Compare Stocks › ARES vs META
Ares Management Corporation (ARES) vs Meta Platforms, Inc. (META)
ARES
Ares Management Corporation
$107.99
VS
META
Meta Platforms, Inc.
$606.70
Rewards
ARES
- ★Share count has been reduced by 33% over the past 5 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
- ★FCF yield of 8.9% is historically attractive — the business generates significant cash relative to its price.
META
- ★Meta Platforms, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
- ★Gross margin of 82.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Meta Platforms, Inc. scores 80/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
Risks
ARES
- ⚠Net debt/EBITDA of 10.3x indicates heavy leverage — it would take over 4 years of EBITDA to pay off net debt.
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of 1.36 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
META
- ⚠PEG ratio of 2.41 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
- ⚠14 insider sales totaling $9.6M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →ARES
META
Valuation
$3.19B
Free Cash Flow
$46.11B
8.94%
FCF Yield
3.00%
63.15
Trailing P/E
25.84
14.06
Forward P/E
16.91
Quality & Moat
2.61%
ROIC
21.70%
12.77%
ROE
27.83%
36.54%
Gross Margin
82.00%
N/A
PEG Ratio
2.41
Balance Sheet Safety
1.63
Debt / Equity
0.39
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
10.29
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.03
5.00%
Dividend Yield
0.35%
ARES: 3Ties: 1META: 7
ARESMETA
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →ARES
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
META
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
$1 Retained Earnings Test
Learn more →ARES
N/A
Net losses over 3 years — test not applicable
Company had negative cumulative retained earnings
Σ Retained
$-2.63B
Δ Market Cap
+$23.73B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
META
$8.94
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$151.52B
Δ Market Cap
+$1.36T
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
Learn more →ARES
267.7% Overvalued
Price is 267.7% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $107.99
Strongly undervalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $29.37
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
META
40.4% Margin of Safety
Price is 40.4% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $606.70
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $1017.63
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →ARES
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $108?
+28.7%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +4.0%
The market implies +28.7% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.
Standard FCF implies a more demanding +4.0%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.
META
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $607?
+11.0%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +14.7%
The market implies +11.0% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.
Standard FCF implies a more demanding +14.7%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →ARES
47/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Narrow moat with reinvestment efficiency as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency would strengthen the moat.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
META
80/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat driven primarily by roic consistency. Reinvestment Efficiency is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →ARES
-2.85
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
META
-3.04
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Ownership Breakdown
Learn more →ARES
Insiders 11.2%Institutions 89.3%
No. of Institutional Holders1,148
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
META
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 78.7%Retail & Other 21.2%
No. of Institutional Holders6,573
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
Insider Buying Activity
Learn more →ARES
2
Buys (3M)
2
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $1.33M
OLIAN JUDY D.
Director
$59,726
@ $124.43 · 2026-02-20
BHUTANI ASHISH
Director
$1.27M
@ $126.61 · 2026-02-06
BHUTANI ASHISH
Director
$1.41M
@ $141.33 · 2025-03-11
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
META
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →ARES
2
Sells (3M)
5
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $24.83M
SAGATI AGHILI NASEEM
General Counsel
$529,032
@ $134.92 · 2026-02-04
SAGATI AGHILI NASEEM
General Counsel
$299,239
@ $161.84 · 2026-01-22
SAGATI AGHILI NASEEM
General Counsel
$3.28M
@ $155.97 · 2025-10-01
SAGATI AGHILI NASEEM
General Counsel
$3.75M
@ $178.40 · 2025-09-10
AROUGHETI MICHAEL J
Chief Executive Officer
$16.98M
@ $153.17 · 2025-03-24
DEVEER ROBERT KIPP III
President
$15.00M
@ $190.02 · 2025-02-06
BERRY RYAN
Officer
$2.62M
@ $180.16 · 2024-12-11
DEVEER ROBERT KIPP III
Officer and Director
$53.15M
@ $177.16 · 2024-12-10
BERRY RYAN
Officer
$980,502
@ $180.14 · 2024-12-09
BERRY RYAN
Officer
$292,425
@ $175.00 · 2024-11-11
BERRY RYAN
Officer
$3.21M
@ $175.18 · 2024-11-06
BERRY RYAN
Officer
$6.72M
@ $167.99 · 2024-10-17
BERRY RYAN
Officer
$3.20M
@ $160.07 · 2024-10-04
BERRY RYAN
Officer
$7.66M
@ $153.30 · 2024-09-19
BERRY RYAN
Officer
$4.77M
@ $146.67 · 2024-09-16
BERRY RYAN
Officer
$9.51M
@ $140.95 · 2024-09-09
DEVEER ROBERT KIPP III
Officer and Director
$6.26M
@ $150.21 · 2024-07-22
OLIAN JUDY D.
Director
$457,865
@ $134.00 · 2024-06-07
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
META
14
Sells (3M)
65
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $53.89M
KIMMITT ROBERT M
Director
$366,572
@ $632.02 · 2026-03-16
BOSWORTH ANDREW
Chief Technology Officer
$5.11M
@ $631.24 · 2026-02-18
KIMMITT ROBERT M
Director
$370,724
@ $639.18 · 2026-02-17
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$342,869
@ $663.19 · 2026-02-09
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$369,448
@ $714.60 · 2026-02-02
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$343,805
@ $665.00 · 2026-01-26
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$314,517
@ $608.35 · 2026-01-20
KIMMITT ROBERT M
Director
$358,602
@ $618.28 · 2026-01-15
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$337,601
@ $653.00 · 2026-01-12
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$336,262
@ $650.41 · 2026-01-05
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$341,860
@ $658.69 · 2025-12-30
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$340,258
@ $658.14 · 2025-12-29
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$342,218
@ $659.38 · 2025-12-23
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$341,794
@ $661.11 · 2025-12-22
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$333,836
@ $643.23 · 2025-12-16
KIMMITT ROBERT M
Director
$374,680
@ $646.00 · 2025-12-15
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$333,982
@ $646.00 · 2025-12-15
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$344,699
@ $664.16 · 2025-12-09
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$346,199
@ $669.63 · 2025-12-08
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$333,312
@ $642.22 · 2025-12-02
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$330,379
@ $639.03 · 2025-12-01
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$323,929
@ $624.14 · 2025-11-25
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$309,445
@ $598.54 · 2025-11-24
ANDERSON AARON
Officer
$429,502
@ $591.60 · 2025-11-18
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$307,040
@ $591.60 · 2025-11-18
BOSWORTH ANDREW
Chief Technology Officer
$6.94M
@ $593.31 · 2025-11-18
KIMMITT ROBERT M
Director
$365,610
@ $609.35 · 2025-11-17
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$1.90M
@ $608.60 · 2025-11-17
BOSWORTH ANDREW
Chief Technology Officer
$3.09M
@ $609.46 · 2025-11-14
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$326,227
@ $631.00 · 2025-11-10
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$325,596
@ $631.00 · 2025-11-10
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$325,932
@ $628.00 · 2025-11-04
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$339,152
@ $656.00 · 2025-11-03
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$390,807
@ $753.00 · 2025-10-28
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$387,528
@ $749.57 · 2025-10-27
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$382,176
@ $736.37 · 2025-10-21
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$372,912
@ $721.30 · 2025-10-20
KIMMITT ROBERT M
Director
$333,391
@ $716.97 · 2025-10-15
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$367,374
@ $707.85 · 2025-10-14
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$368,797
@ $713.34 · 2025-10-13
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$372,113
@ $716.98 · 2025-10-07
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$364,387
@ $704.81 · 2025-10-06
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$384,838
@ $741.50 · 2025-09-30
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$387,088
@ $748.72 · 2025-09-29
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$399,215
@ $769.20 · 2025-09-23
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$403,948
@ $781.33 · 2025-09-22
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$398,156
@ $767.16 · 2025-09-16
KIMMITT ROBERT M
Director
$352,224
@ $757.47 · 2025-09-15
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$391,612
@ $757.47 · 2025-09-15
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$393,142
@ $757.50 · 2025-09-09
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$390,671
@ $755.65 · 2025-09-08
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$375,471
@ $726.25 · 2025-09-02
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$376,924
@ $726.25 · 2025-09-02
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$389,494
@ $750.47 · 2025-08-26
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$390,392
@ $755.11 · 2025-08-25
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$2.44M
@ $780.95 · 2025-08-18
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$402,225
@ $775.00 · 2025-08-18
BOSWORTH ANDREW
Chief Technology Officer
$13.02M
@ $777.15 · 2025-08-18
KIMMITT ROBERT M
Director
$364,709
@ $784.32 · 2025-08-15
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$398,090
@ $770.00 · 2025-08-11
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$399,836
@ $776.38 · 2025-08-05
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$393,054
@ $760.26 · 2025-08-04
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$373,607
@ $719.86 · 2025-07-29
OLIVAN JAVIER
Chief Operating Officer
$369,655
@ $715.00 · 2025-07-28
NEWSTEAD JENNIFER
Officer
$371,656
@ $716.10 · 2025-07-22
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.
🎭 Mr. Market's Mood
Learn more →ARES
😨Fear(31/100)
"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
META
😐Neutral(44/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
⚖️ Buffett Signal
Learn more →ARES
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (31)
META
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (44)