NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pluto Financial Technologies, Inc. has launched the first AI-powered lending platform purpose built for private markets, backed by Motive Ventures, Portage, Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO), Hamilton Lane (Nasdaq: HLNE), Tectonic Ventures, and Broadhaven Ventures. Pluto has raised $8.6 million in equity and secured hundreds of millions in lending capacity. Private markets are booming, with total AUM projected to grow 1.5x in the next five years. Yet these assets l. ...

When you look at the stock market and research new investment opportunities, you are operating predominantly as a retail investor. Unless you work for a brokerage or a large financial institution, you are a retail investor. For the vast majorityScott Kaufman, aka Treading Softly, learned about investing firsthand from over a decade of financial sector experience. He is the lead analyst for Dividend Kings providing actionable insight into high quality dividend growing and undervalued opportunities. His focus ...

Core Insights - Hamilton Lane has been recognized as a "Best Place to Work in Money Management" for the 14th consecutive year by Pensions & Investments, highlighting its consistent excellence in workplace culture since the program's inception in 2012 [1][2] Company Overview - Hamilton Lane is a leading private markets investment management firm with approximately 770 employees globally, serving over 2,600 clients, including individual investors and large institutional entities [3][5] - The firm manages $1.0 trillion in assets, comprising $145.4 billion in discretionary assets and $859.8 billion in non-discretionary assets as of September 30, 2025 [5] Workplace Culture - The recognition reflects Hamilton Lane's commitment to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative work environment, which is essential for attracting and retaining talent [3][4] - Co-CEOs Erik Hirsch and Juan Delgado emphasize that the firm's success is rooted in its people, aiming to create a supportive and inspiring workplace [4] Awards and Recognition - In addition to the P&I Best Places to Work award, Hamilton Lane has received multiple accolades in 2025, including recognition for ESG value creation and being named the Best Alternatives Asset Manager in Singapore [6]

Core Insights - The asset management landscape is evolving, with companies employing innovative strategies and strong partnerships gaining investor interest [1] - Goldman Sachs analyst upgraded Hamilton Lane Inc. to Buy, with a price forecast of $165, indicating over 30% upside potential [1][2] Company Performance - Hamilton Lane's strong position in the alternative asset management sector, particularly in Wealth/Evergreen funds and Secondaries, is highlighted [2] - The company's Evergreen franchise manages approximately $14 billion in NAV, contributing over 30% to fee-related revenue, the highest among alternative managers [4] - Recent financial results show Hamilton Lane reported adjusted EPS of $1.54, exceeding estimates, and revenue of $190.9 million, surpassing consensus [6] Growth Projections - Fee-related earnings (FRE) are expected to grow at a 27% compound annual rate from 2025 to 2027, driven by management fees from Evergreen products and performance-fee contributions [3] - Earnings per share are projected to grow at a 20% annual rate, supported by a significant performance-fee pool with unrealized value [3] Valuation Metrics - Hamilton Lane shares are currently trading at 21 times next-twelve-month P/E, below the historical average of 27× and peers' 23× [5] - Goldman Sachs estimates for EPS are $5.36 for 2025, $6.28 for 2026, and $7.77 for 2027, reflecting expected margin and revenue acceleration [5]

Assets Under Management and Advisory - As of September 30, 2025, the company had $101.0 billion in assets under management (AUM) from customized separate accounts and $44.4 billion from specialized funds[117] - The company reported $859.8 billion in assets under advisement (AUA) as of September 30, 2025, indicating a strong advisory service segment[117] - Fee-earning AUM increased by $2.0 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2025, primarily due to contributions from customized separate accounts and specialized funds[191] - Customized separate accounts fee-earning AUM rose by $0.5 billion, with contributions of $1.1 billion and distributions of $0.8 billion for the same period[192] - Specialized funds fee-earning AUM increased by $1.5 billion, with contributions of $1.8 billion and distributions of $0.6 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2025[193] - For the six months ended September 30, 2025, fee-earning AUM increased by $4.4 billion, driven by contributions from both customized separate accounts and specialized funds[194] - Customized separate accounts fee-earning AUM grew by $1.5 billion, with contributions totaling $2.9 billion and distributions of $1.8 billion for the six months ended September 30, 2025[195] - Specialized funds fee-earning AUM increased by $2.9 billion, with contributions of $3.4 billion and distributions of $1.2 billion for the same period[196] Financial Performance - Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2025, increased by $36.7 million to $190.9 million compared to $149.9 million for the same period in 2024, driven by increases in management and advisory fees and incentive fees[153] - Management and advisory fees rose by $22.3 million to $142.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $119.8 million in 2024, with specialized funds revenue contributing $19.5 million of this increase[154] - Incentive fees increased by $14.3 million to $44.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, primarily due to the recognition of $13.1 million in performance fees from evergreen funds[155] - For the six months ended September 30, 2025, total revenues increased by $15.9 million to $366.8 million compared to $346.7 million in 2024, primarily due to higher management and advisory fees[156] - Management and advisory fees for the six months ended September 30, 2025, increased by $16.1 million to $275.8 million, with specialized funds revenue contributing significantly to this growth[157] - Total expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025, increased by $27.7 million to $111.2 million compared to $82.8 million in 2024, mainly due to higher compensation and benefits[161] - Compensation and benefits expenses rose by $21.9 million to $77.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, driven by increased salary expenses and annual bonus plan accruals[162] - Net income attributable to Hamilton Lane Incorporated for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $70.9 million, compared to $55.0 million in 2024, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 28.5%[150] - Non-GAAP EPS for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $1.54, up from $1.07 in the same period of 2024[206] - Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $100.815 million, compared to $75.638 million for the same period in 2024[204] - Fee Related Earnings (FRE) for the three months ended September 30, 2025, were $77.037 million, compared to $56.292 million for the same period in 2024[204] Investment Activities - The company completed a registered offering of 528,705 shares of Class A common stock, generating $55.5 million in net proceeds[120] - On October 23, 2025, the company sold its interests in a wholly-owned entity for $92.3 million in cash[122] - The company recognized $0.8 million in retroactive fees from its latest direct equity fund for the six months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $20.7 million from a secondary fund in the same period of 2024[157] - Total other income for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $37.9 million, significantly higher than $9.9 million in 2024, indicating improved investment performance[152] - Other income (expense) increased by $12.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, primarily due to an increase in equity in income of investees[168] - Equity in income of investees increased by $13.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, attributed to larger increases in investment valuations[169] - Other income (expense) of Consolidated Funds and Partnerships increased by $15.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, due to increased investment activity[176] - Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended September 30, 2025, was $247.83 million, compared to $197.15 million for the same period in 2024, reflecting a year-over-year increase of approximately 25.7%[239] - Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended September 30, 2025, was $227.92 million, significantly higher than $25.04 million in 2024, indicating increased investment activity[239] Debt and Liquidity - The company amended its credit facility on October 1, 2025, which included a decrease in the aggregate principal amount available to be borrowed and changes to interest rates[121] - The company had an outstanding balance of $89 million under the Term Loan Agreement as of September 30, 2025, with a maturity date of July 1, 2029[225] - The aggregate principal amount of loans that may be outstanding under all Loan Agreements is capped at $325 million, with $325 million available as of September 30, 2025[229] - The company issued $100 million in Senior Notes with a 5.28% interest rate, maturing on October 15, 2029, with interest payments starting on April 15, 2025[223] - As of September 30, 2025, the principal amount of debt outstanding was $288.1 million, down from $293.1 million as of March 31, 2025[229] - The company expects to continue paying quarterly cash dividends, subject to funds being legally available[237] - The company is required to maintain approximately $7.8 million in liquid net assets to meet regulatory net capital and capital adequacy requirements as of September 30, 2025[236] - The annual interest rate on the Term Loan Agreement was 6.00% as of September 30, 2025[259] - A 100 basis point increase in interest rates is estimated to result in an increased interest expense of approximately $0.9 million over the next 12 months[260] Strategic Partnerships and Investments - A long-term strategic partnership was established with The Guardian Life Insurance Company, managing nearly $5 billion in private equity and committing to invest approximately $500 million annually for the next 10 years[124] - The company plans to make strategic investments in technology-driven private markets data and wealth management solutions[233] Tax and Regulatory Matters - The effective tax rate was 11.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to 1.5% for the same period in 2024, reflecting changes in income allocation and tax adjustments[179] - The One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on July 4, 2025, did not have a material impact on the company's consolidated financial statements[145] Market Conditions and Competition - The company has noted increased competition for investment opportunities, which may impact future returns due to rising costs[211] - The performance of the funds is increasingly dependent on newer funds, as historical returns are primarily derived from earlier funds[211] - The company utilizes revolving credit facilities to enhance liquidity, which can magnify performance outcomes[217] - The company’s investment strategy includes a focus on private markets, with specialized funds investing across various sectors[210] Currency and Credit Risk - The company has limited currency exposure related to investments in foreign currency assets, typically at 1% of total capital commitments[258] - The company does not expect changes in exchange rates to materially impact its financial statements[258] - Credit risk is managed by limiting counterparties to reputable financial institutions[261] - The company does not possess significant assets in foreign countries or engage in material transactions in currencies other than the U.S. dollar[258] - The company’s general partner investments include thousands of unique underlying portfolio investments with no significant concentration in any industry or country outside of the United States[256] Performance Metrics - The gross internal rate of return (IRR) for the Secondary Fund VI established in 2022 was 40.6%, while the net IRR was 44.1%[212] - The Infrastructure Opps Fund II, set to launch in 2024, has a projected gross IRR of 32.3% and a net IRR of 30.8%[212] - The company’s specialized funds have shown varying performance, with the PEF IX fund achieving a net IRR of 14.7%[212] - The average gross multiple across the specialized funds is approximately 1.5, indicating a strong return on capital invested[212] - The company’s strategic opportunities funds have a gross IRR of 14.4% for the year 2022, reflecting solid performance in the market[212]

Core Insights - Hamilton Lane has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing a total asset footprint of $1 trillion, marking a 6% year-over-year increase, with AUM reaching $145 billion, up $14 billion or 11% from the previous year [1][5][6] - The company has formed a strategic partnership with Guardian Life Insurance Company, which includes managing Guardian's existing private equity portfolio of nearly $5 billion and a commitment to invest approximately $500 million annually for the next ten years [9][10][40] - The firm reported strong financial performance, with fee-related revenue increasing by 23% year-over-year, driven by growth in management and advisory fees [5][36] Financial Performance - Total asset footprint reached just over $1 trillion, with AUM at $145 billion, reflecting an 11% increase year-over-year [1] - AUA stood at $860 billion, growing by $44 billion or 5% compared to the prior year, primarily due to market value growth [5] - Fee-related earnings were $160.7 million year-to-date, representing a 34% growth year-over-year [6] - GAAP EPS for the fiscal year-to-date was $2.98, with non-GAAP EPS at $2.86 [6] Strategic Developments - The partnership with Guardian Life will involve managing their private equity portfolio and includes financial incentives such as HLNE equity warrants [10][40] - Hamilton Lane's Evergreen platform has seen substantial growth, with total Evergreen AUM reaching $14.3 billion, nearly doubling since 2024 [24][25] - The company has expanded its product offerings, launching additional evergreen products and enhancing its technology solutions [8][27] Market Position and Outlook - The firm maintains a strong position in the private equity market, with a focus on customized solutions for institutional clients [10][11] - The company has observed a low default rate of around 1%, indicating strong credit fundamentals within the private credit sector [14] - Hamilton Lane's strategic focus on expanding its insurance solutions platform is expected to drive future growth [11][12]

Core Insights - Hamilton Lane (HLNE) reported a revenue of $190.88 million for the quarter ended September 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 27.3% and exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $166.82 million by 14.43% [1] - The company's earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $1.54, up from $1.07 in the same quarter last year, representing a surprise of 42.59% compared to the consensus estimate of $1.08 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Fee Earning AUM for Customized Separate Accounts (CSA) was reported at $40.8 billion, slightly below the average estimate of $41.29 billion [4] - Total Fee Earning AUM stood at $76.42 billion, compared to the estimated $76.99 billion [4] - Fee Earning AUM for Specialized Funds (SF) was $35.62 billion, close to the average estimate of $35.7 billion [4] - Total AUM & AUA reached $1005.2 billion, compared to the average estimate of $1008.53 billion [4] - Assets Under Management (AUM) were reported at $145.36 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $144.22 billion [4] - Assets Under Advisement (AUA) totaled $859.84 billion, slightly below the average estimate of $864.31 billion [4] Revenue Breakdown - Incentive fees revenue was $44.55 million, significantly higher than the average estimate of $26.55 million, marking a year-over-year increase of 47.4% [4] - Management and advisory fees for Customized Separate Accounts were $35.77 million, slightly above the estimated $34.82 million, reflecting a 2.9% increase year-over-year [4] - Total management and advisory fees revenue was $142.13 million, surpassing the average estimate of $139.9 million, with an 18.7% year-over-year increase [4] - Management and advisory fees for Specialized Funds reached $89.86 million, exceeding the average estimate of $87.97 million, representing a 27.8% year-over-year increase [4] - Fund reimbursement revenue was reported at $1.97 million, below the estimated $2.25 million, but still showing a 36.8% increase year-over-year [4] - Distribution management revenue was $0.45 million, significantly lower than the average estimate of $1.18 million, with an 8.7% year-over-year increase [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total asset footprint reached just over $1 trillion, a 6% increase year over year [3] - AUM stood at $145 billion, growing by $14 billion or 11% compared to the prior year [4] - AUA came in at $860 billion, up $44 billion or 5% year over year [4] - Total fee-related revenue for the period was $321.6 million, representing a 23% growth year over year [5] - GAAP EPS for the fiscal year-to-date was $2.98, with non-GAAP EPS at $2.86 [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total PR and AUM stood at $76.4 billion, growing by $6.7 billion or 10% year over year [14] - Customized separate accounts PR and AUM reached $40.8 billion, growing by $1.4 billion or 4% over the last 12 months [15] - Specialized Funds PR and AUM ended fiscal Q2 at $35.6 billion, having grown $5.3 billion or 17% year over year [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The partnership with Guardian Life Insurance Company will manage a private equity portfolio of nearly $5 billion and commit to invest approximately $500 million per year for the next 10 years [7][8] - The firm has scaled its insurance solutions platform to over $119 billion [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on sustainable growth and success, expanding product offerings and launching new Evergreen products [6] - The partnership with Guardian is seen as a testament to the company's ability to provide customized solutions to leading institutions [9] - The firm aims to deepen expertise and relationships within the insurance sector through a dedicated insurance solutions team [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management sees no data supporting a broader credit crisis, noting strong credit fundamentals and low default rates [10][11] - The company emphasizes the importance of data and transparency in the private market, leveraging its extensive database for insights [12] Other Important Information - The company announced a partnership with Bloomberg to provide access to Hamilton Lane Private Market Indices via the Bloomberg Terminal [24] - Securitize is set to become a publicly traded company, with Hamilton Lane having a strategic partnership in place [26] - Novata's acquisition of Atlas Metrics aims to meet the growing demand for sustainability data solutions [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Details on the Guardian partnership fee structure - The majority of revenue will come from the $5 billion being managed, with $250 million allocated to Evergreen products [39][40] Question: Insights on the Bloomberg partnership and data monetization - The Bloomberg arrangement is a revenue share model, enhancing brand visibility and providing valuable data for private market benchmarks [40][41][42] Question: Development of the SMA business pipeline - The pipeline is robust, with billions of dollars expected to flow in over time as contracts are finalized [45] Question: Impact of Guardian team joining Hamilton Lane - The team acquisition is expected to have a minimal impact on expenses, as they will fill existing open positions [53]

Core Insights - Hamilton Lane (HLNE) reported quarterly earnings of $1.54 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.08 per share, and showing an increase from $1.07 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of +42.59% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $190.88 million for the quarter ended September 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 14.43% and increasing from $150 million year-over-year [2] - Hamilton Lane has consistently outperformed consensus EPS and revenue estimates over the last four quarters [2] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.24 on revenues of $180.94 million, while for the current fiscal year, the estimate is $5.11 on revenues of $734.03 million [7] - The company's earnings outlook will be influenced by management's commentary during the earnings call, which is crucial for understanding future stock performance [3][4] Industry Context - The Financial - Investment Management industry, to which Hamilton Lane belongs, is currently ranked in the top 30% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable environment for stock performance [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]

Financial Performance - GAAP net income attributable to Hamilton Lane Incorporated was $70.9 million for the quarter and $124.6 million year-to-date[8] - Management and advisory fees increased by 19% to $142.127 million for the quarter and by 6% to $275.822 million year-to-date[9] - Incentive fees increased by 47% to $44.551 million for the quarter, but remained relatively flat year-to-date at $86.813 million[9] - Total revenues increased by 27% to $190.880 million for the quarter and by 6% to $366.837 million year-to-date[9] - Fee Related Earnings increased by 37% to $77.037 million for the quarter and by 34% to $160.748 million year-to-date[10] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 33% to $100.815 million for the quarter and by 15% to $196.656 million year-to-date[10] Assets Under Management - Assets under management increased by 11% year-over-year to $145 billion as of September 30, 2025[16] - Fee-earning assets under management increased by 10% year-over-year to $76 billion as of September 30, 2025[16] Unrealized Carried Interest - Unrealized carried interest reached $1.434 billion as of September 30, 2025, a 14% increase year-over-year[65]