Ares Management (ARES) vs Principal Financial Group (PFG)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Principal Financial Group (PFG) has outperformed Ares Management (ARES) over the past year, gaining 30.4% versus a loss of 21.9%. Over five years, PFG leads with a +58.7% price change compared with +51.3% for ARES. Ares Management is the larger company by market cap ($38.40 billion vs $23.28 billion), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, Principal Financial Group trades at a lower forward P/E (10.5x vs 16.2x for Ares Management). Ares Management offers the higher dividend yield (4.27% vs 2.93%). Ares Management converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 11.1% versus 7.6%.
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 | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $115.75 | $108.73 |
| Market cap | $38.40B | $23.28B |
| 1-day change | -1.69% | -0.88% |
| YTD return | -28.19% | +23.50% |
| 1-year return | -21.92% | +30.35% |
| 5-year return | +51.26% | +58.68% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 53.34 | 15.49 |
| Forward P/E | 16.21 | 10.53 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.17 | $7.02 |
| Dividend yield | 4.27% | 2.93% |
| Annual dividend | $4.94 | $3.19 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.76B | $15.63B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +28.86% | -3.11% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $527.36M | $1.19B |
| Net margin | 11.09% | 7.58% |
| 52-week high | $181.19 | $121.18 |
| 52-week low | $95.80 | $77.90 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -36.12% | -10.27% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +26.70% | +2.62% |
| Average volume | 2.16M | 1.39M |
| Shares outstanding | 223.96M | 214.10M |
| Employees | 4,343 | 19,700 |
| Sector | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| Industry | Asset Management | Asset Management |
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
- PFG has outperformed ARES by 52.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Ares Management trades at a higher earnings multiple (53.3x vs 15.5x trailing P/E).
- Ares Management offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.27% vs 2.93%).
- Ares Management grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+28.86% vs -3.11%).
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.
Financial Services · Asset Management · 4,343 employees
About Principal Financial Group
PFG stock →Principal Financial Group, Inc. provides retirement, asset management, and insurance products and services to businesses, individuals, and institutional clients worldwide.
Financial Services · Asset Management · 19,700 employees
ARES vs PFG FAQ
Which is bigger, Ares Management or Principal Financial Group?
Ares Management (ARES) is larger, with a market capitalization of $38.40B compared with $23.28B for Principal Financial Group (PFG).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ARES or PFG?
PFG returned +30.35% over the past 12 months, compared with -21.92% for ARES (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ARES or PFG?
PFG has the lower trailing P/E at 15.5, 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 Principal Financial Group?
Ares Management has the higher yield at 4.27%, compared with 2.93% for Principal Financial Group.
Are Ares Management and Principal Financial Group in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Asset Management industry within the Financial Services sector.