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KKR or OWL or STEP
Which Stock Would AI Choose? KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR) vs. Blue Owl Capital Inc. (OWL) vs. StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- KKR is the largest and most diversified of the three, spanning private equity, credit, infrastructure, real estate, and insurance, with roughly $796 billion in AUM (assets under management).
- OWL has been the most volatile, pressured by redemption limits on some of its non-traded private credit funds tied to software-sector concerns, despite continued growth in fee-earning assets.
- STEP stands apart as a fund-of-funds and advisory/data platform, reporting record fee-related earnings and fundraising even as the broader sector faced sentiment headwinds.
- All three trade well below their recent highs, reflecting a sector-wide de-rating of alternative asset managers rather than company-specific fundamentals alone.
- Business-model mix, exposure to private credit, and the pace of fee-earning asset growth are the key differentiators for investors weighing relative market positioning.
Introduction
Alternative asset managers have become a focal point for investors seeking exposure to private markets, but the three names profiled here occupy different corners of that landscape. KKR is a diversified global investment giant, OWL is a credit-focused manager built around permanent capital, and STEP is a private-markets solutions and advisory specialist. This stock comparison is relevant for both institutional-minded investors evaluating relative performance and active traders monitoring momentum shifts across the asset-management sector, particularly as concerns over private credit and software-linked lending have reshaped sentiment in recent months.
KKR Overview and Recent Performance
KKR, formally KKR & Co. Inc., is one of the world's largest alternative asset managers, with roughly $796 billion in total AUM across private equity, credit, real assets, infrastructure, and insurance. In recent weeks the stock has consolidated well below its 52-week high, reflecting the broad de-rating of alternative managers even as operating results strengthened. The firm's latest quarterly figures showed AUM rising double digits year over year, fee-related earnings (FRE) climbing sharply, and a healthy pipeline of new capital raised. Sentiment has been shaped by two competing forces: robust monetization activity, including a major portfolio sale in insurance brokerage, and investor caution about private-credit exposure and higher-rate environments. Recent strategic moves, such as partnerships aimed at AI data-center infrastructure, highlight the firm's emphasis on secular growth themes.
OWL Overview and Recent Performance
OWL, Blue Owl Capital Inc., is an alternative asset manager focused on credit, real assets, and GP Strategic Capital (investments in general partners of private funds), with about $319 billion in AUM. Its stock has been the most pressured of the three, falling sharply from its high after the firm limited withdrawals from two non-traded funds amid historically elevated redemption requests, particularly in a technology-focused vehicle. Investor anxiety around software-sector lending and potential AI disruption has weighed heavily on the shares, pushing the dividend yield to unusually high levels. Even so, the firm has continued to grow fee-earning AUM, and recent earnings showed FRE advancing year over year, with management describing private-credit fears as overstated. The tension between solid operating metrics and acute liquidity concerns defines OWL's recent market positioning.
STEP Overview and Recent Performance
STEP, StepStone Group Inc., is a global private-markets investment firm that provides customized fund-of-funds solutions, separately managed accounts, and advisory and data services, overseeing roughly $885 billion of total capital including about $233 billion in AUM. In recent quarters the company reported record fee-related earnings and record capital formation, with private wealth subscriptions reaching all-time highs. The stock has declined from its highs but has held up relatively better than credit-heavy peers, a reflection of its lower direct-lending exposure and its recurring, fee-oriented revenue model. Growth in separately managed accounts, secondaries (buying existing fund interests), and data initiatives has supported sentiment. The firm's trajectory illustrates how a diversified, advisory-led business can diverge from peers more exposed to private-credit stress.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
The three companies differ fundamentally in business model and risk profile. KKR offers the broadest diversification and scale, with insurance and infrastructure providing ballast against cyclical private-equity exits; its valuation sensitivity centers on carried interest (performance fees) realization and private-credit quality. OWL is the most concentrated in direct lending and permanent capital, giving it a high, visible dividend yield but also the greatest exposure to redemption dynamics and software-credit sentiment, making it the most momentum-sensitive of the group. STEP is the smallest and most fee-oriented, with lower performance-fee dependence and a rapidly growing but earlier-stage private wealth and data franchise; its risk lies in execution and the pace at which undeployed capital converts to fee-earning AUM. On relative performance, STEP has shown comparatively stronger resilience, KKR has tracked the broad sector decline while posting record earnings, and OWL has underperformed most sharply on liquidity concerns.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency, stability, and relative positioning, Tickeron's AI would likely express the greatest relative confidence in STEP, given its more durable fee-driven revenue mix, record fundraising, and comparatively milder drawdown. KKR would rank as a close contender on diversification and earnings momentum, though its size and credit exposure temper the signal. OWL, while potentially offering the highest yield, currently presents the most uncertain trend profile because of ongoing redemption and credit-quality questions. These conclusions reflect probabilistic, model-driven assessments rather than definitive predictions, and should be weighed alongside each investor's own research and time horizon.
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.
KKR | OWL | STEP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 61 | 15 | 17 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 81 Overvalued | 4 Undervalued | 11 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 75 | 100 | 90 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 67 | 86 | 100 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 62 | 59 | 61 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 92 | 92 | 4 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 90 | 85 | 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.
OWL's Valuation (4) in the null industry is in the same range as STEP (11) in the null industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for KKR (81) in the Investment Managers industry. This means that OWL's stock grew similarly to STEP’s and significantly faster than KKR’s over the last 12 months.
KKR's Profit vs Risk Rating (75) in the Investment Managers industry is in the same range as STEP (90) in the null industry, and is in the same range as OWL (100) in the null industry. This means that KKR's stock grew similarly to STEP’s and similarly to OWL’s over the last 12 months.
KKR's SMR Rating (67) in the Investment Managers industry is in the same range as OWL (86) in the null industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for STEP (100) in the null industry. This means that KKR's stock grew similarly to OWL’s and somewhat faster than STEP’s over the last 12 months.
OWL's Price Growth Rating (59) in the null industry is in the same range as STEP (61) in the null industry, and is in the same range as KKR (62) in the Investment Managers industry. This means that OWL's stock grew similarly to STEP’s and similarly to KKR’s over the last 12 months.
STEP's P/E Growth Rating (4) in the null industry is significantly better than the same rating for OWL (92) in the null industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for KKR (92) in the Investment Managers industry. This means that STEP's stock grew significantly faster than OWL’s and significantly faster than KKR’s over the last 12 months.
| KKR | OWL | STEP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 77% | 2 days ago 80% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 71% | 2 days ago 74% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 76% | 2 days ago 70% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 68% | N/A |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 72% | 2 days ago 73% | 2 days ago 72% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 72% | 2 days ago 75% | 2 days ago 75% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 73% | 5 days ago 75% | 9 days ago 76% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 68% | 13 days ago 71% | 6 days ago 73% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 89% | 6 days ago 72% | 2 days ago 70% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 75% | 2 days ago 77% | 2 days ago 74% |
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 overvalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
KKR’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green while OWL’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s), and STEP’s FA Score reflects 2 green FA rating(s).
- KKR’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- OWL’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- STEP’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 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.
KKR’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while OWL’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s), and STEP’s TA Score reflects 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- KKR’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- OWL’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 5 bearish.
- STEP’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
KKR (@Investment Managers) experienced а +1.72% price change this week, while OWL (@Investment Managers) price change was +4.12% , and STEP (@Investment Managers) price fluctuated -4.86% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Investment Managers industry was -4.27%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.66%, and the average quarterly price growth was -1.39%.
Reported Earning Dates
KKR is expected to report earnings on Nov 09, 2026.
OWL is expected to report earnings on Oct 29, 2026.
STEP is expected to report earnings on Nov 05, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Investment Managers (-4.27% 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.
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KKR and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, KKR has been closely correlated with BX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 83% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if KKR jumps, then BX could also see price increases.
OWL and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, OWL has been closely correlated with ARES. These tickers have moved in lockstep 78% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if OWL jumps, then ARES could also see price increases.