Vanguard’s $11.6 Trillion Evolution: The 2026 ETF Playbook for the Modern InvestorAs of February 13, 2026, Vanguard has cemented its position not just as a low-cost index provider, but as a dominant force in the evolution of active management and private market access. With global assets under management (AUM) reaching a staggering $11.6 trillion and its exchange-traded fund (ETF) segment
Q4 Rundown: Ares (NYSE:ARES) Vs Other Asset Management StocksThe end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who not so much). Let’s take a look at how asset management stocks fared in Q4, starting with Ares (
NYSE:ARES).
The Megadeal Resurgence: Bank of America Forecasts 2026 as the Year the 'Liquidity Logjam' Finally BreaksBank of America (
NYSE:BAC) has released its highly anticipated 2026 M&A Outlook, signaling a transformative shift in the global deal-making landscape. After years of cautious maneuvering and high interest rates, the bank’s Global Corporate & Investment Banking (GCIB) division characterizes 2026 as a "Powering Up" year. The report
Nuveen to Acquire Schroders for $13.5 Billion, Creating a $2.5 Trillion Transatlantic Asset Management TitanIn a move that reshapes the global financial landscape, Nuveen, the investment management arm of TIAA, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire the storied British asset manager Schroders plc (LSE: SDR) for $13.5 billion (£9.9 billion). The deal, announced today on February 12, 2026, marks the end
The SaaSpocalypse: Software Sector Plunge Freezes IPOs and Reshapes the Digital EconomyThe "Golden Age of SaaS" has met a cold, digital winter. Over the past four months, the software industry has undergone a violent structural repricing, with the S&P 500 software and services index plummeting 26% from its late-October peak. This collapse, now widely referred to by Wall Street traders
Ares Management Hits Record $622.5 Billion AUM: Dividend Spike Signals Bullish 2026 OutlookAres Management (
NYSE: ARES) has solidified its position as a titan of the alternative asset space, closing 2025 with a record-breaking $622.5 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM). This milestone, representing a nearly 30% year-over-year surge, was capped by a fourth-quarter performance that saw fee-related earnings (FRE) climb by
The Private Credit Bellwether: Ares Management Braces for a Defining Q4 Moment Amidst a Maturing BoomAs the financial world pivots into the first quarter of 2026, all eyes are on Ares Management (
NYSE: ARES) as it prepares to pull back the curtain on its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 performance. This earnings cycle is widely viewed as a litmus test for the "private credit boom" that
Apollo Global Management (APO): The Trillion-Dollar Credit Engine Redefining Modern FinanceAs of February 9, 2026, Apollo Global Management (
NYSE: APO) has firmly established itself not just as an alternative asset manager, but as a central pillar of the global financial architecture. Once known primarily for its aggressive private equity buyouts, the firm has undergone a seismic transformation into a "private credit powerhouse" and a leader [...]
3 Market-Beating Stocks to Research FurtherThe best-performing stocks typically have robust sales growth, increasing margins, and rising returns on capital,
and those that can maintain this trifecta year in and year out often become the legends of the investing world.
The Great Power Grab: Why AI and Net Zero Pushed Utility Deal Values Up 98% in 2025The global energy landscape has undergone a seismic shift, culminating in a staggering 98% year-over-year surge in deal value for the Power and Utilities (P&U) sector as of early 2026. According to the latest market data from January 2026, the sector has transitioned from a traditional defensive haven into
The $3.2 Trillion ‘Wall of Capital’: Private Equity Unleashes a Global M&A Renaissance in 2026As of February 6, 2026, the global financial landscape is being reshaped by an unprecedented "wall of capital." After nearly two years of stagnation caused by valuation gaps and high borrowing costs, the private equity industry has entered a transformative period of deployment. With a record-shattering $3.2 trillion in
The Federal Reserve Signals 'Strategic Patience' with Rate Hold: Market Eyes Shifting Easing CycleThe Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) concluded its first policy meeting of 2026 on January 28, voting to maintain the federal funds rate at a target range of 3.5% to 3.75%. This widely anticipated decision marks a pivotal shift in the central bank’s strategy, moving from
The Return of the Giants: Private Equity Mega-Deals Surge in Early 2026The "Great Hesitation" in global finance has officially come to an end. In the opening weeks of 2026, the private equity landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation, shifting from two years of defensive posturing to a full-scale dealmaking renaissance. Driven by a record-shattering $2 trillion in "dry powder" and a
Brookfield’s $1.2 Billion Acquisition of Peakstone Realty Trust: A Catalyst for the CRE M&A RevivalIn a move that has sent ripples through the commercial real estate (CRE) sector, global investment giant Brookfield Asset Management (
NYSE: BAM)—and its parent Brookfield Corporation (
NYSE: BN)—announced a definitive agreement to acquire Peakstone Realty Trust (
NYSE: PKST) for approximately $1.2 billion. The deal, priced at $21.
5 Revealing Analyst Questions From Blackstone’s Q4 Earnings CallBlackstone’s fourth quarter results reflected contrasting trends, as revenue surpassed Wall Street’s expectations but profit missed consensus estimates. Management attributed the top-line growth to strong inflows across institutional, private wealth, and insurance channels, as well as robust investment performance in infrastructure and private equity. However, higher costs and a less favorable fee mix weighed on earnings, with CFO Michael Chae noting, “Base management fees in real estate declined moderately, which impacted overall profitability.”
Monday.com (MNDY) Shares Skyrocket 30% After Massive Earnings Beat and AI Guidance LiftThe enterprise software landscape witnessed a seismic shift exactly one year ago when monday.com (
NASDAQ:MNDY) delivered a masterclass in growth and profitability. On February 10, 2025, shares of the Tel Aviv-based Work OS provider skyrocketed by more than 30% in a single trading session, closing at a then-record
Economic Alarm Bells: LEI Index Slips 0.3% as US Economy Navigates a Fragile 2026 StartThe Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index (LEI) recorded a 0.3% slip in its latest reading, signaling a cooling trajectory for the United States economy as it enters the new year. This downturn, reported in January 2026, marks a pivotal moment for markets that have been grappling with the
Blackstone to Present at the Bank of America Securities Financial Services Conference 2026
Blackstone (
NYSE:BX) announced today that Michael Chae, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, is scheduled to present at the Bank of America Securities 2026 Financial Services Conference on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 9:40am ET.
BX Q4 Deep Dive: Revenue Strength, Profit Headwinds Shape Market ResponseAlternative investment manager Blackstone (
NYSE:BX) reported Q4 CY2025 results topping the market’s revenue expectations, but sales fell by 5.1% year on year to $3.97 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.75 per share was 13.9% above analysts’ consensus estimates.
Blackstone’s (NYSE:BX) Q4 CY2025: Beats On RevenueAlternative investment manager Blackstone (
NYSE:BX) reported revenue ahead of Wall Streets expectations in Q4 CY2025, with sales up 4.3% year on year to $4.36 billion. Its GAAP profit of $1.30 per share was 15.8% below analysts’ consensus estimates.
US Credit Market: M&A and LBOs Fuel Issuance Surge in 2026The US credit market has entered 2026 with a level of momentum unseen in nearly a decade, as a powerful combination of multi-billion dollar mergers and a resurgence in leveraged buyouts (LBOs) drives primary issuance to record heights. Following the Federal Reserve’s pivot toward a more accommodative stance in
