Asset Allocation Interactive (AAI) — Research Affiliates adds Data Visualizations, and Correlation coverage that Damodaran — Cost of Capital by Sector (US) skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Tool Comparison
Asset Allocation Interactive (AAI) — Research Affiliates vs Damodaran — Cost of Capital by Sector (US) comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
Damodaran — Cost of Capital by Sector (US) includes Financials, Interest Rates, and Education categories that Asset Allocation Interactive (AAI) — Research Affiliates omits.
In depth comparison
Asset Allocation Interactive (AAI) — Research Affiliates
interactive.researchaffiliates.com
Editor’s pick Hands-on review
A free interactive platform that publishes Research Affiliates’ capital market expectations each month. You can explore expected returns, correlations, and efficient frontiers across a wide set of asset classes and geographies. Excel downloads are available (though without full time-series) and charts can be exported. All results are model-based, hypothetical, and provided for informational purposes only.
Platforms
Web
Pricing
Free
Quick highlights
- Two expected-return models: one valuation-driven and one based on yield and growth, with the option to blend them.
- Interactive Portfolio Builder lets you create, save, and analyze custom portfolios.
- Coverage spans more than 140 assets and model portfolios, available in six base currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD). Expectations are refreshed monthly and remain free to access.
- Country dashboards provide data for 41 equity markets (22 developed, 19 emerging), including GDP trends, CAPE ratios, and inflation views.
- Correlation view displays a full heat-map matrix of expected cross-asset relationships.
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Damodaran — Cost of Capital by Sector (US)
pages.stern.nyu.edu
Editor’s pick Hands-on review
US industry-level WACC dataset compiled by Prof. Aswath Damodaran. Includes sector betas, cost of equity, cost of debt (pre/after-tax), capital structure weights, and industry counts. Updated annually (January snapshot). Best used as a sector baseline; company-specific WACC should adjust for firm capital structure, tax, and risk. See 'Cost of Capital Central' for methodology deep-dives.
Platforms
Web
Pricing
Free
Quick highlights
- US industry table with: Industry, # of firms, Beta, Cost of Equity, E/(D+E), Std. Dev. in stock, Cost of Debt, Tax Rate, After‑tax Cost of Debt, D/(D+E), and WACC.
- Direct Excel download (wacc.xls) for offline analysis.
- Annual ‘Data used as of January’ snapshot; site also links to global datasets hub.
- Methodology resources: lectures/notes on estimating beta, cost of equity, and WACC (bottom‑up betas, unlevering/re‑levering, ERP usage).
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Where they differ
Asset Allocation Interactive (AAI) — Research Affiliates
Distinct strengths include:
- Two expected-return models: one valuation-driven and one based on yield and growth, with the option to blend them.
- Interactive Portfolio Builder lets you create, save, and analyze custom portfolios.
- Coverage spans more than 140 assets and model portfolios, available in six base currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD). Expectations are refreshed monthly and remain free to access.
- Country dashboards provide data for 41 equity markets (22 developed, 19 emerging), including GDP trends, CAPE ratios, and inflation views.
Damodaran — Cost of Capital by Sector (US)
Distinct strengths include:
- US industry table with: Industry, # of firms, Beta, Cost of Equity, E/(D+E), Std. Dev. in stock, Cost of Debt, Tax Rate, After‑tax Cost of Debt, D/(D+E), and WACC.
- Direct Excel download (wacc.xls) for offline analysis.
- Annual ‘Data used as of January’ snapshot; site also links to global datasets hub.
- Methodology resources: lectures/notes on estimating beta, cost of equity, and WACC (bottom‑up betas, unlevering/re‑levering, ERP usage).
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Asset Allocation Interactive (AAI) — Research Affiliates | Damodaran — Cost of Capital by Sector (US) |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Valuation Models Unique: Data Visualizations, Correlation | Shared: Valuation Models Unique: Financials, Interest Rates, Education |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, Bonds, Commodities, Real Estate | Stocks, Real Estate |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web | Web |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free | Free |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Yes | Yes |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Highlighted | Highlighted |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do Asset Allocation Interactive (AAI) — Research Affiliates and Damodaran — Cost of Capital by Sector (US) both support?
Both platforms cover Valuation Models workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do Asset Allocation Interactive (AAI) — Research Affiliates and Damodaran — Cost of Capital by Sector (US) require subscriptions?
Both Asset Allocation Interactive (AAI) — Research Affiliates and Damodaran — Cost of Capital by Sector (US) keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
How can you access Asset Allocation Interactive (AAI) — Research Affiliates and Damodaran — Cost of Capital by Sector (US)?
Both Asset Allocation Interactive (AAI) — Research Affiliates and Damodaran — Cost of Capital by Sector (US) prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
Asset Allocation Interactive (AAI) — Research Affiliates differentiates itself with Two expected-return models: one valuation-driven and one based on yield and growth, with the option to blend them., Interactive Portfolio Builder lets you create, save, and analyze custom portfolios., and Coverage spans more than 140 assets and model portfolios, available in six base currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD). Expectations are refreshed monthly and remain free to access., whereas Damodaran — Cost of Capital by Sector (US) stands out for US industry table with: Industry, # of firms, Beta, Cost of Equity, E/(D+E), Std. Dev. in stock, Cost of Debt, Tax Rate, After‑tax Cost of Debt, D/(D+E), and WACC., Direct Excel download (wacc.xls) for offline analysis., and Annual ‘Data used as of January’ snapshot; site also links to global datasets hub..
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.