Carlyle Shares Gain 5.9% as Q4 Earnings Meet Estimates, AUM Rises Y/Y

Core Insights - The Carlyle Group Inc. (CG) reported a 5.9% increase in shares during Friday's trading session, with fourth-quarter 2025 post-tax distributable earnings per share of $1.01, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improving from 92 cents per share in the previous year [1][8] Financial Performance - Net income attributable to Carlyle was $358.1 million, up from $210.9 million in the year-ago quarter, while for 2025, post-tax distributable earnings per share were $4.02, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.03 but increasing from $3.66 in 2024 [2] - Fourth-quarter segmental revenues reached $1.09 billion, a 15.1% increase from the previous year, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate [3][8] - Total segment fee revenues rose 2.3% year over year to $669.9 million, driven by increased fund management fees and fee-related performance revenues, while realized performance revenues surged 46.8% to $360.8 million [4] Expenses and AUM - Total segmental expenses increased by 16.1% year over year to $655.4 million, presenting a challenge to overall profitability [4][8] - As of December 31, 2025, total assets under management (AUM) were $476.9 billion, reflecting an 8.1% increase from the prior year, with fee-earning AUM rising 10.6% to $336.8 billion [5] Capital Distribution - In the reported quarter, Carlyle repurchased or withheld 3.8 million shares for $204 million, with $0.2 billion worth of shares remaining under authorization [6] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of 35 cents per share, scheduled for payment on February 20, 2026 [6] Strategic Outlook - The increase in total AUM and efforts to expand investment platforms are expected to support long-term revenue growth for Carlyle, although rising expenses and a competitive financial environment pose challenges [7]