Cohen & Steers(US:CNS)2025-07-18 15:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Earnings per share for Q2 was $0.73, a decrease from $0.75 sequentially [5] - Revenue for Q2 increased by 1.1% from the prior quarter to $135 million [5] - Ending AUM (Assets Under Management) was $88.9 billion, up from $87.6 billion in the prior quarter [6] - Operating margin decreased to 33.6% from 34.7% in the prior quarter [6] - Total expenses increased by 2.9% compared to the prior quarter [8] - Liquidity at the end of Q2 was $323 million, compared to $295 million in the prior quarter [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Open-end funds experienced net inflows of $285 million, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of inflows [33] - Closed-end funds had inflows of $103 million [33] - Advisory services had net outflows of $412 million, attributed to account rebalancing [35] - The one unfunded pipeline increased to $776 million, compared to a low watermark of $61 million last quarter [36] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global equities and global listed infrastructure outperformed U.S. equities in the first half of 2025 [18][20] - U.S. REITs saw slightly negative performance, while international REITs performed in line with the market [29] - Global real estate flows were stronger than U.S. real estate flows in Q2 [57] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on launching more active ETFs and expanding its wealth management channel [39][43] - There is a strategic emphasis on integrating listed and private real estate allocations into a single portfolio [24] - The company aims to enhance its distribution capabilities and invest in data analysis to support growth [43] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the economic resiliency and market performance have been impressive, driven by demographics and strong private sector balance sheets [31] - The company expects to see continued interest in real assets as valuations become more attractive [19] - Management highlighted that the era of ultra-low interest rates is over, leading to a need for true diversification in portfolios [20] Other Important Information - The company has successfully launched its first three active ETFs, with strong initial performance [38] - The launch of a tactical listed and private real estate strategy is expected to provide compelling solutions for institutional investors [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the current appetite in the wealth management channel? - Management indicated that there is ongoing investment to reach more independent RIAs, with good progress in gaining allocations in real estate and infrastructure [47] Question: How are the active ETFs performing in the market? - The company reported a strong start for its active ETFs, attracting new investors and existing ones transitioning from open-end funds [50] Question: What drove the outflows in global listed infrastructure? - Outflows were attributed to institutional investors rebalancing their portfolios, although the strategy remains popular [54] Question: How does demand differ geographically, particularly in advisory? - The U.S. remains the largest market, with growing activity in Asia, while Europe is slower and the Middle East has seen reduced activity [62]