PHOENIX & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Blackstone Charitable Foundation has awarded a $3 million grant to launch Blackstone Skilled Futures in partnership with Arizona State University, Maricopa Community Colleges and local nonprofits. The program aims to increase access to high-quality training and workforce development, focusing on construction and advanced manufacturing in the Phoenix area. Blackstone Skilled Futures will support students in need, along with capacity building for training. ...

Core Insights - Jefferies Financial Group Inc. is a diversified financial services company engaged in investment banking, capital markets, and asset management, competing with major firms like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley [1] - An analyst from Capital One Financial has set a price target of $55 for Jefferies, indicating a potential increase of 12.7% from its current price of $48.80 [1][5] - Jefferies clarified its involvement in the collapse of auto parts manufacturer First Brands, stating that the fund linked to this event is separate from its investment banking operations, aiming to reassure investors [2][5] Stock Performance - The current stock price of Jefferies is $48.80, reflecting a decrease of $5.80 or approximately -10.62% [3] - The stock has fluctuated between a low of $48.51 and a high of $54.53 during the trading day [3] - Over the past year, Jefferies' stock has seen a high of $82.68 and a low of $39.28 [3] Market Position - Jefferies has a market capitalization of approximately $10.07 billion and a trading volume of 7,213,701 shares on the NYSE [4][5] - Despite recent challenges, the analyst's price target reflects a positive outlook on Jefferies' potential for growth [4][5]

To ensure this doesn’t happen in the future, please enable Javascript and cookies in your browser.If you have an ad-blocker enabled you may be blocked from proceeding. Please disable your ad-blocker and refresh. ...

Quant investors speaking at a London conference this week said AI is more about the end user than the technology. The executives came from hedge funds and asset management arms from banks like Morgan Stanley and UBS. One quant hedge fund manager said AI has helped marketers sell computer-run funds. What's the latest edge in quant finance, which relies on math whizzes to drive computer-driven funds? Humans. In an ironic twist, the people behind quant funds are using some of the same language human- ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Earnings per share for Q3 2025 increased to $0.81, up 11.6% from $0.73 in Q2 2025 [4] - Revenue for Q3 2025 rose 4.2% to $141 million compared to the prior quarter, driven by higher average AUM and an additional day in the period [4][5] - Operating margin improved to 36.1% from 33.6% in Q2 2025 [5] - Ending AUM reached $90.9 billion, positively impacted by market appreciation and net inflows [5] - Liquidity at the end of Q3 was $364 million, up from $323 million in the prior quarter [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Open-end funds experienced positive net flows for five consecutive quarters, although institutional net outflows partially offset this [5] - Net inflows into open-end funds were $768 million, while institutional advisory and subadvisory had net outflows of $455 million and $82 million, respectively [19][20] - The unfunded pipeline grew to $1.75 billion, the largest since Q4 2021, with 66% in US REIT strategies [21][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The third quarter was positive for risk assets, with technology sector performance exceeding the S&P 500 by over 500 basis points [11] - Natural resource equities increased nearly 21% year-to-date, while diversified real assets strategy rose over 13% [13] - 87% of open-end fund AUM rated four or five stars by Morningstar, slightly down from 90% in the prior quarter [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expense management while pursuing growth opportunities, expecting G&A to increase by around 9% in 2025 [8] - The strategic allocation to real assets, including infrastructure and natural resources, is emphasized due to their inflation sensitivity [16][17] - The company plans to launch two more ETFs in Q4 2025, expanding its active ETF strategy [24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management anticipates resilient economic growth and corporate profits, with expectations for earnings growth in sectors like real estate and energy to accelerate in 2026 [12] - The current environment of slightly elevated inflation and lower rates is seen as favorable for real assets [14] - The company remains optimistic about the potential of AI to enhance productivity and drive GDP growth [14] Other Important Information - The company raised $353 million in an equity rights offering for its closed-end fund, providing over $500 million for global infrastructure opportunities [23] - The non-traded REIT continues to perform well, focusing on open-air shopping centers [25] - The company is advocating for the inclusion of real assets in 401(k) plans, highlighting the benefits of listed strategies [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Demand for US REITs in wealth management channel - Management noted that historically, REIT returns are stimulated by interest rate cuts, but the current cycle has created a different dynamic due to prior real estate pricing advancements [33] - They believe the current point in the cycle is favorable for REIT performance as rates are expected to continue decreasing [34] Question: Profile of clients providing funds - The pipeline is predominantly North American, including retirement plans and annuity providers, with some recent European allocations [37] Question: Expected allocation of cash sitting on the sidelines - Management expects cash to flow into inflation-sensitive real asset strategies, particularly real estate and infrastructure [40] Question: Compensation ratio outlook for 2026 - The company is focused on revenue growth and managing compensation ratios, with expectations for new initiatives to generate revenue and improve ratios [43][45]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Earnings per share for Q3 increased to $0.81, up 11.6% from $0.73 in Q2 [6][7] - Revenue for Q3 rose 4.2% to $141 million, driven by higher average AUM and an additional day in the period [7] - Operating margin improved to 36.1% from 33.6% in Q2 [7] - Ending AUM increased to $90.9 billion as of Q3 [7][10] - Liquidity at the end of Q3 was $364 million, up from $323 million in the prior quarter [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Open-end funds experienced positive net inflows for five consecutive quarters, although institutional net outflows partially offset this [8] - Total expenses remained flat compared to the prior quarter, with G&A expenses decreasing significantly [9] - Compensation ratio for the quarter decreased, leading to a year-to-date compensation ratio of 40.25% [9][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net inflows for the year reached $325 million, with $233 million in Q3 alone [26] - The institutional pipeline grew to $1.75 billion, the largest since 2021, with $972 million in new mandates awarded during the quarter [27][28] - The largest percentage of the pipeline (66%) is in U.S. REIT strategies [28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expense management while pursuing growth opportunities in active ETFs and private real estate [11][30] - There is a strategic emphasis on diversifying into real assets, including infrastructure and natural resources, to enhance portfolio resilience [21][23] - The company plans to launch two more ETFs in Q4, expanding its active ETF strategy [30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about economic growth and corporate profits remaining resilient, with expectations for earnings growth in sectors that have been sluggish [16] - The current economic environment, characterized by slightly elevated inflation and lower rates, is seen as favorable for real assets [19][21] - The company anticipates continued allocations to its asset classes due to strong investment performance [23] Other Important Information - The company raised $353 million in an equity rights offering for its closed-end fund, providing over $500 million for global infrastructure opportunities [29] - The company is targeting the RIA channel for additional strategic seed capital and traditional allocations [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Demand for U.S. REITs in wealth management - Management noted that historically, returns have been stimulated by interest rate cuts, but the current cycle has created a different dynamic due to prior real estate pricing adjustments [39][40] - They expect continued strong performance for REITs as rates decline, with good results in wealth management and institutional markets [41] Question: Cash allocation as rates decline - Management expects cash sitting on the sidelines to flow into real asset strategies, particularly real estate and infrastructure [50] - Preferred stocks are also anticipated to attract investment as cash yields become less favorable [51] Question: Compensation ratio outlook - The company expects the compensation ratio to remain stable, with revenue growth helping to manage costs [53] - New initiatives are beginning to generate revenue, which should positively impact the compensation ratio moving forward [55]

Core Insights - BlackRock, in collaboration with Nvidia and Microsoft, has acquired Aligned Data Centers for $40 billion, marking the largest data center deal to date, driven by the ongoing AI revolution [1][2]. Group 1: Company Developments - BlackRock reported earnings that led to a spike in its stock price, indicating improved financial performance [1]. - The acquisition of Aligned Data Centers positions BlackRock strategically within the growing data center market, which is essential for supporting AI infrastructure [1][2]. Group 2: Industry Trends - The deal reflects the increasing demand for data centers fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence, highlighting a robust investment trend in this sector [1][2]. - The acquisition is part of a broader trend where major investment firms are consolidating resources to capitalize on the AI boom [1].

Assets Under Management (AUM) - Ending AUM increased to $90.9 billion as of September 30, 2025, compared to $88.9 billion at the end of Q2 2025[2] - Average AUM for Q3 2025 was $89.7 billion, up from $87.2 billion in Q2 2025[2] - Market appreciation contributed $2.4 billion to AUM in Q3 2025, slightly higher than the $2.3 billion in Q2 2025[2] Net Flows - The company experienced net inflows of $233 million in Q3 2025, a turnaround from net outflows of $131 million in Q2 2025[2] - Open-end funds saw net inflows, while advisory and subadvisory segments experienced net outflows[2] Financial Performance (As Adjusted) - Net income reached $41.7 million in Q3 2025, an increase from $37.3 million in Q2 2025[2] - Diluted EPS rose to $0.81 in Q3 2025, compared to $0.73 in Q2 2025[2] - Operating margin improved to 36.1% in Q3 2025, up from 33.6% in Q2 2025[2] Revenue (As Adjusted) - Total revenue was $140.9 million in Q3 2025, compared to $135.3 million in Q2 2025[4] - Open-end fund fees generated $73.5 million in revenue in Q3 2025[8] - Institutional fees contributed $33.3 million to revenue in Q3 2025[8] Expenses (As Adjusted) - Total expenses amounted to $90.1 million in Q3 2025, compared to $89.9 million in Q2 2025[4] - Employee compensation and benefits accounted for $56.1 million of expenses in Q3 2025[11]

Financial Serenity is a financial analysis and quantitative research column with a particular focus on the asset management sector. It is actively managed by Tommaso Scarpellini, a seasoned financial researcher and data analyst with proven experience in banking and financial analytics platforms. This initiative aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the dynamics driving the asset management market. On Seeking Alpha, we combine insights from rigorous data analysis with actionable opinions and ratings on ETF ...

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eaton Vance Short Duration Diversified Income Fund (NYSE: EVG) and Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund (NYSE American: EVV) (each a "Fund†and, together, the "Funds†) announced that, effective October 17, 2025, each Fund will revise its principal investment strategies to: (i) remove the Fund's 25% minimum investment requirement in each of the Fund's stated investment categories; (ii) remove the Fund's current weighted average credit quality restriction; and, for EV. ...