Ares Management (ARES) vs Northern (NTRS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Northern (NTRS) has outperformed Ares Management (ARES) over the past year, gaining 28.9% versus a loss of 22.4%. Over five years, ARES leads with a +51.5% price change compared with +39.4% for NTRS. Ares Management is the larger company by market cap ($38.77 billion vs $30.74 billion), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, Northern trades at a lower forward P/E (13.1x vs 16.4x for Ares Management). Ares Management offers the higher dividend yield (4.23% vs 1.90%). Northern converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 21.5% 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 | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $116.85 | $168.00 |
| Market cap | $38.77B | $30.74B |
| 1-day change | +0.51% | -0.30% |
| YTD return | -28.07% | +23.36% |
| 1-year return | -22.39% | +28.87% |
| 5-year return | +51.52% | +39.42% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 53.85 | 14.43 |
| Forward P/E | 16.36 | 13.07 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.17 | $11.64 |
| Dividend yield | 4.23% | 1.90% |
| Annual dividend | $4.94 | $3.20 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.76B | $8.09B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +28.86% | -2.46% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $527.36M | $1.74B |
| Net margin | 11.09% | 21.48% |
| 52-week high | $181.19 | $195.78 |
| 52-week low | $95.80 | $121.12 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -35.51% | -14.19% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.50% | +8.70% |
| Average volume | 2.17M | 1.06M |
| Shares outstanding | 223.96M | 182.96M |
| Employees | 4,343 | 23,600 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Investment Managers | Major Banks |
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
- NTRS has outperformed ARES by 51.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Ares Management trades at a higher earnings multiple (53.8x vs 14.4x trailing P/E).
- Ares Management offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.23% vs 1.90%).
- Northern is more profitable, keeping 21.5 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 -2.46%).
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 Northern
NTRS stock →Northern Trust Corporation, a financial holding company, provides wealth management, asset servicing, asset management, and banking solutions for corporations, institutions, families, and individuals. It operates in two segments, Asset Servicing and Wealth Management.
Finance · Major Banks · 23,600 employees
ARES vs NTRS FAQ
Which is bigger, Ares Management or Northern?
Ares Management (ARES) is larger, with a market capitalization of $38.77B compared with $30.74B for Northern (NTRS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ARES or NTRS?
NTRS returned +28.87% over the past 12 months, compared with -22.39% for ARES (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ARES or NTRS?
NTRS has the lower trailing P/E at 14.4, versus 53.8 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 Northern?
Ares Management has the higher yield at 4.23%, compared with 1.90% for Northern.
Are Ares Management and Northern in the same industry?
Both are in the Finance sector, but in different industries: Investment Managers for Ares Management and Major Banks for Northern.