​Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) is one of the Best Dip Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. On February 17, Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) announced that its perpetual private equity strategy fund (BXPE) has entered an agreement to acquire Champions Group from Odyssey Investment Partners. ​Champions Group is one of the top home services companies that offers a unique platform with essential residential services, including repairs and replacements in major US metropolitan areas. The group has more than 1,800 fiel ...

Core Viewpoint - XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust plans to host a Quarterly Webinar on March 4, 2026, focusing on its investment strategies and performance [1] Group 1: Webinar Details - The webinar will be moderated by Kevin Davis, Managing Director at XA Investments, featuring Kimberly Flynn, President at XAI, and Lauren Law, Senior Portfolio Manager at Octagon Credit Investors [1] - Participants can join via web or telephone, with specific dial-in numbers provided for different locations [2] - A replay of the webinar will be available in the Knowledge Bank section of the XAI Investments website [2] Group 2: Trust Overview - The Trust's common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "XFLT" [3] - The investment objective of the Trust is to seek attractive total return with an emphasis on income generation across multiple stages of the credit cycle, primarily through investments in private credit markets [3] - Under normal market conditions, the Trust will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in floating rate credit instruments and other structured credit investments [3] Group 3: Company Background - XA Investments LLC, founded in 2016, serves as the investment adviser for multiple closed-end funds, including the XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust [4] - XAI provides investment advisory services, fund structuring, and consulting services focused on registered closed-end funds [4] - XMS Capital Partners, established in 2006, is a global financial services firm providing M&A, corporate advisory, and asset management services [5] Group 4: Sub-Adviser Information - Octagon Credit Investors, serving as the Trust's investment sub-adviser, manages a $33.2 billion portfolio focused on below-investment grade corporate credit [6] - The firm specializes in leveraged loans, high yield bonds, and structured credit investments, employing fundamental credit analysis and active portfolio management [6] - Octagon's investment philosophy emphasizes dynamic internal communication to manage portfolio risk and aims to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns [6]

Ares Management Corporation (ARES) is a prominent global alternative investment manager headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The firm provides a broad range of investment solutions across credit, private equity, real estate, and infrastructure asset classes, serving institutional investors worldwide. Ares Management has a market cap of $42.7 billion. Shares of this company have underperformed the broader market over the past year. ARES has slumped almost 30% over this time frame, while the broader S ...

Liberty Mutual’s asset-management arm agreed to back Ara Partners’ infrastructure and energy strategies, in the latest partnership between an insurer and an alternative investment firm https://t.co/659DkSZv1z ...

Core Insights - Apollo-managed funds have completed a €900 million senior secured financing for a pan-European logistics and industrial portfolio owned by a joint venture between Cerberus Capital Management and Arrow Capital Partners [1][2] Group 1: Financing Details - The investment is divided into three separate senior loan facilities aimed at refinancing existing debt of the Strategic Industrial Real Estate (SIRE) platform, a joint venture between Cerberus and Arrow [2] - The portfolio consists of 92 institutional-quality assets totaling over one million square meters of urban and mid-box logistics and industrial space, located in key European distribution corridors including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Poland [2] Group 2: Market Commentary - Ben Eppley, Partner and Head of Real Estate Credit at Apollo, highlighted that the refinancing supports a diversified, high-quality portfolio benefiting from resilient demand and supply dynamics [3] - Julio Dominguez, Head of European Financings at Cerberus, noted that Apollo's investment reflects strong market recognition of the value built across the SIRE platform, supporting their strategy in Europe [3] Group 3: Company Backgrounds - Apollo is a global alternative asset manager with approximately $908 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2025, focusing on providing clients with excess returns across various investment strategies [5] - Cerberus, founded in 1992, manages approximately $70 billion in assets and invests across credit, real estate, and private equity strategies, aiming for strong risk-adjusted returns [6] - Arrow Capital Partners specializes in cross-border real estate investments and has over $5 billion in assets, with a focus on logistics and office assets [8]

Company Overview - XA Investments LLC ("XAI") is a Chicago-based alternative investment management and consulting firm founded in 2016 by XMS Capital Partners, focusing on investment advisory services for closed-end funds and interval funds [5] - XAI manages two listed closed-end funds and one interval closed-end fund, including the XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust (NYSE: XFLT), the XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund (NYSE: MCN), and the Octagon XAI CLO Income Fund (OCTIX) [5] Key Personnel - Tom McCabe has joined XAI as the Director of Regional Sales, bringing over 15 years of experience in financial services, particularly in the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) marketplace [2][3] - McCabe's previous role was as a Sales Executive at Vanguard, where he focused on RIA, DCIO, and Retirement Plans, managing relationships and product offerings [2] Strategic Focus - The addition of McCabe is aimed at accelerating XAI's distribution efforts in the interval fund and closed-end fund marketplace, particularly on the East Coast [1][3] - Kevin Davis, Managing Director at XAI, emphasized the importance of expanding the sales team with experienced professionals to meet the growing demand for interval funds [3] Future Outlook - McCabe expressed enthusiasm about joining XAI and is focused on enhancing the sales culture and expanding the reach of XAI's interval fund business [3] - The firm aims to leverage McCabe's expertise to boost sales efforts nationwide, particularly for the Octagon XAI CLO Income Fund (OCTIX) [3]

Investment Activities - CPPIB is investing up to US$162 million in SC Capital, which has been a global institutional investor since 2022 [1] - CPPIB will also invest up to US$1.05 billion in a US$10.1 billion transaction for an indirect non-controlling interest in Castrol, expected to close by the end of 2026 [3] - Kelso & Co. has acquired a 25% stake in Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. for nearly US$400 million, with over 99% shareholder support [4] - Portage has closed a deal with Point72 Ventures to manage select fintech assets, moving them into a US$280 million continuation vehicle [8] Market Insights - Japan is highlighted as a key hospitality market due to strong inbound tourism and domestic demand, with SC Capital managing approximately US$9 billion in assets, 75% of which are in Japan [2] - The Canadian accredited investor market is projected to double between 2024 and 2029, prompting Maples Group to launch a fund administrative service for alternative investment funds [7] Real Estate Developments - BGO has entered the North American student housing market by acquiring a two-tower residential complex in Edmonton, which includes 272 residential units and 493 student beds [6]

Core Insights - Brookfield and Blackstone are major players in the alternative investment sector, each managing over $1 trillion in assets [1] - Both firms have provided substantial returns to shareholders, with Blackstone achieving a 26.5% annualized total return over the past decade and Brookfield at 18.3%, both outperforming the S&P 500's 15.9% return [2] Company Overview - Blackstone operates a straightforward business model focused on alternative asset management, including private equity, credit & insurance, real estate, and hedge funds, generating steady management and performance fees [4] - Brookfield combines alternative asset management with a wealth management platform and a portfolio of operating companies, managing capital for investors while also investing directly in its funds and businesses [5] Growth Projections - Brookfield anticipates annual earnings growth exceeding 25% over the next five years, an increase from its previous five-year growth rate of 22% [6] - Despite its growth potential, Brookfield's current stock price of approximately $47 per share is significantly below its estimated intrinsic value of $68 per share [6] Investment Outlook - While Blackstone is expected to continue enriching its investors, Brookfield's undervalued stock and strong earnings growth outlook position it for greater potential returns in the future [7] - Both companies have been effective in creating wealth, with Blackstone returning most of its rising earnings to investors through dividends and share repurchases, while Brookfield allocates capital to enhance shareholder value [8]

Core Insights - The article discusses the increasing availability of alternative investment options for individuals looking to diversify their portfolios beyond traditional mortgages and real estate investments [1][4]. Group 1: Real Estate Investment Trends - Direct real estate ownership constitutes approximately 22.5% of the portfolios of ultra-high net worth individuals, according to a survey by Knight Frank involving over 600 wealth managers managing nearly $3 trillion in assets [2][4]. - The average net worth of the top 0.1% of households in the U.S. is around $23.325 million, highlighting the wealth concentration among the ultra-wealthy [4]. - The top 10% of households in the U.S. have a net worth of about $2.65 million as of November 2023, indicating a significant wealth gap [3]. Group 2: Alternative Investment Platforms - Platforms like Fundrise Venture Capital allow investors to access curated portfolios of innovative private companies starting at a minimum investment of $10, making pre-IPO tech investing more accessible [4]. - Arrived offers shares in SEC-qualified investments in rental homes and vacation rentals, allowing investors to participate in real estate without the burdens of traditional landlord responsibilities [6][7]. - Lightstone Group, a major real estate investment firm with over $12 billion in assets, provides access to institutional-quality multifamily and industrial real estate through its platform Lightstone DIRECT, requiring a minimum investment of $100,000 [9][10]. Group 3: Commercial Real Estate Opportunities - First National Realty Partners (FNRP) allows accredited investors to own shares in commercial properties leased to major brands like Kroger and Walmart, with a minimum investment of $50,000 [11]. - FNRP utilizes a triple net lease structure, ensuring that tenant costs do not impact potential returns, thus providing a more stable investment option [11]. Group 4: Art as an Investment - Art has outperformed the S&P 500 with a compound annual growth rate of 12.6% from 1995 to 2022, making it an attractive alternative asset class [14]. - Masterworks enables investors to buy fractional shares in high-value artworks, providing a unique diversification opportunity compared to traditional investments [15][16]. Group 5: Financial Advisory and Portfolio Management - Research from Vanguard indicates that working with a financial advisor can enhance net returns by approximately 3% over time, significantly impacting long-term portfolio growth [18]. - Advisor.com connects individuals with licensed financial professionals to help tailor investment strategies based on personal financial goals and market conditions [19][20].

Core Viewpoint - Apollo Global Management Inc. is a prominent player in the alternative investment management sector, specializing in private equity, credit, and real estate investments, with a strong competitive stance against firms like Blackstone and KKR [1] Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - UBS has reaffirmed a "Buy" rating for Apollo, adjusting the price target from $186 to $182, indicating a nuanced perspective on the company's market position and future prospects [1][4] - Apollo has received an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from sixteen research firms, which includes thirteen "buy" recommendations, two "hold" suggestions, and one "strong buy" endorsement [2] - The average twelve-month price target for Apollo is approximately $166, reflecting a generally positive outlook among analysts [2] Group 2: Stock Performance and Market Position - Apollo's current stock price is $143.91, showing a slight decrease of about 1.31% or $1.91, with fluctuations between $142 and $144.74 on the day [3] - The stock has a yearly high of $174.91 and a low of $102.58, indicating significant volatility over the past year [3] - Apollo has a market capitalization of approximately $83.53 billion and a trading volume of 2,086,564 shares on the NYSE, underscoring its substantial presence in the investment management sector [3][4]