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APO or HLNE or STEP
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Apollo Global Management (APO) vs. Hamilton Lane (HLNE) vs. StepStone Group (STEP) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- APO, HLNE, and STEP are alternative asset managers focused on private equity, credit, and related strategies, with APO operating at significantly larger scale.
- Recent market activity shows APO with a higher market capitalization and broader diversification across credit and retirement services compared to the more specialized profiles of HLNE and STEP.
- All three companies have upcoming earnings reports in early August 2026, providing near-term catalysts for performance evaluation in the current environment.
- Valuation metrics differ notably, with APO trading at a higher trailing P/E while HLNE and STEP exhibit distinct profitability and margin profiles.
- Sector exposure centers on private markets, where sentiment has been influenced by broader financial services performance and interest rate dynamics in recent weeks.
- Relative positioning highlights trade-offs in size, growth focus, and risk exposure across the three firms.
Introduction
Apollo Global Management (APO), Hamilton Lane (HLNE), and StepStone Group (STEP) represent key players in the alternative asset management sector, particularly within private markets strategies such as private equity, credit, and fund-of-funds investments. This comparison examines their business models, recent stock behavior, and relative positioning amid ongoing market conditions. Institutional investors, portfolio managers, and traders seeking exposure to private markets or evaluating peers in asset management may find this analysis relevant for understanding competitive dynamics and performance contrasts.
APO Overview and Recent Performance
Apollo Global Management, Inc. is a global alternative asset manager with operations spanning private equity, credit, infrastructure, secondaries, and real estate, alongside retirement services. The firm manages substantial assets under management (AUM) and serves institutional and individual clients. In recent market activity, APO shares have reflected broader financial sector trends, closing at 125.59 on July 31, 2026, with a market capitalization of approximately 72.4 billion. Upcoming Q2 2026 earnings on August 4 provide a near-term focus, with analyst estimates pointing to revenue growth. Sentiment has been shaped by regulatory considerations in securitization and overall private credit market dynamics during recent weeks.
HLNE Overview and Recent Performance
Hamilton Lane Incorporated specializes in private markets investment solutions, including private equity, venture capital, and credit strategies, serving institutional and wealth clients globally. The company emphasizes fund-of-funds, direct investments, and advisory services. Recent performance shows HLNE shares closing at 88.91 on July 31, 2026, with a market capitalization near 6.0 billion. The firm is scheduled to report Q1 2027 results on August 4. Market activity in recent weeks has been influenced by partnership expansions in wealth channels and sector-wide movements in alternative investments.
STEP Overview and Recent Performance
StepStone Group Inc. operates as a private markets solutions provider, offering customized investment strategies across primary, secondary, direct, and fund-of-funds approaches in private equity, credit, and real assets. It serves a diverse global client base. In recent weeks, STEP shares closed at 43.86 on July 31, 2026, corresponding to a market capitalization of about 5.7 billion. Earnings are expected on August 6. Performance has aligned with private markets sentiment, with factors including portfolio monitoring demand and broader economic conditions affecting investor positioning.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Business models center on alternative assets but differ in scale and emphasis: APO maintains the largest footprint with integrated retirement services and heavy credit exposure, while HLNE and STEP focus more narrowly on private markets advisory and solutions. Growth drivers include AUM expansion and fee income, with contrasts in diversification—APO benefits from broader segments, whereas the others show varying sensitivity to private equity cycles. Recent momentum reflects sector volatility, with APO exhibiting larger absolute price movements due to its size. Risk factors encompass market valuation sensitivity and regulatory scrutiny, more pronounced for larger credit exposures. Valuation metrics vary, with trailing P/E ratios highlighting different profitability profiles, and market sentiment remains tied to interest rate expectations and private markets fundraising trends.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency, scale-driven stability, and upcoming earnings catalysts, Tickeron’s AI would currently assign a probabilistic preference to APO for relative positioning in the current environment, given its diversified revenue streams and larger market presence compared to peers. HLNE and STEP may appeal in scenarios favoring specialized private markets exposure, though with potentially higher volatility in sentiment shifts. This assessment draws from recent performance patterns and sector dynamics rather than forward projections.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
APO’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileHLNE’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s), and STEP’s FA Score reflects 1 green FA rating(s).
- APO’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- HLNE’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- STEP’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
APO’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while HLNE’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s), and STEP’s TA Score reflects 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- APO’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 5 bearish.
- HLNE’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
- STEP’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
APO (@Investment Managers) experienced а +1.47% price change this week, while HLNE (@Investment Managers) price change was +13.63% , and STEP (@Investment Managers) price fluctuated +5.81% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Investment Managers industry was +5.96%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +4.73%, and the average quarterly price growth was +15.35%.
Reported Earning Dates
APO is expected to report earnings on Nov 04, 2026.
HLNE is expected to report earnings on Nov 10, 2026.
STEP is expected to report earnings on Nov 05, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Investment Managers (+5.96% weekly)Investment Managers manage financial assets and other investments of clients. Management includes designing a short- or long-term strategy for buying/holding and selling of portfolio holdings. It can also include tax services and other aspects of financial planning as well. While it is perceived that the industry is faced with growing competition from robo-advisors/digital platforms and passive/ index-tracking funds, many investors still find value in actively managed in-person services that investment management companies often emphasize on. At the same time, many wealth managers are also incorporating digital initiatives/low cost options in addition to their in-person customized services. Their main sources of revenues are fees as a percentage of assets under management, in addition to a certain portion of clients’ gains from asset appreciation. BlackRock, Inc., Blackstone Group Inc and Brookfield Asset Management are some of the major investment management companies.
| APO | HLNE | STEP | |
| Capitalization | 73.4B | 5.56B | 3.82B |
| EBITDA | 7.72B | 488M | -826.94M |
| Gain YTD | -10.849 | -25.766 | -19.594 |
| P/E Ratio | 45.35 | 15.37 | 104.85 |
| Revenue | 31.5B | 759M | 1.99B |
| Total Cash | 253B | 58.2M | N/A |
| Total Debt | 14.2B | 356M | 1.31B |
APO | HLNE | STEP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 27 | 38 | 25 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 72 Overvalued | 12 Undervalued | 66 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 91 | 79 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 92 | 34 | 100 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 55 | 51 | 53 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 12 | 93 | 5 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | n/a | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
HLNE's Valuation (12) in the Investment Managers industry is somewhat better than the same rating for STEP (66) in the null industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for APO (72) in the Investment Managers industry. This means that HLNE's stock grew somewhat faster than STEP’s and somewhat faster than APO’s over the last 12 months.
APO's Profit vs Risk Rating (50) in the Investment Managers industry is in the same range as STEP (79) in the null industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for HLNE (91) in the Investment Managers industry. This means that APO's stock grew similarly to STEP’s and somewhat faster than HLNE’s over the last 12 months.
HLNE's SMR Rating (34) in the Investment Managers industry is somewhat better than the same rating for APO (92) in the Investment Managers industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for STEP (100) in the null industry. This means that HLNE's stock grew somewhat faster than APO’s and significantly faster than STEP’s over the last 12 months.
HLNE's Price Growth Rating (51) in the Investment Managers industry is in the same range as STEP (53) in the null industry, and is in the same range as APO (55) in the Investment Managers industry. This means that HLNE's stock grew similarly to STEP’s and similarly to APO’s over the last 12 months.
STEP's P/E Growth Rating (5) in the null industry is in the same range as APO (12) in the Investment Managers industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for HLNE (93) in the Investment Managers industry. This means that STEP's stock grew similarly to APO’s and significantly faster than HLNE’s over the last 12 months.
| APO | HLNE | STEP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 51% | 2 days ago 73% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 71% | 2 days ago 73% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 77% | 4 days ago 71% | 2 days ago 83% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 72% | N/A | 4 days ago 75% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 74% | 2 days ago 68% | 2 days ago 76% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 72% | 2 days ago 68% | 2 days ago 78% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 73% | 5 days ago 68% | 4 days ago 75% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 69% | 3 days ago 72% | 11 days ago 73% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 49% | 2 days ago 66% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 72% | 2 days ago 69% | 2 days ago 79% |
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APO and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, APO has been closely correlated with KKR. These tickers have moved in lockstep 80% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if APO jumps, then KKR could also see price increases.
HLNE and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, HLNE has been closely correlated with STEP. These tickers have moved in lockstep 73% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if HLNE jumps, then STEP could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To HLNE | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HLNE | 100% | -2.35% | ||
| STEP - HLNE | 73% Closely correlated | +1.02% | ||
| TPG - HLNE | 69% Closely correlated | +1.25% | ||
| BX - HLNE | 68% Closely correlated | -1.90% | ||
| KKR - HLNE | 68% Closely correlated | -2.18% | ||
| CG - HLNE | 65% Loosely correlated | -1.93% | ||
More | ||||
STEP and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, STEP has been closely correlated with KKR. These tickers have moved in lockstep 74% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if STEP jumps, then KKR could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To STEP | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP | 100% | +1.02% | ||
| KKR - STEP | 74% Closely correlated | -2.18% | ||
| HLNE - STEP | 71% Closely correlated | -2.35% | ||
| BX - STEP | 71% Closely correlated | -1.90% | ||
| ARES - STEP | 70% Closely correlated | -1.14% | ||
| CG - STEP | 69% Closely correlated | -1.93% | ||
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