES
10.46%
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 91.66%
- Q3
- 57.81%
- Median
- 29.48%
- Q1
- 15.70%
- Min
- -27.65%
Falling into the lower quartile for the Asset Management industry, ARES’s Net Profit Margin of 10.46% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.
NDAQ
16.36%
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 39.08%
- Q3
- 31.63%
- Median
- 23.20%
- Q1
- 18.09%
- Min
- -0.88%
Falling into the lower quartile for the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry, NDAQ’s Net Profit Margin of 16.36% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.
Operating Profit Margin
ARES
27.62%
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 99.76%
- Q3
- 78.28%
- Median
- 34.76%
- Q1
- 21.75%
- Min
- -48.25%
ARES’s Operating Profit Margin of 27.62% is around the midpoint for the Asset Management industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
NDAQ
25.53%
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 53.68%
- Q3
- 40.45%
- Median
- 31.81%
- Q1
- 24.66%
- Min
- 9.71%
NDAQ’s Operating Profit Margin of 25.53% is around the midpoint for the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ARES | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 17.03% | 11.43% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 1.89% | 4.17% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 15.74% | 6.79% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 10.46% | 16.36% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 27.62% | 25.53% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 60.51% | 54.82% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
ARES
0.90
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 12.44
- Q3
- 5.76
- Median
- 3.04
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.01
ARES’s Current Ratio of 0.90 falls into the lower quartile for the Asset Management industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
NDAQ
0.98
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 1.60
- Q3
- 1.57
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.96
- Min
- 0.62
NDAQ’s Current Ratio of 0.98 aligns with the median group of the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
ARES
0.15
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 2.62
- Q3
- 1.42
- Median
- 0.76
- Q1
- 0.34
- Min
- 0.01
Falling into the lower quartile for the Asset Management industry, ARES’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.15 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
NDAQ
0.84
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 1.09
- Q3
- 0.80
- Median
- 0.62
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.04
NDAQ’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.84. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
Interest Coverage Ratio
ARES
1.95
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 13.30
- Q3
- 6.30
- Median
- 2.71
- Q1
- 1.00
- Min
- -6.91
ARES’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 1.95 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Asset Management industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
NDAQ
10.08
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 27.44
- Q3
- 22.05
- Median
- 10.08
- Q1
- 6.79
- Min
- 1.01
NDAQ’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 10.08 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ARES | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 0.90 | 0.98 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.90 | 0.98 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.15 | 0.84 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.03 | 0.32 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 0.04 | 3.57 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 1.95 | 10.08 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ARES and NDAQ. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
ARES
2.30%
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 26.09%
- Q3
- 11.60%
- Median
- 6.37%
- Q1
- 2.75%
- Min
- 0.00%
ARES’s Dividend Yield of 2.30% is in the lower quartile for the Asset Management industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
NDAQ
1.10%
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 3.86%
- Q3
- 1.44%
- Median
- 1.06%
- Q1
- 0.73%
- Min
- 0.00%
NDAQ’s Dividend Yield of 1.10% is consistent with its peers in the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio
ARES
323.36%
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 1,034.88%
- Q3
- 127.70%
- Median
- 75.15%
- Q1
- 34.21%
- Min
- 0.00%
ARES’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 323.36% is above 100%. This means the company is paying out more in dividends than it earned, a practice that is often unsustainable and could indicate a risk to future dividend stability.
NDAQ
43.19%
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 106.40%
- Q3
- 44.44%
- Median
- 31.97%
- Q1
- 29.26%
- Min
- 0.00%
NDAQ’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 43.19% is within the typical range for the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ARES | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.30% | 1.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 323.36% | 43.19% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
ARES
72.45
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 38.72
- Q3
- 23.40
- Median
- 11.45
- Q1
- 8.80
- Min
- 1.54
At 72.45, ARES’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Asset Management industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
NDAQ
40.53
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 41.71
- Q3
- 40.17
- Median
- 37.47
- Q1
- 30.61
- Min
- 16.74
A P/E Ratio of 40.53 places NDAQ in the upper quartile for the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
ARES
3.26
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 6.38
- Q3
- 3.23
- Median
- 1.55
- Q1
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.02
A Forward PEG Ratio of 3.26 places ARES in the upper quartile for the Asset Management industry. This suggests the stock is potentially expensive compared to its peers relative to its growth forecast, which may warrant caution.
NDAQ
4.14
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 4.54
- Q3
- 4.09
- Median
- 4.06
- Q1
- 3.33
- Min
- 2.36
A Forward PEG Ratio of 4.14 places NDAQ in the upper quartile for the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry. This suggests the stock is potentially expensive compared to its peers relative to its growth forecast, which may warrant caution.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
ARES
7.78
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 13.75
- Q3
- 7.92
- Median
- 4.87
- Q1
- 3.51
- Min
- 0.02
ARES’s P/S Ratio of 7.78 aligns with the market consensus for the Asset Management industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
NDAQ
6.62
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 15.75
- Q3
- 12.42
- Median
- 9.37
- Q1
- 6.34
- Min
- 1.69
NDAQ’s P/S Ratio of 6.62 aligns with the market consensus for the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio
ARES
8.36
Asset Management Industry
- Max
- 5.33
- Q3
- 2.75
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.00
The P/B Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric for the Asset Management industry.
NDAQ
4.49
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges Industry
- Max
- 8.57
- Q3
- 8.05
- Median
- 4.77
- Q1
- 3.69
- Min
- 1.19
NDAQ’s P/B Ratio of 4.49 is within the conventional range for the Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ARES | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 72.45 | 40.53 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 3.26 | 4.14 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 7.78 | 6.62 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 8.36 | 4.49 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 6.96 | 27.88 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 23.40 | 24.06 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 7.80 | 7.77 |