How this ARES vs BN comparison is calculated

All metrics are based on trailing twelve months (TTM) financial data, consensus analyst estimates, and standardized valuation ratios. Data is sourced from Financial Modeling Prep and SEC EDGAR. Figures are normalized to ensure a fair comparison between Ares Management Corporation and Brookfield Corporation. Analyst price targets and ratings are aggregated from Wall Street consensus as of 2026-05-18.

Quick verdict: Ares Management Corporation vs Brookfield Corporation in 2026

Ares Management Corporation emerges as a clear frontrunner in terms of growth momentum and margin efficiency, showcasing a robust revenue expansion and superior net profitability. While BN holds an edge in overall analyst buy conviction, ARES presents a more attractive valuation based on earnings multiples and a significantly higher potential upside from its current price to analyst targets. Brookfield Corporation, despite a larger revenue base, faces challenges with negative revenue growth and lower cash conversion. Not investment advice.

Ares Management Corporation vs Brookfield Corporation: key metrics side by side

A full side-by-side look at Ares Management Corporation (ARES) and Brookfield Corporation (BN) across earnings multiples, profitability, revenue momentum, and analyst sentiment — data updated 2026-05-18.

Relative valuation: ARES vs BN

When examining the relative valuation of these two financial services giants, Ares Management Corporation appears to trade at a more favorable earnings multiple compared to its peer. ARES currently holds a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 44.39x, significantly lower than Brookfield Corporation’s P/E of 85.36x. This substantial price-to-earnings gap suggests that investors are paying less for each dollar of ARES’s earnings than they are for BN’s. Furthermore, the discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis implies a potential undervaluation for Ares Management Corporation at -24.3%, indicating its intrinsic value is currently above its market price, which could appeal to value-oriented investors seeking a fundamental discount.

On the other hand, Brookfield Corporation exhibits a higher earnings multiple, which could be attributed to various factors, though based on current consensus data, it appears less attractive on this front. While BN’s price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 2.43x is considerably lower than Ares Management Corporation’s 6.87x, suggesting a more efficient use of equity or a potentially undervalued asset base, its DCF valuation stands at a challenging -112.3%. This indicates a significant overvaluation from a pure DCF perspective, implying that its current share price far exceeds its calculated intrinsic value. Therefore, ARES seems to carry a more attractive valuation based on P/E and DCF metrics, despite BN’s lower P/B.

Revenue momentum: Ares Management Corporation vs Brookfield Corporation

Ares Management Corporation demonstrates a remarkably robust topline expansion, reporting an impressive year-over-year revenue growth of +66.6%. This significant expansion signals strong business momentum and effective execution in its market segments. Such an accelerated pace of revenue generation often appeals to growth investors looking for companies that are rapidly scaling their operations. The EBITDA margin for ARES stands at 38.32%, indicating solid operational efficiency in converting revenue into earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

In stark contrast, Brookfield Corporation experienced a negative revenue growth rate of -11.5%, which could raise concerns about its recent business trajectory and market positioning. Despite its larger revenue base of $76.13 billion compared to Ares Management Corporation’s $6.47 billion, the contraction in its topline suggests potential headwinds or strategic shifts affecting its performance. However, BN’s EBITDA margin of 40.58% is slightly higher than Ares Management Corporation’s, implying a greater level of profitability at the operational level for each dollar of revenue generated. It is important to note that this gap in revenue growth may not persist, as future market conditions and strategic initiatives could alter the growth trajectories for both entities.

Profitability and cash generation: ARES vs BN

Ares Management Corporation clearly outpaces its competitor in overall profitability, as evidenced by its net margin of 9.87%. This means that for every dollar of revenue, ARES retains nearly ten cents as profit, showcasing strong cost management and pricing power within its operations. Furthermore, its free cash flow (FCF) yield stands at a healthy 3.98%, indicating that the company is effectively generating cash relative to its market capitalization, which is crucial for internal investments, debt reduction, or shareholder returns. The availability of robust free cash flow underscores Ares Management Corporation’s financial health and its capacity for sustained operations.

Conversely, Brookfield Corporation’s net margin is considerably lower at 1.74%, suggesting a much tighter profit margin from its extensive revenue base. This could imply higher operational costs or more competitive pricing pressures impacting its ultimate profitability. More critically, BN reports a negative FCF yield of -7.14%. A negative free cash flow yield indicates that the company is consuming more cash than it generates, which may necessitate external financing or asset sales to fund its operations and investments. Neither company provides a discernible Return on Equity (ROE) figure, making a direct comparison on that specific metric impossible; however, the divergence in net margins and free cash flow generation paints a clear picture of Ares Management Corporation having superior cash conversion and profitability.

Wall Street view: Ares Management Corporation vs Brookfield Corporation analyst ratings

The sentiment from Wall Street analysts for Ares Management Corporation remains largely positive, with 77.2% of the 22 analysts covering ARES recommending a “Buy” rating. This strong consensus points to a favorable outlook for the company’s future performance. Furthermore, analysts have set an average price target of $171.13 for Ares Management Corporation, which represents a significant potential upside of +38.7% from its current price. This robust target upside suggests that market participants believe there is considerable room for share price appreciation in the coming periods, making ARES an attractive prospect based on expert opinions.

Brookfield Corporation also garners a positive “Buy” consensus from the analyst community, with an even higher percentage of 88.9% of the 9 analysts issuing a “Buy” recommendation for BN. This indicates a very strong overall conviction in Brookfield Corporation’s prospects among those who cover the stock. The average price target for BN is $56, implying a potential upside of +23.0% from its present trading level. While this upside is respectable, it is notably less pronounced than that projected for Ares Management Corporation, suggesting analysts see a comparatively higher growth catalyst or a more significant undervaluation in ARES. It is worth noting that these targets and percentages may vary depending on future estimate revisions and market dynamics.

Which investor profile fits ARES vs BN?

For the **growth investor**, Ares Management Corporation (ARES) appears to be the more compelling choice. Its remarkable year-over-year revenue growth of +66.6% far outstrips Brookfield Corporation’s (BN) negative growth of -11.5%. This indicates that Ares Management Corporation is experiencing rapid expansion, a key characteristic sought by investors focused on increasing market share and future earnings potential. While BN has a slightly higher EBITDA margin, the sheer momentum in ARES’s topline expansion suggests a company in a more dynamic growth phase.

From the perspective of a **value investor**, Ares Management Corporation also seems to present a more attractive proposition. ARES trades at a P/E ratio of 44.39x, which, while still a premium, is significantly lower than BN’s earnings multiple of 85.36x. This suggests that Ares Management Corporation stock offers more earnings for the price paid. Crucially, the discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis for ARES indicates an undervaluation of -24.3%, implying its intrinsic value is considerably higher than its current market price. Conversely, Brookfield Corporation’s DCF of $-5.59 (or -112.3%) points to a significant overvaluation, making it less appealing for investors seeking a genuine bargain based on fundamental models.

For **income investors**, neither Ares Management Corporation nor Brookfield Corporation stands out as a primary choice for substantial dividend income. ARES offers a modest dividend yield of 0.04%, while BN provides an even lower yield of 0.01%. Both yields are negligible and suggest that these companies prioritize reinvestment in their businesses rather than returning significant capital directly to shareholders through dividends. Therefore, investors prioritizing a steady stream of dividend income might need to look elsewhere in the financial services sector. This is not investment advice. Always do your own research.

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