Ares Management (ARES) vs BlackRock (BLK)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
BlackRock (BLK) has outperformed Ares Management (ARES) over the past year, losing 8.3% versus a loss of 22.1%. Over five years, ARES leads with a +50.9% price change compared with +17.9% for BLK. BlackRock is the larger company by market cap ($173.79 billion vs $38.40 billion), about 4.5 times the size.
On valuation, Ares Management trades at a lower forward P/E (16.2x vs 16.7x for BlackRock). Ares Management offers the higher dividend yield (4.27% vs 2.05%). BlackRock converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 22.9% versus 11.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ARES | BLK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $115.75 | $1,069.63 |
| Market cap | $38.40B | $173.79B |
| 1-day change | -1.69% | -0.91% |
| YTD return | -28.39% | -0.07% |
| 1-year return | -22.13% | -8.28% |
| 5-year return | +50.85% | +17.90% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 53.34 | 25.60 |
| Forward P/E | 16.21 | 16.67 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.17 | $41.78 |
| Dividend yield | 4.27% | 2.05% |
| Annual dividend | $4.94 | $21.88 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.76B | $24.22B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +28.86% | +89.28% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $527.36M | $5.55B |
| Operating margin | — | 29.09% |
| Net margin | 11.09% | 22.93% |
| 52-week high | $181.19 | $1,219.94 |
| 52-week low | $95.80 | $917.39 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -36.12% | -12.32% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +26.70% | +23.02% |
| Average volume | 2.16M | 633.67K |
| Shares outstanding | 223.96M | 154.87M |
| Employees | 4,343 | 26,200 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Investment Managers | Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- BlackRock is about 4.5 times larger than Ares Management by market value ($173.79B vs $38.40B).
- BLK has outperformed ARES by 13.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Ares Management trades at a higher earnings multiple (53.3x vs 25.6x trailing P/E).
- Ares Management offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.27% vs 2.05%).
- BlackRock is more profitable, keeping 22.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 11.1 cents for Ares Management.
- BlackRock grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+89.28% vs +28.86%).
About Ares Management
ARES stock →Ares Management Corporation operates as an alternative asset manager. Its Direct Lending Group segment provides financing solutions to small-to-medium sized companies.
Finance · Investment Managers · 4,343 employees
About BlackRock
BLK stock →BlackRock, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager.
Finance · Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service · 26,200 employees
ARES vs BLK FAQ
Which is bigger, Ares Management or BlackRock?
BlackRock (BLK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $173.79B compared with $38.40B for Ares Management (ARES).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ARES or BLK?
BLK returned -8.28% over the past 12 months, compared with -22.13% for ARES (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ARES or BLK?
BLK has the lower trailing P/E at 25.6, versus 53.3 for ARES. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ares Management or BlackRock?
Ares Management has the higher yield at 4.27%, compared with 2.05% for BlackRock.
Are Ares Management and BlackRock in the same industry?
Both are in the Finance sector, but in different industries: Investment Managers for Ares Management and Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service for BlackRock.