Cohen & Steers (CNS) vs StepStone Group (STEP)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Cohen & Steers (CNS) has outperformed StepStone Group (STEP) over the past year, gaining 7.2% versus a loss of 31.7%. Over five years, STEP leads with a +2.6% price change compared with -18.5% for CNS. StepStone Group is the larger company by market cap ($5.70 billion vs $3.63 billion), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, StepStone Group trades at a lower forward P/E (13.0x vs 17.7x for Cohen & Steers). Cohen & Steers offers the higher dividend yield (3.66% vs 2.54%).
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 | CNS | STEP |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $70.50 | $44.18 |
| Market cap | $3.63B | $5.70B |
| 1-day change | -2.84% | -2.17% |
| YTD return | +13.38% | -31.15% |
| 1-year return | +7.23% | -31.65% |
| 5-year return | -18.50% | +2.62% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 21.69 | — |
| Forward P/E | 17.71 | 12.96 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.25 | $-7.68 |
| Dividend yield | 3.66% | 2.54% |
| Annual dividend | $2.58 | $1.12 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $1.99B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +69.69% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $-535.81M |
| Net margin | — | -26.88% |
| 52-week high | $86.56 | $77.80 |
| 52-week low | $58.39 | $38.85 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -18.55% | -43.21% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +8.27% | +53.01% |
| Average volume | 272.01K | 1.19M |
| Shares outstanding | 51.42M | 82.29M |
| Employees | 424 | 1,355 |
| 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
- CNS has outperformed STEP by 38.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Cohen & Steers offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.66% vs 2.54%).
About Cohen & Steers
CNS stock →Cohen & Steers, Inc. is a publicly owned asset management holding company.
Finance · Investment Managers · 424 employees
About StepStone Group
STEP stock →StepStone Group Inc. is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in primary, direct, fund of funds, secondary direct, and secondary indirect investments.
Finance · Investment Managers · 1,355 employees
CNS vs STEP FAQ
Which is bigger, Cohen & Steers or StepStone Group?
StepStone Group (STEP) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.70B compared with $3.63B for Cohen & Steers (CNS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CNS or STEP?
CNS returned +7.23% over the past 12 months, compared with -31.65% for STEP (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Cohen & Steers or StepStone Group?
Cohen & Steers has the higher yield at 3.66%, compared with 2.54% for StepStone Group.
Are Cohen & Steers and StepStone Group in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Investment Managers industry within the Finance sector.