SMG vs CNS Comparison

Scotts Miracle-Gro is the largest purveyor of home lawn and gardening products in the US. The business consists of three reporting segments: US consumer, Hawthorne, and other. The US consumer segment consists of a broad range of lawncare products, including grass seed, fertilizer, and lawn-related weed, animal, and disease control. US consumer typically generates the vast majority of companywide revenue and profits. Hawthorne sells indoor gardening and hydroponic equipment, particularly to the cannabis growing industry, while the other segment primarily consists of lawn and gardening products sold in Canada. Its lawncare and gardening products are well-recognized brands in the US, including Scotts, Miracle-Gro, Roundup, Ortho, and Tomcat.

Cohen & Steers is a niche asset manager concentrating on real estate securities. The firm invests mainly in the equity shares of real estate investment trusts, with holdings in domestic and international real estate securities accounting for close to two thirds of its $79.3 billion in managed assets at the end of January 2024. Cohen & Steers also manages portfolios dedicated to preferred securities, utilities stocks, and other high-yield offerings. The firm's distribution is balanced among its closed-end funds, open-end funds, and institutional accounts. During the past four calendar quarters, the company garnered 42% (27%) of its managed assets (base management fees) from institutional clients, 45% (52%) from open-end funds, and 13% (21%) from closed-end funds.