Summary
Ares Management Corporation's (ARES) Q2 2026 filing demonstrates continued growth and operational strength. Total revenues increased by 6% year-over-year to $1.43 billion for the quarter and 16% for the six months to $2.83 billion, primarily driven by a significant rise in management fees. This growth was supported by strong fundraising across its credit and real assets segments, leading to a 20% increase in Fee Related Earnings (FRE) for the company. Despite a decline in carried interest allocation due to market conditions and a decrease in certain investment income, the company maintained robust net income growth of 38% year-over-year for the quarter and 62% for the six months. The company's Assets Under Management (AUM) saw a substantial increase, reaching $671.3 billion as of June 30, 2026, up from $622.5 billion at the end of 2025. Fee-Paying AUM also grew by 6.6% year-over-year to $409.9 billion. This growth reflects successful deployment of capital and strategic acquisitions, notably the GCP International business. The company's balance sheet remains solid with significant cash reserves and ample credit facilities. The company also continues to return capital to shareholders, with increased dividends and distributions declared.
Key Highlights
- 1Total revenues increased by 6% year-over-year to $1.43 billion for the quarter and 16% to $2.83 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2026.
- 2Fee Related Earnings (FRE) grew by 20% year-over-year to $491.1 million for the quarter and 23% to $955.5 million for the six months.
- 3Assets Under Management (AUM) increased to $671.3 billion as of June 30, 2026, a 7.8% increase from December 31, 2025.
- 4Fee-Paying AUM (FPAUM) increased to $409.9 billion as of June 30, 2026, up 6.6% from $384.9 billion at year-end 2025.
- 5Net income attributable to Ares Management Corporation Class A and non-voting common stockholders increased by 12% for the quarter and 82% for the six months, reflecting strong operational performance.
- 6The Credit Group showed particularly strong growth, with FRE up 17% and RI up 25% year-over-year for both the quarter and six-month period.
- 7The company repurchased shares under its stock repurchase program, with $750.0 million authorized through March 2027.