Shares of Ares Management ( ARES ) have been a poor performer over the past year, losing about 30% of their value. Shares pushed towards a 52-week low this week, given a confluence of pressures. Private credit has, of course, been an increasing concern for investors following severalOver fifteen years of experience making contrarian bets based on my macro view and stock-specific turnaround stories to garner outsized returns with a favorable risk/reward profile. If you want me to cover a specific stock or ha ...

Group 1 - The article emphasizes the advantages of a dividend-focused value investment strategy, highlighting capital preservation and steady income growth as key benefits [1] - The author discusses a diversified dividend stock portfolio that prioritizes high-quality value stocks, which are expected to provide meaningful growth and long-term safety [1] Group 2 - The author has disclosed a beneficial long position in shares of APAM, BLK, and TROW, indicating a personal investment interest in these companies [2] - The article is presented as a personal opinion and does not constitute investment or tax advice, reflecting the author's status as a private investor [3]

I've been researching companies in-depth for over a decade, from commodities like oil, natural gas, gold and copper to tech like Google or Nokia and many emerging market stocks, which I believe could help me provide useful content for readers. After writing my own blog for about 3 years, I decided to switch to a value investing-focused YouTube channel, where I researched hundreds of different companies so far. I would say my favorite type of company to cover are metals and mining stocks, but I am comfortabl ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported fee-related earnings per share of $1.08, total operating earnings per share of $1.42, and adjusted net income per share of $1.12, with the adjusted net income excluding carried interest repayment obligation being $1.30 for Q4 [4] - Management fees for the quarter were $1.1 billion, up 24% year-over-year, driven by fundraising initiatives and deployment across the firm [4] - Total transaction and monitoring fees were $269 million in the quarter, while fee-related earnings were $972 million, reflecting a 15% year-over-year increase [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Insurance segment reported operating earnings of $268 million in Q4, with potential earnings being approximately $320 million if investment marks were included [6][7] - Strategic Holdings operating earnings were $44 million in Q4, more than doubling compared to 2024 [8] - Realized performance income within the asset management segment was $528 million, with total monetization activity exceeding $550 million [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company raised $28 billion of new capital in Q4, bringing the full-year total to $129 billion, marking the highest fundraising year in its history [11] - The North America Private Equity Fund has over $19 billion of committed capital, while the Global Infrastructure Fund is nearing $16 billion in commitments [12][13] - The K-Series suite of products raised $4.5 billion in Q4 and over $16 billion for the full year, nearly doubling the amount raised in 2024 [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage its three growth engines: asset management, Insurance, and Strategic Holdings, to position itself well for long-term growth [18] - The acquisition of Arctos, valued at $1.4 billion, is expected to enhance the company's position in the sports investment sector and create a new investing vertical called KKR Solutions [24][27] - The company is focused on building a $100 billion AUM solutions franchise through strategic acquisitions and partnerships [32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in exceeding fundraising and fee-related earnings targets for 2026, with a focus on maintaining a strong pipeline of monetization opportunities [29] - The company is well-positioned with $118 billion of dry powder, allowing it to capitalize on investment opportunities despite market volatility [21][46] - Management noted that the current economic environment presents both challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the importance of disciplined portfolio construction [33][36] Other Important Information - The company plans to increase its annual dividend from $0.74 to $0.78 per share, marking the seventh consecutive year of dividend increases since its C-Corp conversion [16] - Total embedded gains reached a record $19 billion, up 19% year-over-year, indicating strong performance across asset classes [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: How has the company reunderwritten its private portfolios in light of tariffs and AI? - Management indicated that they have minimal exposure to tariffs and have been proactive in addressing AI-related risks through careful portfolio construction and asset sales [41][44] Question: Is the strong 2025 result a level to build off of, given the linear deployment model? - Management confirmed that they expect to deploy more this year, citing broad-based deployment across strategies and geographies [51][58] Question: What are the expectations for management fee growth in 2026? - Management expressed confidence in exceeding the $450 million FRE target for 2026, supported by record capital raising and strong momentum in management fees [61][65] Question: What is the potential for realized investment income moving forward? - Management anticipates an increase in realized investment income, although it may decrease relative to recurring earnings as capital is reinvested for growth [69] Question: What are the recent trends at Global Atlantic? - Management expects to maintain a quarterly target of $250 million for Global Atlantic, with potential for growth in accrued income over the next few years [72][76]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported fee-related earnings per share of $1.08, total operating earnings per share of $1.42, and adjusted net income per share of $1.12, with the adjusted net income excluding carried interest repayment obligation being $1.30 for Q4 [4] - Management fees for the quarter were $1.1 billion, up 24% year-over-year, driven by fundraising initiatives and deployment across the firm [4] - Total transaction and monitoring fees were $269 million in the quarter, while capital markets fees reached $225 million [5] - Fee-related earnings were $972 million, reflecting a 15% year-over-year increase, with an ROI margin of 68% for the quarter [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Insurance segment operating earnings in Q4 were $268 million, with potential earnings being approximately $320 million if marks on investments were included [6][7] - Strategic Holdings operating earnings were $44 million in Q4, more than doubling compared to 2024 [8] - Realized performance income within the asset management segment was $528 million, excluding carried interest repayment obligation [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company raised $28 billion of new capital in Q4, bringing the full-year total to $129 billion, the highest in its history [11] - The North America Private Equity Fund has over $19 billion of committed capital, while the Global Infrastructure Fund is nearing $16 billion in commitments [12][13] - The K Series suite of products raised $4.5 billion in Q4 and over $16 billion for the full year, nearly double the amount raised in 2024 [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage its three growth engines: asset management, insurance, and strategic holdings, to position itself well for the long term [18] - The acquisition of Arctos, valued at $1.4 billion, is expected to enhance the company's position in sports investments and GP solutions, with a goal of building a $100 billion AUM solutions franchise [24][27] - The company is focused on maintaining a collaborative culture to maximize business impact and attract top talent [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in exceeding fundraising and fee-related earnings targets for 2026, with a focus on long-term performance rather than short-term market conditions [29] - The company is well-positioned with $118 billion of dry powder for future investments, indicating a strong pipeline of opportunities despite market volatility [21][46] - Management noted that the current economic environment presents opportunities for strong returns, emphasizing the importance of disciplined portfolio construction [33][46] Other Important Information - The company plans to increase its annual dividend from $0.74 to $0.78 per share, marking the seventh consecutive year of dividend increases since its C-Corp conversion [16] - Total embedded gains reached a record $19 billion, up 19% year-over-year, indicating strong performance across asset classes [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: How has the company reunderwritten its private portfolios in light of tariffs and AI? - Management indicated that they have minimal exposure to tariffs and have been proactive in addressing AI-related risks, focusing on portfolio construction and linear pacing to mitigate potential disruptions [41][42][44] Question: Is the strong 2025 result a level to build off of, given the linear deployment model? - Management confirmed that 2025 was a record deployment year and expects to deploy more in the coming year, highlighting broad-based activity across strategies and geographies [51][58] Question: What are the expectations for management fee growth in 2026? - Management expressed confidence in exceeding the $450 million FRE target for 2026, citing strong capital raising momentum and operational efficiency [61][65] Question: What is the potential for realized investment income moving forward? - Management anticipates an increase in realized investment income over the next few years, although it will be relatively decreasing compared to recurring earnings as capital is reinvested for growth [69] Question: What are the recent trends at Global Atlantic? - Management expects to maintain a quarterly target of $250 million for Global Atlantic, with potential for growth in accrued income over the next few years [72][75]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported fee-related earnings per share of $1.08, total operating earnings per share of $1.42, and adjusted net income per share of $1.12, with adjusted net income per share excluding carried interest repayment obligation being $1.30 for Q4 [3] - Management fees for the quarter were $1.1 billion, up 24% year-over-year, driven by fundraising initiatives and deployment across the firm [3] - Total transaction and monitoring fees were $269 million in the quarter, while fee-related earnings were $972 million, reflecting a 15% year-over-year increase [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Insurance segment operating earnings in Q4 were $268 million, with total insurance economics for 2025 reaching $1.9 billion, up 15% for the year [4][6] - Strategic Holdings operating earnings were $44 million in Q4, more than doubling compared to 2024 [6] - Realized performance income within the asset management segment was $528 million, with total monetization activity exceeding $550 million [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company raised $28 billion of new capital in Q4, bringing the full-year capital raise to $129 billion, the highest in its history [9] - The North America Private Equity Fund now has over $19 billion of committed capital, while the Global Infrastructure Fund has nearly $16 billion of commitments [10][11] - The K Series suite of products raised $4.5 billion in Q4 and over $16 billion in full year 2025, nearly double the amount raised in 2024 [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three growth engines: asset management, insurance, and strategic holdings, positioning itself well for long-term growth [15] - The acquisition of Arctos, valued at $1.4 billion, aims to create a new investing vertical called KKR Solutions, expected to reach $100+ billion of AUM [20][24] - The company emphasizes a collaborative culture to maximize business impact and attract top talent [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in exceeding fundraising and fee-related earnings targets for 2026, with a focus on maintaining a strong monetization pipeline [26] - The company noted that despite market volatility, it remains well-positioned due to its disciplined portfolio construction and deployment strategy [30] - Management highlighted the importance of long-term performance over chasing favorable conditions, indicating a strong outlook for the next several years [33] Other Important Information - The company plans to increase its annual dividend from $0.74 to $0.78 per share, marking the seventh consecutive year of dividend increases since its C-Corp conversion [13] - The company has $118 billion of dry powder available for future investments, indicating strong capital availability [18] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: How has the company reunderwritten its private portfolios for tariffs and AI? - Management indicated that they have minimal exposure to tariffs and have been proactive in addressing AI-related risks through careful portfolio construction and selling assets that posed threats [34][36][38] Question: Is the strong 2025 result a level to build off of, given the linear deployment model? - Management confirmed that 2025 was a record deployment year and expects to deploy more in the current year, highlighting broad-based deployment across strategies and geographies [42][48] Question: What are the expectations for management fee growth in 2026? - Management expressed confidence in exceeding the $450 million FRE target for 2026, supported by record capital raising and a strong trajectory for management fees [49][51]

February 5, 2026 Blue Owl Capital Inc. Fourth Quarter 2025 Earnings Together with approximately 1,365 experienced professionals globally, Blue Owl brings the vision and discipline to create the exceptional. To learn more, visit www.blueowl.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this presentation are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this presentation, the word ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Assets under management (AUM) reached a record $867 billion at year-end 2025, reflecting market appreciation and strong sales [5] - Adjusted earnings for Q4 2025 were $0.96 per unit, down 9% year-over-year, while full-year adjusted earnings increased 2% to $3.33 [23][24] - Total net revenues for Q4 were $957 million, down 2% year-over-year, with full-year revenues flat at $3.5 billion [24] - Adjusted operating margin for the year was 33.7%, at the upper end of the 30%-35% target range [8][37] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Bernstein Private Wealth had $156 billion in AUM, contributing approximately 37% of firm-wide revenues in 2025 [5] - Private Markets platform closed the year with $82 billion in AUM, up 18% year-over-year [6] - SMA franchise reached $62 billion in AUM, growing 12% organically in 2025 [6] - Active ETF suite expanded to $14 billion across 24 strategies, delivering 65% organic growth in 2025 [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Firm-wide active net flows were negative for both the quarter and the full year, with total net active outflows of $9.4 billion in 2025 [6] - Taxable fixed income saw $2 billion in outflows in Q4 and $9.1 billion for the year, driven by geopolitical uncertainty [7] - Tax-exempt franchise generated $3.9 billion in inflows in Q4 and $11.6 billion for the year, marking 13 consecutive years of organic growth [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its Private Markets capabilities and enhancing commercial real estate lending [9][22] - A partnership with Equitable is seen as a strategic advantage, expected to onboard over $10 billion of new long-duration assets by year-end 2026 [9][31] - The firm aims to exceed its target of $90 billion-$100 billion in Private Markets AUM by 2027, with ongoing investments in growth initiatives [39] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the firm's strategic progress and disciplined execution throughout 2025 [4] - The outlook for 2026 includes expectations for continued growth in private asset mandates and a focus on enhancing investment services [39] - The firm anticipates that stable economic growth could favor international and value strategies moving forward [16] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for 2025 was 5.9%, with a forecast of 6%-7% for 2026 [32] - The firm is investing in a new investment management platform expected to enhance operational efficiency and drive future growth [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook for high-yield funds in Asia - Management noted that macro factors like FX risk have not significantly impacted structural demand for fixed income in Asia, with strong demand for U.S. dollar-denominated strategies [41][42] Question: Seasonality in Private Wealth - Management indicated that tax impacts in Q2 are a key seasonal factor, with overall confidence in the pipeline for new client acquisition [47][48] Question: Private credit exposure to software - Management stated that exposure to software within the private credit portfolio is not significant, with diligent monitoring of credit risks [51][53] Question: Growth of Private Markets AUM beyond 2027 - Management expressed ambition to exceed the current target for Private Markets AUM and indicated that further opportunities for expansion exist [55]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Assets under management (AUM) reached a record $867 billion at year-end 2025, reflecting market appreciation and strong sales [5] - Adjusted earnings for Q4 2025 were $0.96 per unit, down 9% year-over-year, while full-year adjusted earnings increased 2% to $3.33 [23][24] - Total net revenues for Q4 were $957 million, down 2% year-over-year, with full-year revenues flat at $3.5 billion [24] - Adjusted operating margin for the year expanded to 33.7%, at the upper end of the 30%-35% target range [8][37] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Bernstein Private Wealth business had $156 billion in AUM, contributing approximately 37% of firm-wide revenues in 2025 [5] - Private markets platform closed the year with $82 billion in AUM, up 18% year-over-year [6] - SMA franchise reached $62 billion in AUM, growing 12% organically in 2025 [6] - Active ETF suite expanded to $14 billion across 24 strategies, delivering 65% organic growth in 2025 [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Firm-wide active net flows were negative for both the quarter and the full year, with total net active outflows of $9.4 billion in 2025 [6] - Taxable fixed income saw $2 billion in outflows in Q4 and $9.1 billion for the year, driven by geopolitical uncertainty [7] - Tax-exempt franchise generated $3.9 billion in inflows in Q4 and $11.6 billion for the year, marking 13 consecutive years of organic growth [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its private markets capabilities and enhancing commercial real estate lending [9][22] - A partnership with Equitable is expected to onboard more than $10 billion of new long-duration assets by year-end 2026 [9] - The strategic direction includes disciplined investments in targeted growth initiatives, product innovation, and expanded marketing efforts [39] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the firm's ability to navigate macroeconomic challenges and maintain strong demand for its products [41][44] - The outlook for private markets AUM is ambitious, with expectations to exceed the $90 billion-$100 billion target by 2027 [55] - Management noted that the firm is well-positioned to capture fixed income's enduring value amid ongoing market trends [18] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for 2025 was 5.9%, with a forecast of 6%-7% for 2026 [32] - The firm experienced a decline in performance fees, with full-year performance fees totaling $172 million, down 24% year-over-year [25][35] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook for high-yield funds in Asia - Management discussed macro factors influencing demand, including FX risk and interest rates, noting strong structural demand for U.S. dollar-denominated strategies [41][42][44] Question: Seasonality in private wealth - Management indicated that tax impacts in Q2 are significant, with overall positive sentiment about the pipeline for new client acquisition [47][48] Question: Private credit exposure to software - Management stated that exposure to software within the private credit portfolio is not significant, with diligent monitoring of credit risks [51][53] Question: Growth of private markets AUM beyond 2027 - Management expressed ambition to exceed the current target and indicated that onboarding from the commercial mortgage lending team will contribute to growth [55]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Assets under management (AUM) reached a record $867 billion at year-end 2025, reflecting market appreciation and strong sales [5] - Adjusted earnings for Q4 2025 were $0.96 per unit, down 9% year-over-year, while full-year adjusted earnings increased 2% to $3.33 [22] - Total net revenues for Q4 were $957 million, down 2% year-over-year, with full-year revenues flat at $3.5 billion [23] - Adjusted operating margin expanded to 33.7% for the year, at the upper end of the 30%-35% target range [9][36] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Bernstein Private Wealth business had $156 billion in AUM, contributing approximately 37% of firm-wide revenues in 2025 [5] - Private markets platform closed the year with $82 billion in AUM, up 18% year-over-year [6] - SMA franchise reached $62 billion in AUM, growing 12% organically in 2025 [6] - Active ETF suite expanded to $14 billion across 24 strategies, delivering 65% organic growth in 2025 [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Firm-wide active net flows were negative for both the quarter and the full year, with total net active outflows of $9.4 billion in 2025 [6] - Tax-exempt franchise generated $3.9 billion in inflows in Q4 and $11.6 billion for the year, marking 13 consecutive years of organic growth [8] - Alternatives and multi-asset strategies posted $1.9 billion active net inflows in Q4 and $10.6 billion for the full year [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its private markets capabilities and enhancing commercial real estate lending [10][21] - Strategic partnership with Equitable is seen as a competitive advantage, expected to onboard over $10 billion of new long-duration assets by year-end 2026 [10][21] - Investments in technology and operational build-out are aimed at enhancing earnings power over time [29][38] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the firm's ability to navigate macroeconomic challenges and highlighted strong momentum entering 2026 [22][36] - The company anticipates adding approximately $3 billion of new private asset mandates from strategic insurance partnerships in the first half of 2026 [11] - Management noted that the bond reallocation trend has significant runway, positioning the firm to capture fixed income's enduring value [17] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for 2025 was 5.9%, with a forecast of 6%-7% for 2026 [31] - The firm expects non-compensation expenses to be in the range of $625 million-$650 million for 2026, reflecting investments in growth initiatives [26][30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook for high-yield funds distributed in Asia - Management noted macro factors such as FX risk and interest rates but emphasized strong structural demand for U.S. dollar-denominated strategies in Asia [40][41] Question: Seasonality in private wealth and expected flow demand - Management indicated that tax impacts in Q2 are a key seasonal factor, with strong growth driven by M&A activity and onboarding new ultra network clients [45][46] Question: Private credit exposure to software across the portfolio - Management stated that exposure to software is not significant, with around 25% of the corporate direct lending business related to technology [49][50] Question: Growth of private markets AUM beyond the target - Management expressed ambition to exceed the $90 billion-$100 billion target for private markets AUM by 2027, with ongoing opportunities for expansion [53]