Blackstone President Jon Gray on Q3 results: We've got a cyclical updraft in the deal markets

Core Insights - Blackstone reported strong third-quarter results, raising $54 billion, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of over $50 billion raised, with distributable earnings up 50% [3][4] - The company is optimistic about the cyclical upturn in deal markets, with significant growth in M&A and IPO activities, particularly in the US [5][6] Financial Performance - Distributable earnings increased by 50% compared to previous periods, indicating robust financial health [3] - The company executed three IPOs in the third quarter across India, Europe, and the United States, a first since 2021 [6] Market Trends - The overall M&A market in the US rose by 64% in the third quarter, while the IPO market doubled, increasing by 100% [5] - The cost of capital has decreased, influenced by the Federal Reserve's rate cuts, leading to tighter spreads [5] Investment Focus - Blackstone is heavily investing in AI and data centers, emphasizing the importance of long-term leases with major companies [7][8] - The global labor cost is $60 trillion, and a 15% efficiency gain from new technologies could yield $9 trillion in annual productivity gains, justifying significant capital investments [10][11] Private Credit Market - There is a perception that the era of high private credit returns has ended, but Blackstone argues that private credit can still yield premium returns due to its direct lending model [12][14] - Despite a normalization in returns, private credit remains attractive compared to liquid credit options [14][15]