This week's slump in asset-manager stocks was driven by private-credit fears. Here's what's worrying investors.
MarketWatch·2026-02-21 13:30

Core Viewpoint - The recent decline in asset-manager stocks is primarily attributed to investor concerns regarding the lending standards in the private-credit industry, particularly linked to a fund managed by Blue Owl Capital [1] Group 1: Market Impact - Shares of Blue Owl Capital (ticker: OWL) experienced a significant drop, with weekly losses reaching approximately 12% [1] - Other asset managers with exposure to private-credit businesses, including Ares Management (ARES), Blackstone (BX), Apollo Global Management (APO), and KKR & Co. (KKR), also saw declines in their stock prices during the week [1] Group 2: Investor Sentiment - Investor fears have intensified regarding the potential spillover effects from the private-credit sector, leading to broader anxiety in the market [1] - The selling pressure on asset managers indicates a growing concern about the stability and lending practices within the private-credit industry [1]