GCM Grosvenor(US:GCMG)2026-02-10 16:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, GCM Grosvenor achieved a record fundraising year, raising $10.7 billion, with $3.5 billion raised in Q4 alone, marking significant growth compared to previous years [4][5] - Fee-Related Earnings, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Net Income increased by 11%, 15%, and 18% respectively compared to 2024 [5][24] - The company ended 2025 with $91 billion in assets under management (AUM), a 14% increase from the end of 2024 [7] - Fee-Paying AUM grew 12% year-over-year to $72 billion, while Contracted Not Yet Fee-Paying AUM increased by 27% to $10 billion [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Absolute Return Strategies (ARS) performance was strong, with a Multi-Strategy Composite generating a 15% gross rate of return in 2025 [4] - Infrastructure, the fastest-growing strategy, returned approximately 11% for the year [4] - ARS fee-paying AUM and management fees grew 15% and 5% year-over-year respectively [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The individual investor channel saw AUM increase by 18% year-over-year, indicating strong demand for customized solutions [8] - The company has less exposure to SaaS businesses, with only 4% of total AUM and less than 6% of credit AUM attributed to this sector [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - GCM Grosvenor is focused on diversifying its investment strategies and enhancing its wealth management distribution through initiatives like Grove Lane Partners [8] - The company aims to double its Fee-Related Earnings to over $280 million by 2028 and grow adjusted net income per share to more than $1.20 [12] - The firm is committed to maintaining a capital-light business model while increasing shareholder returns through share buybacks and debt repayment [27][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the investment opportunity set and the strength of their fundraising pipeline entering 2026 [5][9] - The recent market volatility is viewed as an opportunity, with management emphasizing the importance of diversification in their investment strategy [9][10] - The company anticipates continued operating leverage and margin expansion through 2028 [30] Other Important Information - The gross unrealized carried interest balance reached an all-time high of $949 million, up 14% from the end of 2024 [7] - The company repurchased 2.8 million shares in Q4 at an average price of $11.11 per share, totaling $31 million [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Capital allocation plans post-warrant exercise - Management indicated a focus on maintaining a capital-light business model, with plans for share buybacks and debt repayment [27] Question: Operating leverage and margin expansion - Management believes they can continue to drive margin expansion through 2028 [30] Question: Future of the absolute return business - Management remains cautious about budgeting for organic growth in the absolute return business but acknowledges recent successes [34] Question: Fundraising outlook for 2026 - Management has a strong pipeline and expects fundraising in 2026 to potentially exceed 2025, but they are not officially budgeting for that yet [58] Question: Performance fees and carried interest - Management noted that carried interest realizations were lower than expected but expressed confidence in future increases [60]