Ares Management CorporationNYSE: ARES
Financials · Asset Management & Custody Banks
$119.27
+1.59%
Vol: 3.8M
Research Digest
Friday, May 1, 2026
Ares Management reported Q1 2026 earnings miss (EPS $1.24 vs. $1.36 est.) but exceeded revenue estimates and posted record $30B fundraising, up 45% YoY.
Ares Management released Q1 2026 results on May 1, 2026, missing EPS estimates by $0.12 at $1.24 per share, though revenue of $1.289 billion beat estimates of $1.207 billion. The company achieved record Q1 fundraising of $30 billion (up 45% YoY) and grew AUM to over $644 billion, demonstrating strong capital raising despite dealmaking headwinds. Stock rose 2.7% in pre-market to $120.50 despite being down 26% YTD and 38% below its 52-week high.
Previous Market Intelligence
13 daysApr 30Ares Management acquires 32.4% stake in Rover pipeline and identifies $1B software AI risk in ARCC portfolio (April 28)Mixed▶
Ares Management acquired a 32.4% stake in the 700-mile Rover natural gas pipeline from Blackstone, expanding infrastructure exposure serving Midwest and Gulf Coast markets. Separately, Ares Capital marked down three Clearlake-owned software companies (Cornerstone OnDemand, Symplr, DigiCert) by 13-18 cents on the dollar in Q1, with approximately $1B of the $29.5B portfolio facing medium AI disruption risk. The company hired external consultants to examine software investments after identifying 14% at medium risk and 1% at high risk of AI impact.
Apr 29Ares Management writes down value of Clearlake-owned software companies amid AI disruption concerns; Peter Ogilvie named COO.Negative▶
Ares Management wrote down the value of loans to three Clearlake Capital Group-owned software businesses, warning of difficult conversations ahead with companies vulnerable to disruption from artificial intelligence. The firm appointed Peter Ogilvie as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Strategy, a partner who has been with Ares since 2007. Ares successfully raised $5.4 billion for its real estate funds ($3.5B for U.S. Real Estate Fund XI and $1.9B for European Property Enhancement Partners IV), and operates $623 billion in AUM as of December 31, 2025. Despite recent volatility, analysts maintain a strong 'Buy' consensus with a 12-month price target of $166.93.
Apr 16Ares Management limited private credit fund redemptions to 5% on April 1, 2026 amid investor demand of 11.6%.Negative▶
Ares limited redemptions from $10.7 billion private credit fund to 5% citing design and continued investment plans. Q1 2026 earnings expected May 1 with analysts projecting $1.43 EPS (+31.2% YoY). Oppenheimer lowered price target to $147 from $215 on April 13. Company agreed to acquire Whitestone REIT in $1.7 billion all-cash transaction. ARES stock down 20.14% over past year. Average analyst price target $168.73 with Buy rating.
Apr 15Ares Management shares surged 5.6% on April 14 following acquisition of Whitestone REIT for $1.7 billion and Asia leadership restructuring.Positive▶
Ares Management stock jumped 5.6% to $112.61 on April 14, 2026, after announcing the $1.7 billion acquisition of Whitestone REIT. Company also promoted Asia leadership. Q1 2026 earnings expected May 1 with EPS forecast of $1.43, up 31.2% year-over-year. Oppenheimer lowered price target to $147.
Apr 14Ares Management acquires Whitestone REIT for $1.7 billion and raises $5.4 billion for real estate value-add strategies.Positive▶
Ares Management announced a $1.7 billion acquisition of Whitestone REIT, taking the retail-focused real estate trust private. Additionally, Ares raised approximately $5.4 billion for value-add real estate investments. Oppenheimer lowered its price target to $147 from $215.
Apr 13Ares Management announced acquisition of Whitestone REIT for $1.7B and launched $20B direct lending fund.Mixed▶
Ares Management announced on April 9 the acquisition of Whitestone REIT for approximately $1.7 billion at $19.00 per share. Also announced plans to raise a new direct lending fund targeting $20B. TD Cowen lowered price target to $148 from $167 and maintained Hold. While the Whitestone deal and new fund represent strategic growth, the analyst downgrade reflects caution about near-term valuations.
Apr 10Ares Management to acquire Whitestone REIT for $1.7 billion while raising $9.8B+ for credit strategy.Positive▶
Ares Management announced a merger agreement to acquire Whitestone REIT at $19.00 per share in a $1.7 billion all-cash deal. The company also closed $9.8+ billion for its Opportunistic Credit strategy and raised $5.4 billion for value-add real estate investments. BofA reaffirmed Buy rating, while Barclays lowered price target to $127.
Apr 9Goldman Sachs lowers Ares Management target to $131 from $165; raised $5.4B for real estateNegative▶
Goldman Sachs analyst Alexander Blostein reaffirmed Buy rating for Ares Management but lowered price target from $165 to $131 on April 7, 2026. Barclays lowered target to $127 from $138 (Buy). Ares closed ~$5.4B for US/European value-add real estate strategies in early April. Concerns emerge over redemptions in private credit fund (investors requested 11.6% of shares, firm limited to 5%). Q1 2026 earnings scheduled May 1, 2026. Stock trading $103.12, down -2.92% weekly, -9.19% monthly, -9.55% yearly.
Apr 8Goldman Sachs cuts Ares price target 20.61%; bank caps redemptions at 5%Negative▶
Ares Management faced analyst downgrade on April 7, 2026, when Goldman Sachs cut price target from $165 to $131 (−20.61%) while reaffirming Buy. Bank of America also lowered target to $148 from $180 on April 5. Ares closed ~$5.4B U.S./Europe value-add real estate deals on April 2. Private credit fund saw 11.6% redemption requests in Q1, which Ares capped at 5%. Stock down 9.19% month-over-month. $622.5B AUM ($384.9B fee-earning). Next earnings May 1, 2026.
Apr 7Ares Management Q1 2026 realized performance income soft at $75M vs $100M expected.Negative▶
Ares preliminary Q1 2026 realized net performance income $75M vs ~$100M expected. Attributed to European-style fund exit cadence. Stock +5.1% 7d, +9.1% 30d, +38.4% YTD. Q1 release May 1. BofA cut PT $148 from $180. Private credit fund 11.6% redemptions vs 5% limit.
Apr 6Ares Management Reports Q1 Performance Income Below ExpectationsNeutral▶
Ares Management reported that it expects to record approximately $75 million in realized net performance income for Q1 2026, compared to $41 million in Q1 2025, but below its earlier expectation of $100 million. The timing of realized net performance income from certain European-style funds shifted to later quarters. Ares entered a $400 million term loan facility through Bank of America maturing in 2029 and closed an $850 million continuation vehicle for Convergint Technologies investment. Raymond James upgraded ARES to Strong Buy citing 16-20% fee-related earnings growth and 20-25% realized income growth through 2028. Stock declined 3.19% in recent trading but shows longer-term positive analyst sentiment.
Apr 3Ares Management raised $5.4B in real estate funds and closed $9.8B opportunistic credit fundraising.Mixed▶
Ares Management completed significant fundraising on April 1-2: $5.4 billion across real estate funds (Ares US Real Estate Fund XI raising $3.5B, Ares European Property Enhancement Partners IV raising $1.9B) and over $9.8 billion for Opportunistic Credit strategy. Q1 2026 earnings will be reported May 1. Reported soft Q1 performance income of $75 million (down from $100M expectations).
Apr 2Ares Management reports Q1 performance income of $75M, below expectations; secured $400M term loan; earnings release scheduled May 1.Negative▶
Ares Management reported preliminary realized net performance income of $75 million for Q1 2026, up from $41 million year-ago but missing analyst expectations of ~$100 million. The shortfall was attributed to timing of European-style fund realizations, now expected in later quarters. The company also secured a new $400 million term loan facility maturing in 2029. Earnings release scheduled for May 1, 2026.
Sector Peers
| Company | Price | Day | 1M | Fwd P/E | Beta | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARESARES | $119.27 | +1.59% | +14.2% | 15.9x | 1.54 | $38.8B |
| BLKBLACKROCK | $1,064.80 | -0.08% | +11.1% | 17.6x | 1.49 | $165.6B |
| BXBLACKSTONE | $126.71 | +0.90% | +11.9% | 16.6x | 1.74 | $153.5B |
| KKRKKR | $103.93 | -0.39% | +14.6% | 13.7x | 1.93 | $96.6B |
| BKBANK | $133.85 | -0.39% | +8.7% | 14.0x | 1.05 | $92.2B |
| APOAPOLLO | $130.72 | +1.55% | +21.3% | 12.1x | 1.56 | $74.2B |
Key Fundamentals
RSI (14-Day)
52-Week Range
Moving Averages
Price below 200d MA — bearish structure.