Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, the company achieved a revenue increase of 8% compared to 2024, with operating income and adjusted operating income rising by 9% and 12% respectively [4] - Assets under management (AUM) reached an all-time high of $180 billion, up nearly 12% from the previous year [6][11] - The December 2025 quarter saw revenues of $336 million, marking an 11% increase from the previous quarter and a 13% increase year-over-year [11] - Adjusted operating income increased by 23% compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, with an adjusted operating margin of 40.2% [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The credit platform's AUM grew by 29% year-over-year to $17.9 billion, with net inflows totaling $2.8 billion [7] - The alternatives platform's AUM increased by 20% to $4 billion, driven by strong organic growth [7] - The equity platform experienced outflows of $15.6 billion, primarily due to performance issues in global opportunities and U.S. mid-cap growth strategies [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately 70% of AUM is from non-U.S. markets, with a noted reemergence of emerging markets allocations expected [40] - The company raised over $1 billion in net flows from emerging markets strategies within a short campaign period [40] - The global equity strategy produced a 47% return, contributing to strong performance in international markets [41] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The acquisition of Grandview Property Partners marks a strategic expansion into alternative investments and private real estate [9] - The company aims to leverage its institutional relationships to enhance Grandview's business and expand its investment capabilities [9] - The focus remains on maintaining and growing AUM in public equities through differentiated investment performance and effective client service [7] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in maintaining and growing equity businesses despite recent outflows, emphasizing the need for compelling investment performance [8] - The company anticipates continued growth in credit and alternatives, with Grandview expected to play a significant role in this expansion [45] - Management highlighted a disciplined allocation of resources and capital as key to compounding wealth for clients and shareholders over the long term [19] Other Important Information - The board declared a quarterly dividend of $1.01 per share and a year-end special dividend of $0.57, reflecting a 98% payout ratio relative to adjusted earnings [17] - The company ended the year with approximately $214 million in cash and a conservative leverage ratio of 0.4 times [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on AUM levels and Grandview fund timeline - Management explained that AUM was impacted by realizations on properties in Grandview Fund I, which is in the harvesting phase [23] - Fund III had about $150 million in committed assets, with expectations for Fund IV to be significantly larger, aiming for a first close in early to mid-summer [24] Question: Insights on M&A opportunities - Management noted a focus on talent-driven outcomes rather than exclusively on M&A, with interest in private credit and private equity secondaries [27] - The company is engaged in discussions with potential partners and is optimistic about off-market transactions [29] Question: Demand for international value strategy amidst outflows - Management indicated that outflows are primarily due to institutional reallocations rather than underlying issues with the strategy [35] - They expect some continued rebalancing in the first quarter due to strong global market performance [36] Question: Interest in non-U.S. strategies - Management highlighted opportunities in emerging markets and global strategies, with significant net flows observed in recent campaigns [40] - They noted ongoing interest in credit solutions and alternatives, particularly through the Grandview acquisition [45]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, the company raised $112 billion of capital, reflecting strong demand from various investor types [7] - Fee-bearing capital increased by 12% year-over-year to over $600 billion, with fee-related earnings reaching a record $3 billion, up 22% year-over-year [8] - Distributable earnings were $2.7 billion, an increase of 14% from the prior year [8][26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In renewable power, significant investments included acquiring Neoen and National Grid's US renewables platform [15] - The private equity sector saw investments in Chemelex, a global industrial technology business [15] - Infrastructure investments included Hotwire Communications and Colonial Pipeline, enhancing the company's footprint in essential services [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company entered 2026 with a favorable market backdrop, characterized by stabilized interest rates and resilient economic growth [9] - There is renewed global demand for real assets that generate stable cash flows, particularly in the context of inflation protection [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to double its business by 2030 and achieve a 15% annualized earnings growth [10] - A significant focus is on expanding access to private assets for individual investors through retirement and long-duration savings vehicles [10] - The company is well-positioned to capture growth opportunities in infrastructure, private equity, and credit sectors [25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about 2026, expecting strong fundraising momentum and growth across various platforms [25] - The company anticipates a record year for fundraising, particularly in private equity and infrastructure [19][25] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong balance sheet and liquidity to support growth initiatives [33] Other Important Information - The board of directors approved a 15% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.50025 per share, payable on March 31, 2026 [34] - The company plans to enhance disclosure around partner managers to provide clearer insights into its evolving platform [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is secondaries a strategically important area for the company? - Management acknowledged that secondaries are a growing segment and will be opportunistic in exploring this area, focusing on highly additive opportunities [37][38] Question: Can you elaborate on the growth outlook for 2026? - Management expects growth rates in the mid- to high teens, driven by strong fundraising and deployment activity, with several initiatives expected to add $200 million to fee-related earnings [40][42] Question: How does the company view AI-related disruption? - Management sees AI as a net positive, with minimal exposure to software businesses, focusing instead on long-term contracted real assets [48][49] Question: What is the company's liquidity position? - The company has over $3 billion in liquidity, which supports growth initiatives and capital deployment [52][56] Question: How is the company positioned in the credit market? - Management noted robust demand for credit, particularly in real asset and asset-backed lending, with modest redemptions in private wealth strategies [76][77] Question: What is the outlook for the wealth channel? - The company expects continued growth in the wealth channel, driven by new product launches and strong early reception [80][81]

Core Insights - KKR & Co. is preparing for its quarterly earnings release on February 5, 2026, with projected earnings per share (EPS) of $1.21 and revenue of approximately $1.78 billion [1][6] Revenue and Growth - KKR is expected to see a revenue increase driven by a 20.4% rise in management fees and a 16.1% growth in assets under management (AUM) for the fourth quarter of 2025 [2][6] - Despite an anticipated decline in earnings compared to the previous year, KKR has consistently outperformed earnings expectations, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters [2] Financial Performance - The divestiture of Janney units has allowed KKR to monetize assets and focus on its core alternative investments, with significant growth in AUM and transaction fees in its capital markets business [3] - KKR's earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the preceding quarter, although rising expenses have presented challenges [3] Valuation Metrics - KKR's financial metrics indicate a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 39.14, a price-to-sales ratio of about 5.50, and an enterprise value to sales ratio of around 7.40 [4][6] - The enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio is approximately 23.51, with an earnings yield of about 2.55% [5] - KKR's debt-to-equity ratio stands at approximately 1.83, and its current ratio is around 4.20, indicating a strong ability to cover short-term liabilities [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company raised $5.5 billion in 2024, exceeding its fundraising target of $5 billion, with $300 million from its advisory business and $5.2 billion contributing to its asset base [8][20] - Full year 2024 fee related earnings (FRE) reached $170 million, up 15% from 2023, with FRE per share at $1.12, up 13% [10] - Fourth quarter FRE was $55 million, up 35% from the prior quarter and 18% year-over-year, with FRE per share at $0.36, also up 35% from the third quarter [10] - The company generated $189 million of distributable earnings for the full year, and $89 million in the fourth quarter, with per share values of $1.24 and $0.58 respectively [12][44] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Performance related earnings (PRE) for the year exceeded $41 million, primarily driven by the sale of the Aguas Pacifico project [11] - The net accrued performance fee balance was $319 million, down 30% due to significant realizations in Infrastructure III and lower marks on publicly traded holdings [13] - The earning assets under management (AUM) rose 38% year-over-year to $33 billion, although it declined 3% sequentially due to dollar appreciation [15][33] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net organic inflows in fee earning AUM in the fourth quarter were $380 million, with positive inflows across all investment verticals except public equities [16] - Approximately 70% of fundraising in 2024 came from local investors investing in local products, a significant increase from virtually nil in 2020 [22] - The company has seen increased demand for credit strategies in Brazil due to high interest rates, while equity-oriented strategies have softened [22][79] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to achieve a fundraising target of $6 billion in 2025, actively fundraising across various funds and strategies [21] - The strategy focuses on diversifying its business and enhancing growth profiles, with a significant portion of fundraising coming from local investors [20][22] - The company is developing local investment strategies tailored to specific countries in Latin America, including private equity and infrastructure funds [100] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in meeting the 2025 FRE target of $200 million to $225 million, with an FRE margin between 58% to 60% [42] - The company is well-positioned to thrive amid macroeconomic uncertainties, with Latin America remaining an attractive destination for long-term capital commitments [24][23] - Management highlighted the positive momentum from pension fund reforms in Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, which are expected to increase contributions to pension funds significantly [94][95] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for 2024 was 6.5%, with expectations to trend towards 10% by 2027 [44] - The company finished the year with approximately $190 million of net debt, with plans to reduce this throughout 2025 [46][82] - A fourth quarter dividend of $0.15 per share was announced, with intentions to repurchase shares in 2025 [47] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on PRE and future distributions - Management confirmed that the sale of Aguas Pacifico was completed, generating approximately $60 million in performance fees, all accounted for in the fourth quarter [56][58] Question: Redemption trends in public equities and credit strategies - Management noted that redemptions in credit strategies were minimal and expected to remain small in 2025, with positive net new money flows anticipated [66][68] Question: Breakdown of the $6 billion fundraising target for 2025 - Management indicated that while they have a well-organized plan, they prefer to maintain flexibility regarding the specific breakdown of the fundraising target [76][78] Question: Impact of Chile's pension reform on inflows - Management highlighted that pension fund reforms across Latin America are expected to significantly increase contributions, benefiting private equity and infrastructure funds [94][95] Question: Expectations on real estate inflows in Brazil - Management acknowledged that high interest rates may negatively impact brick-and-mortar strategies, while security strategies are expected to perform well [110][111]