CDW vs ARES Comparison

CDW Corp is a multi-brand provider of information technology (IT) solutions to businesses, government, education, and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The company's offerings range from hardware and software products to integrated IT solutions and services, including on-premise and cloud capabilities across hybrid infrastructure, digital experience, and security. Its reportable segments are Corporate, Small Business, Public, and Other. The Corporate and Small Business segments serve US private sector business customers, while the Public segment consists of government agencies and education and healthcare institutions in the US. The Corporate segment generates the majority of its revenue in the United States.

Ares Management is one of the world's largest alternative-asset managers, with $595.7 billion in total assets under management, or AUM, including $367.6 billion in fee-earning AUM, at the end of September 2025. The company has four main business segments: private credit ($391.5 billion in total AUM and $240.2 billion in fee-earning AUM), private equity, ($25.1 billion/$11.8 billion), real estate/real assets ($132.4 billion/$80.5 billion), and other alternatives ($46.7 billion/$35.1 billion). The firm primarily serves institutional investors (80% of AUM) and high-net-worth individuals (20%). Ares operates through more than 35 offices in over 15 countries around the globe.