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 Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ) 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).

Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ)

Forward P/E: 8.3

Upside Potential: 24%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39

Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ) is a global investment management firm offering a diverse range of actively and passively managed funds, ETFs, and alternative investments. The company serves both retail and institutional clients across various asset classes and strategies.

Over the past decade, Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ) has more than doubled its assets under management (AUM) to $1.85 trillion as of December 2024, up from $780-$800 billion in December 2014/2015. Of the total AUM, approximately $1.27 trillion is attributed to retail operations, with the remainder coming from the institutional channel.

In its Q4 2024 results released in January, the company reported substantial net long-term inflows of $25.6 billion, representing a 7.8% annualized organic growth driven by ETFs and Index funds. Consequently, AUM at the end of the quarter rose 3% sequentially to $1.85 trillion. Revenue for the quarter reached $1.16 billion, reflecting a year-over-year (YoY) growth of 10.6%.

Despite positive momentum, the overall sentiment over asset management industry remains cautious, and analysts hold mixed opinions regarding Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ). The current consensus rating leans towards caution but still suggests a 1-year median price target upside of 24%. Supporting the firm’s optimistic outlook, TD Cowen analyst William Katz reaffirmed his Buy rating on the stock with a price target of $22 in a report published after the Q4 results. He reiterated the Buy rating again on March 12, emphasizing the company’s growth prospects.

Overall, IVZ ranks 3rd on our list of cheap asset management stocks to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of IVZ 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 IVZ 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.