Company Overview - StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A, indicating strong potential for momentum investing [2][11] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting it is positioned to outperform the market [3][11] Price Performance - Over the past week, STEP shares have increased by 5.09%, while the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry has only risen by 0.03% [5] - In a longer time frame, STEP's monthly price change is 9.05%, outperforming the industry's 5.35% [5] - Over the past quarter, STEP shares have gained 18.57%, and over the last year, they have increased by 26.29%, compared to the S&P 500's gains of 16.43% and 18.63%, respectively [6] Trading Volume - STEP's average 20-day trading volume is 541,261 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7] Earnings Estimates - In the past two months, two earnings estimates for STEP have been revised upwards, while none have been lowered, leading to an increase in the consensus estimate from $1.79 to $1.84 [9] - For the next fiscal year, one estimate has moved upwards with no downward revisions during the same period [9]

Core Viewpoint - StepStone Group Inc. will release its financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, on August 7, 2025, after market close [1] Group 1: Earnings Release Information - The earnings results will be available after the market closes on August 7, 2025 [1] - A webcast and conference call will be held on the same day at 5:00 pm ET to discuss the results [2] - Participants can register for the live Q&A portion of the call through a provided link [3] Group 2: Company Overview - StepStone Group Inc. is a global private markets investment firm focused on customized investment solutions and advisory services [4] - As of March 31, 2025, the company managed approximately $709 billion in total capital, including $189 billion in assets under management [4] - The client base includes large public and private pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals [4]

Group 1 - StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) shares increased by 6% to close at $63.24, with a notable trading volume compared to normal sessions, and an overall gain of 11.3% over the past four weeks [1][2] - The price surge was driven by the announcement that StepStone is leveraging Goji's technology to improve access to its European private market evergreen funds, enhancing the investor experience [2] - The company is projected to report quarterly earnings of $0.41 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 14.6%, while revenues are expected to reach $228.81 million, a 3.5% increase from the previous year [3] Group 2 - The consensus EPS estimate for StepStone has remained stable over the last 30 days, indicating that stock price movements may not sustain without earnings estimate revisions [4] - StepStone Group holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting strong market confidence in the stock's potential [4] - The company operates within the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, which includes other firms like Houlihan Lokey, whose stock has also shown positive performance [4][5]

Company Overview - StepStone Group is a global private markets investment firm with approximately $709 billion in total capital as of March 31, 2025, including $189 billion in assets under management [2] - The firm serves a diverse client base, including large public and private pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals [2] Partnership with Goji - StepStone Group is leveraging Goji's technology to enhance access to its European private market evergreen funds, aiming to simplify the investor journey [1] - Goji provides a technology-enabled investment platform that offers a secure, scalable, and customizable solution for asset managers and investors [3] - The collaboration is expected to deliver a streamlined and efficient investment experience, supported by Euroclear's digital infrastructure and regulatory expertise [1] Fund Performance - StepStone Private Markets (Luxembourg) ("SPRIM Lux") has $351 million in assets under management and a total net return of 43.81% since its inception in September 2022 [4] - StepStone Private Venture and Growth (Luxembourg) ("SPRING Lux") has $427 million in assets under management with a total net return of 70.65% since its inception in November 2022 [4] - StepStone Private Infrastructure (Luxembourg) ("STRUCTURE Lux") has $89.9 million in assets under management and a total net return of 32.24% since its inception in September 2023 [4] - StepStone Private Credit Europe ELTIF ("SCRED Europe") launched in February 2025 with over €250 million in seed capital, focusing on a diversified European private credit strategy [4]

Core Insights - StepStone Real Estate (SRE) has been awarded the 2025 IPE Real Estate Global Awards' Investment Consultancy of the Year, marking its fourth consecutive year receiving this recognition [1][2]. Group 1: Award Recognition - The Investment Consultancy of the Year Award highlights SRE's effective advisory approach for institutional clients and investors in real estate investment programs [2]. - The firm's competitive advantages include global reach, an experienced team, strong relationships with general partners, extensive market coverage, and proprietary technology for market intelligence [2]. Group 2: Performance Metrics - In 2024, SRE conducted approximately 1,000 manager meetings and approved $14 billion in real estate capital commitments across 47 funds [2]. - As of March 31, 2025, StepStone Group managed approximately $709 billion in total capital, with $189 billion in assets under management [3]. Group 3: Company Strategy - SRE differentiates itself through hands-on experience in secondaries, recapitalizations, and co-investments, along with deep manager, fund, and market research capabilities [3]. - The company aims to provide tailor-made solutions to a diverse and growing client base [3].

Summary of StepStone Group Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: StepStone Group - **Industry**: Private Markets Investment and Advisory - **Assets Under Management**: Approximately $190 billion, overseeing nearly $500 billion in private market allocations [3][4] Key Points and Arguments Business Model and Market Position - StepStone operates as a solution provider, differentiating itself from traditional General Partners (GPs) like Blackstone and KKR by allocating capital on behalf of clients to funds managed by GPs while also managing direct strategies [4][5] - The private markets have grown from approximately $2 trillion in assets under management (AUM) in 2007 to over $15 trillion today, indicating a significant market opportunity for solution providers [7][8] - StepStone's strategies include primary fund investments, co-investments, and secondary interests across four asset classes: private equity, venture capital, real estate, and private credit [6] Fundraising Success - Fiscal year 2025 was a record year for StepStone with total inflows of $30 billion, including $20 billion from separate accounts and $10 billion from commingled funds [10][11] - The company achieved a 90% re-up rate for managed accounts, with clients increasing their investments by an average of 30% upon re-upping [14][15] - The commingled fund side saw significant success, with over $3 billion raised across three different funds, marking the largest fundraising year for commingled funds since inception [12][13] Global Footprint and Client Base - Over 60% of StepStone's business comes from outside the U.S., allowing the firm to tap into growing allocations in emerging markets [11][24] - The firm aims to work with a diverse range of clients, from large sovereign wealth funds to individual investors, reflecting a solutions-oriented approach [9] Partnership with FTSE Russell - StepStone announced a partnership with FTSE Russell to develop private asset indices and analytics products, aiming to address the challenge of measuring performance across liquid and illiquid assets [17][20] - The partnership will initially focus on benchmarking solutions, with potential for investable products like index funds in the future [18][19] Macro Environment and Market Dynamics - The macroeconomic environment has been volatile, impacting fundraising and investment activity; however, StepStone's diversification across asset classes and geographies has mitigated some risks [22][24] - The secondary market has seen significant growth, with total secondary volume reaching approximately $160 billion in 2024, more than doubling in the last five to six years [33][34] Opportunities in Private Wealth and Institutional Markets - Private wealth management has seen substantial growth, with assets on the platform exceeding $8 billion, driven by a strong performance and efficient capital structures [40][42] - There is a growing interest in private credit and infrastructure as newer asset classes, with many institutional investors beginning to allocate to these areas [30][29] Future Outlook - StepStone is focused on expanding its international operations and product offerings, particularly in the private wealth channel and retirement markets [48][54] - The firm is exploring opportunities in public-private partnerships and the retirement channel, recognizing the potential for significant asset growth in these areas [50][53] Additional Important Insights - The firm has developed a comprehensive product suite for private wealth, catering to a wide range of investors and emphasizing a solutions-oriented approach [44][45] - The secondary market is expected to continue growing, driven by liquidity challenges faced by limited partners (LPs) and the increasing importance of secondary transactions [31][33] This summary encapsulates the key insights and developments discussed during the conference call, highlighting StepStone Group's strategic positioning, fundraising success, and future opportunities in the private markets landscape.

Core Insights - StepStone Group has opened a new office in Jeonju, South Korea, enhancing its partnership with the National Pension Service (NPS) [1][2] - The Jeonju office is StepStone's second location in South Korea, following the Seoul office established in 2014 [1] - The opening ceremony was attended by senior leaders from both StepStone and NPS, highlighting the importance of this partnership [3] Company Overview - StepStone Group is a global private markets investment firm managing approximately $709 billion in total capital, with $189 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2025 [4] - The firm provides customized investment solutions and advisory services to a diverse client base, including large pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and private wealth clients [4] - StepStone focuses on developing private markets portfolios across various asset classes, including private equity, infrastructure, private debt, and real estate [4]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a Neutral rating on StepStone Group (STEP) and raises the 12-month target price to $63 from $57, indicating a potential upside of 6.2% from the current price of $59.30 [6][8]. Core Insights - STEP reported FY4Q25 EPS of $0.68, significantly up from $0.44 in FY3Q25, driven by record Fee-Related Earnings (FRE) of $94 million and strong net performance fee contributions of $42 million [1]. - The management fee revenue benefited from $15.7 million of retroactive fees, contributing to a healthy FRE margin of 44% for the quarter, with expectations for a normalized FRE margin of approximately 37% for FY26 [1][4]. - Fee-earning Assets Under Management (AUM) increased to $121 billion, reflecting a 6% quarter-over-quarter growth, supported by record private wealth subscriptions of $1.2 billion and $9.9 billion in gross inflows [1][4]. - The report anticipates continued management fee growth in the high teens, driven by strong fundraising momentum across various strategies and a doubling of Wealth AUM year-over-year to $8.2 billion [1][4]. - The report revises EPS estimates for calendar years 2025, 2026, and 2027 to $2.18, $2.35, and $2.74 respectively, reflecting improved visibility on AUM growth and a favorable FRE mix shift [1][5]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - STEP's FRE margin for FY4Q25 was reported at 44%, benefiting from retroactive and non-recurring advisory fees, with a normalized FRE margin expected to be around 37% for FY26 [4]. - The company completed its second tranche of Non-Controlling Interest (NCI) buy-in, issuing $161 million in equity, which is expected to be modestly accretive to EPS [4]. Wealth Management - The Wealth business achieved record subscriptions of $1.2 billion, with AUM reaching $8.2 billion, up from $6.3 billion in the previous quarter and $3.4 billion year-over-year [1][4]. - STEP's evergreen suite is now available on nearly 500 platforms, with a distribution strategy focused on Europe [1][4]. Valuation Metrics - The SOTP analysis indicates a target price of $63, with a breakdown showing 78% of value derived from FRE, 19% from carry, and 2% from balance sheet value [5][6]. - The current valuation of STEP is approximately 27 times the 2025 estimated adjusted diluted earnings, aligning with the three-year average NTM P/DE of 27-28 times [1].

Company Overview - StepStone Group Inc. is a global private markets investment firm focused on providing customized investment solutions and advisory and data services to clients [2] - As of March 31, 2025, StepStone was responsible for approximately $709 billion of total capital, including $189 billion of assets under management [2] - The firm's clients include large public and private pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals [2] Upcoming Events - Scott Hart, CEO, and Mike McCabe, Head of Strategy, are scheduled to present at the Morgan Stanley US Financials Conference on June 10, 2025, at 2:30 pm ET [1] - A live webcast and replay of the presentation will be accessible through the StepStone website [1]

Investment Performance - The company has a strong investment performance track record, outperforming the MSCI ACWI Index with a net IRR of 11.2% compared to the benchmark's 0.9%[49] - The company has over 225 investment programs with the potential to earn performance fees, totaling over $95 billion in committed capital[54] - Approximately 75% of the accrued carried interest allocations of $1,496 million are from StepStone Fund vintages of 2019 or prior[54] Financial Growth - Management and advisory fees increased from $235 million in fiscal 2020 to $767 million in fiscal 2025, reflecting a 27% compounded annual growth rate[51] - As of March 31, 2025, the company had $24.6 billion of committed but undeployed fee-earning capital, expected to generate management fees upon deployment[52] - NAV-based management fees represented approximately 14% of total net management and advisory fees as of March 31, 2025, compared to 9% in 2024[601] Client Relationships - The company has maintained a high client retention rate of approximately 95% since inception[99] - Approximately 34% of the company's clients engage for both asset management and advisory services[99] - The company aims to expand existing client mandates and deploy already raised committed capital to drive growth[57][58] Global Expansion and Strategy - The company is focused on adding new clients globally, leveraging its established local presence and global investment capabilities[60] - The company plans to pursue selective strategic acquisitions to complement its platform and enhance distribution[64] Responsible Investment and Sustainability - The company became a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) in 2013 and adopted a Responsible Investment policy in 2014, which is reviewed annually[88] - The company has engaged a consultant annually since 2019 to conduct a comprehensive carbon footprint measurement and analysis of its operations[95] - The company has implemented a standalone climate policy and incorporated TCFD-aligned climate considerations within its investment process in 2022[88] - The company has observed a growing focus on impact investing, targeting commercial returns while investing in thematic opportunities such as climate change and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals[92] Employee Development and Culture - As of March 31, 2025, the company had approximately 1,130 employees globally, including over 375 investment professionals[137] - The company emphasizes a culture of belonging and continuous improvement, fostering an environment where data and analysis drive decision-making[141] - The company’s investment in employee development includes structured training programs and mentorship opportunities to support professional growth[140] Financial Risks and Compliance - The company is preparing for compliance with the new anti-money laundering and customer identification programs required by the SEC and FinCEN by the end of 2025[124] - The SEC adopted amendments to Regulation S-P in May 2024, mandating notification to clients in the event of privacy breaches[124] - The company is subject to the EU Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive II (AIFMD II), which entered into force on April 15, 2024, with a two-year implementation period[130] Borrowings and Interest Rates - The company had $175.0 million in borrowings outstanding under its Notes and $100.0 million under its Revolver as of March 31, 2025[605] - Interest expense is estimated to increase by $2.8 million in 2025 and $1.5 million in 2024 due to a 100 basis point increase in interest rates[605] - Interest income is expected to increase by $2.5 million in 2025 and $1.4 million in 2024 with a 100 basis point increase in interest rates[605] Market Sensitivity - A 10% decline in market values of investments held in the company's funds would result in an approximate decrease to annual management fees of $11.2 million in 2025 and $5.8 million in 2024[601] - A 10% decline in fair value of investments in funds would result in a decrease in investment income of $18.4 million in 2025 and $13.5 million in 2024[602] - The company’s carried interest allocation revenue is influenced by market factors, with varying impacts across different funds[602]