We recently published a list of 10 Cheap Asset Management Stocks to Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Equitable Holdings Inc. (NYSE:EQH) stands against other cheap asset management stocks to buy now.

The asset management industry plays a crucial role in global financial markets by managing investments for individuals, institutions, and corporations. Asset managers strategically allocate capital across equities, fixed income, real estate, and alternative investments, seeking to optimize returns while managing risk. The industry encompasses various segments, including mutual funds, hedge funds, private equity firms, and wealth management companies, each catering to different investor needs.

Recent research highlights the industry’s robust growth trajectory. According to PwC’s November 2024 Asset & Wealth Management Report, global assets under management (AUM) are expected to reach $171 trillion by 2028, reflecting a 5.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Alternative assets, including private equity, hedge funds, and real estate, are projected to expand at an even faster 6.7% CAGR, reaching $27.6 trillion over the same period. As asset managers seek new growth avenues, tokenization is emerging as a transformative trend. PwC anticipates tokenized products will surge from $40 billion to over $317 billion by 2028, a 51% CAGR, as asset managers—particularly in private equity (53%), equity (46%), and hedge funds (44%)—embrace this innovation to democratize finance and lower investment barriers.

Amid these structural shifts, Deloitte’s 2025 Investment Management Outlook underscores the challenges firms face despite rising AUM in 2023. Revenue growth and profit margins remain under pressure, pushing firms to refine their product diversification strategies and distribution models. Key growth drivers include alternative investments like private credit and hybrid fund structures, as well as AI-driven sales and distribution technologies. Deloitte emphasizes that firms effectively implementing these initiatives will likely outperform competitors, while those failing to adapt may struggle to maintain their market position.

Another notable industry trend, according to Deloitte’s report, is the continued rise of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Over the past five years, ETFs have attracted over $3 trillion in net inflows in the U.S., reflecting investors’ preference for low-cost, transparent investment vehicles. The majority of AUM in mutual funds and ETFs is concentrated in funds with lower expense ratios, contributing to ETFs’ growing market share at the expense of mutual funds. In 2023, active equity and bond ETFs maintained lower average expense ratios than their actively managed mutual fund counterparts, solidifying their appeal as cost-effective investment options.

In summary, the asset management industry is undergoing a period of transformation, driven by technological advancements, evolving investor preferences, and a shift toward alternative investments. While rising AUM signals strong long-term growth prospects, firms must adapt to shifting market dynamics by embracing diversified product strategies, AI integration, and tokenization.

Our Methodology

To determine the 10 cheap asset management stocks to buy now, we first compiled a list of asset management companies using online screeners and financial media reports. We then narrowed down the selection to stocks trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio below 15 and offering at least 10% upside potential. From this refined list, we further narrowed down 10 top stocks with the highest hedge fund ownership, utilizing data from Insider Monkey’s Q4 2024 hedge fund database. Finally, we ranked the selected stocks in ascending order of their forward P/E ratios, placing those with the lowest valuations at the top.

Note: All pricing data is as of market close on March 19.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Equitable Holdings Inc. (NYSE:EQH)

Forward P/E: 7.3

Upside Potential: 21%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47

Equitable Holdings Inc. (NYSE:EQH) leads the list of asset management companies. As a financial services firm, it operates retirement, asset management, and affiliated distribution businesses. The company functions through its franchises, including Equitable and AllianceBernstein, which offer asset management and financial advisory services. Collectively, these franchises manage over $1.0 trillion in assets under management and administration.

The consensus outlook for Equitable Holdings Inc. (NYSE:EQH) remains largely positive, with multiple analysts raising their earnings estimates and price targets following the company’s strong Q4 2024 results announced in early February. On March 11, a Morgan Stanley analyst raised the price target for Equitable Holdings Inc. (NYSE:EQH) from $66 to $68, maintaining an Overweight rating. The analyst’s positive stance was supported by the fact that the company is strategically shifting from a reliance on capital-intensive annuities to a focus on capital-light asset and wealth management, a move anticipated to enhance earnings potential and elevate its valuation.

Earlier, on February 28, analysts from Keefe Bruyette also raised their price target for the stock to $66 from $62, reiterating an Outperform rating.

Overall, EQH ranks 1st on our list of cheap asset management stocks to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of EQH to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than EQH but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.