Yield Theory

Financials stock comparison

GS vs KEY: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. with KeyCorp using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Financials
Industry
Different SIC
Shared themes
1
Updated
2026-02-25

GS vs KEY: quick comparison

Company factGSKEY
CompanyThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.KeyCorp
ExchangeNYSENYSE
HeadquartersNew York, New YorkNot recorded
Founded1869Not recorded
SEC industrySecurity Brokers, Dealers & Flotation CompaniesNational Commercial Banks
Fiscal year-endDecember 31December 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-2510-K · 2026-02-23

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

GS and KEY have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Rates & central banks research theme inside the Financials sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS)

Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment bank strong in advisory, trading, and asset and wealth management. Its results are closely tied to capital-markets activity and dealmaking cycles.

KeyCorp (KEY)

KeyCorp is a regional bank providing retail and commercial banking and investment services.

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. GS is classified by the SEC as Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies, while KEY is classified as National Commercial Banks. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.

Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study GS when…

  • The shape of the yield curve and net interest margins
  • Credit quality and loan-loss provisions
  • Regulation and capital requirements
  • Deal activity and market volatility

Study KEY when…

  • The shape of the yield curve and net interest margins
  • Credit quality and loan-loss provisions
  • Regulation and capital requirements
  • Deal activity and market volatility

Shared research themes

Rates & central banks

SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.GS's fiscal year ends December 31, while KEY's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House Clerk snapshot contains 2matched transaction rows for GSand 0 for KEY. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

GS vs KEY FAQs

Are GS and KEY direct competitors?

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and KeyCorp sit in the same Financials sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.

Which is better, GS or KEY?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this GS vs KEY comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices, then use the primary filings here to test the business thesis.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-08-12. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-08-12. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

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