Ares Management (ARES) vs Carlyle Group (CG)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Ares Management (ARES) has outperformed Carlyle Group (CG) over the past year, losing 22.1% versus a loss of 38.6%. Over five years, ARES leads with a +50.9% price change compared with -26.5% for CG. Ares Management is the larger company by market cap ($38.40 billion vs $13.47 billion), about 2.9 times the size.
On valuation, Carlyle Group trades at a lower forward P/E (7.4x vs 16.2x for Ares Management). Ares Management offers the higher dividend yield (4.27% vs 3.70%). Carlyle Group converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 16.9% 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 | CG |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $115.75 | $37.80 |
| Market cap | $38.40B | $13.47B |
| 1-day change | -1.69% | -2.78% |
| YTD return | -28.39% | -36.05% |
| 1-year return | -22.13% | -38.65% |
| 5-year return | +50.85% | -26.53% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 53.34 | 38.97 |
| Forward P/E | 16.21 | 7.44 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.17 | $0.97 |
| Dividend yield | 4.27% | 3.70% |
| Annual dividend | $4.94 | $1.40 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.76B | $4.78B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +28.86% | -11.91% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $527.36M | $808.70M |
| Net margin | 11.09% | 16.92% |
| 52-week high | $181.19 | $67.30 |
| 52-week low | $95.80 | $37.50 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -36.12% | -43.83% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +26.70% | +45.21% |
| Average volume | 2.16M | 3.51M |
| Shares outstanding | 223.96M | 356.33M |
| Employees | 4,343 | 2,500 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Investment Managers | Investment Managers |
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
- Ares Management is about 2.9 times larger than Carlyle Group by market value ($38.40B vs $13.47B).
- ARES has outperformed CG by 16.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Ares Management trades at a higher earnings multiple (53.3x vs 39.0x trailing P/E).
- Carlyle Group is more profitable, keeping 16.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 11.1 cents for Ares Management.
- Ares Management grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+28.86% vs -11.91%).
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 Carlyle Group
CG stock →The Carlyle Group Inc. is an investment firm specializing in direct and fund of fund investments.
Finance · Investment Managers · 2,500 employees
ARES vs CG FAQ
Which is bigger, Ares Management or Carlyle Group?
Ares Management (ARES) is larger, with a market capitalization of $38.40B compared with $13.47B for Carlyle Group (CG).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ARES or CG?
ARES returned -22.13% over the past 12 months, compared with -38.65% for CG (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ARES or CG?
CG has the lower trailing P/E at 39.0, 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 Carlyle Group?
Ares Management has the higher yield at 4.27%, compared with 3.70% for Carlyle Group.
Are Ares Management and Carlyle Group in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Investment Managers industry within the Finance sector.