Blackstone Group, AIG and Apollo Global are among the favorites. : Investors seeking financial stocks that can outperform amid the market's crosscurrents in 2019 might consider eight financial services companies in industries such as exchanges, property insurance, alternative asset management, and mortgages. They include American International Group (AIG), Apollo Global Management (APO), Blackstone Group (BX) and Essent Group (ESNT), as outlined in a recent Barron’s story. (See table below for the full list.) While banks are currently rebounding in the latest rally, their profits are likely to be pressured by an inverted yield curve that will squeeze earnings.