Investment firm Blackstone (BX.N) is looking to sell medical-grade skincare company ZO Skin Health, which could be valued at around $2 billion in any deal, according to people familiar with the matter.
The firm is working with investment bankers at Citigroup (C.N) and Raymond James (RJF.N) on the sale, which is at an early stage, the people said, requesting anonymity because the matter is private.
Blackstone and Citi declined to comment. ZO and Raymond James did not immediately respond to comment requests.
Dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi founded the brand in 2007. ZO sells skincare products including cleansers, serums, exfoliators, and toners that are distributed by physicians and skincare professionals.
The sale process comes at a time when many strategic buyers are prioritizing clinically backed, physician-distributed skincare brands like ZO, because of their efficacy and steadier demand versus over-the-counter products.
Investors interested in stocks from the Financial - Miscellaneous Services sector have probably already heard of Intercorp Financial Services Inc. (IFS - Free Report) and Blackstone Inc. (BX - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.
The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.
Intercorp Financial Services Inc. and Blackstone Inc. are sporting Zacks Ranks of #2 (Buy) and #3 (Hold), respectively, right now. Investors should feel comfortable knowing that IFS likely has seen a stronger improvement to its earnings outlook than BX has recently. But this is only part of the picture for value investors.
Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
IFS currently has a forward P/E ratio of 9.12, while BX has a forward P/E of 22.74. We also note that IFS has a PEG ratio of 0.73. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. BX currently has a PEG ratio of 1.53.
Another notable valuation metric for IFS is its P/B ratio of 1.64. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, BX has a P/B of 4.8.
These metrics, and several others, help IFS earn a Value grade of A, while BX has been given a Value grade of D.
IFS sticks out from BX in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that IFS is the better option right now.
U.S. private-credit portfolio values moved further below reported cost in the first half of 2026 as market spreads widened and stress emerged among some borrowers, particularly in the software sector, a Reuters analysis found.
The analysis of regulatory filings from 44 U.S. business development companies (BDCs), which lend mainly to small- and medium-sized firms, showed their investments had a combined fair value of $92.88 billion on June 30, compared to $95.19 billion of reported cost or amortized cost.
At the end of 2025, fair value was $95.82 billion against a cost of $96.54 billion, showing BDCs were revaluing more loans.
While most broad markdowns occurred in the first quarter, second-quarter losses at several prominent BDCs were concentrated in a relatively small number of borrowers.
"In aggregate the move is still modest, but aggregate averages can hide the real story, which is dispersion. The widening is being driven by a minority of borrowers, such as over-levered horizontal software and services businesses with real AI exposure, while the bulk of the book sits close to par," said Anant Kumar, a global investment strategist at Benefit Street Partners.
"The question for the second half isn't whether the average drifts another 50 basis points, it's whether that tail keeps growing," he said.
REDEMPTION REQUESTS
Meanwhile, Blackstone's (BX.N) flagship private credit fund has received redemption requests equal to about 10% of its outstanding shares so far in the third quarter, roughly unchanged from the previous three months. Analysts said the requests were largely from investors resubmitting orders that had not been fully met earlier.
The $77.2 billion Blackstone Private Credit Fund (BCRED) received about $4.3 billion of repurchase requests, compared with $4.5 billion in the second quarter. The fund said it would repurchase shares equal to 5% of its net asset value, its quarterly limit.
BCRED fulfilled roughly half of the prior quarter's requests, leaving about $2.3 billion unfulfilled. A significant portion of that amount has been resubmitted for redemption in the third quarter, the fund said.
The carry over is complicating efforts to gauge whether redemption pressure is worsening.
TD Cowen estimates that the backlog represents roughly half of third-quarter requests, implying that new requests halved from the second quarter. RBC Capital Markets also said it continued to view the second quarter as the likely peak in redemption demand at non-traded BDCs.
BCRED recorded net outflows of about 3% of NAV so far in the third quarter, as subscriptions equal to roughly 2% of NAV partly offset the 5% repurchase limit. The fund attracted nearly $750 million in new subscriptions.
Outflows from other vehicles have also shown signs of moderating. Cliffwater Corporate Lending Fund said requests edged down to 16% of NAV, from 17%.
The ongoing pressure in wealth-focused vehicles contrasts with a recovery in institutional fundraising. Goldman Sachs said global private credit fundraising rebounded in the second quarter, with institutional funds accounting for more than 85% of private credit assets under management.
Global private credit fundraising totaled $33 billion in the third quarter through August 25, putting the period on track to meet or exceed the $45 billion raised a year earlier, Goldman said.
Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.
One of our most popular services, Zacks Premium offers daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter. All are useful tools to find what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest industries.
The service also includes the Focus List, which is a long-term portfolio of top stocks that boast a winning, market-beating combination of growth and momentum qualities.
Breaking Down the Zacks Focus ListBuilding an investment portfolio from scratch can be difficult, so if you could, wouldn't you take a peek at a curated list of top stocks?
That's what the Zacks Focus List offers. It's a portfolio of 50 stocks that serve as a starting point for long-term investors to build their individual portfolios. The stocks included in the list are set to outperform the market over the next 12 months.
One thing that makes the Focus List even more advantageous is that each pick comes with a full Zacks Analyst Report. This helps explain why each stock was selected and why we believe it's a good pick for the long-term.
The portfolio's past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it as a starting point. For 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to the S&P 500's return of 9.38%. Cumulatively, the portfolio has returned 2,519.23% while the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period of February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.
Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Earnings estimates, or expectations of growth and profitability, come from brokerage analysts who track publicly traded companies; these analysts work together with company management to analyze every aspect that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.
What a company will earn down the road also needs to be taken into consideration, and this is why earnings estimate revisions are so important.
When a stock receives upward earnings estimate revisions, it will likely get even more positive changes in the future. For instance, if an analyst raised their earnings outlook last month, they'll probably do so again this month, and other analysts will follow.
Utilizing the power of earnings estimate revisions is when the Zacks Rank joins the party. A unique, proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank uses changes to quarterly earnings expectations to help investors create a winning portfolio.
The Zacks Rank consists of four main pillars: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each one is given a raw score, which is recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank. Then, stocks are classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell," using this data.
The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.
Since stock prices respond to revisions, it can be very profitable to buy stocks with rising earnings estimates. By buying Focus List stocks, then, you're likely getting into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.
Focus List Spotlight: Blackstone Inc. (BX - Free Report) Headquartered in New York, Blackstone Inc. is a leading asset manager of alternative investments and a global provider of financial advisory services. In 2023, the company became the first major alternative asset manager to be included in the S&P 500 Index. As of June 30, 2026, total AUM balance was $1.35 trillion, fee-earning AUM was $961.6 billion and the Perpetual Capital AUM was $555.6 billion.
On July 8, 2026, BX was added to the Focus List at $120.89 per share. Shares have increased 18.49% to $143.24 since then, and the company is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank.
Six analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.09 to $5.99. BX also boasts an average earnings surprise of 13.9%.
Additionally, BX's earnings are expected to grow 7.5% for the current fiscal year.
Reveal Winning StocksUnlock all of our powerful research, tools and analysis, including the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research Reports, Zacks Earnings ESP Filter, Premium Screener and more, as part of Zacks Premium. You'll quickly identify which stocks to buy, hold and sell, and target today's hottest industries, to help improve the performance of your portfolio. Gain full access now >>
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blackstone (NYSE:BX) announced today that Michael Chae, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, is scheduled to present at the Barclays Global Financial Services Conference on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 2:00 pm ET. A live webcast of the presentation will be available on the Shareholders section of Blackstone's website at http://ir.blackstone.com. For those unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay will be available on Blackstone's website shortly after the.
Several former Jersey Mike’s executives and franchisees are reuniting at Dog Haus, betting the lessons they learned helping build the submarine sandwich giant can turn the fast-casual restaurant chain into a national powerhouse.
Dog Haus recently named former Jersey Mike’s chief innovation officer James Field as chief marketing officer. He joins President and Chief Development Officer Chris Rigassio and Chief Operating Officer Garen Khodaverdian, both former Jersey Mike’s franchisees.
The reunion follows Blackstone’s January 2025 acquisition of a majority stake in Jersey Mike’s in a deal valued at roughly $8 billion, according to SEC filings.
Field told FOX Business that the group could have pursued separate opportunities following the sale, but saw a chance to stay together and help scale Dog Haus, which currently operates roughly 60 locations.
POPULAR BEER BRAND TO CUT 220 JOBS AS PRODUCTION SHIFTS
Dog Haus CEO Michael Montagano, left, and Chief Marketing Officer James Field discussed the fast-casual chain’s ambitious expansion plans with FOX Business. (FOX Business / Leonard Ortiz/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
"We all could have gone off and done different things individually after the sale of Jersey Mike's," Field said. "… I think we just thought if we stay together, it's a one plus one equals three scenarios."
Field added: "When you’ve been in the trenches with people through that type of brand growth that you saw at Jersey Mike’s, you say, ‘My gosh, let’s run it back.'"
Dog Haus CEO Michael Montagano said the company is "laser focused" on growing from roughly 60 restaurants to 300, with a $1 billion valuation serving as its "North Star."
"One major step in that success is building a team that is capable of executing to this level of scale," Montagano told FOX Business.
He said Jersey Mike’s grew systematically while maintaining strong relationships with franchisees and delivering a consistent customer experience — a model Dog Haus hopes to follow as it enters new markets.
"Ultimately, that was done very responsibly and yielded a fantastic result," Montagano said.
PIZZA HUT MAKES SURPRISING CHANGE TO ICONIC NAME AHEAD OF NFL SEASON
The Cowboy Haus Dog is pictured at Dog Haus in Clifton Park, N.Y. Dog Haus serves hot dogs, sausages, burgers, chicken and breakfast burritos. (Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union via Getty Images, File)
Founded in Pasadena, California, in 2010, Dog Haus serves hot dogs, sausages, burgers, chicken and breakfast burritos. The chain opened its first permanent international restaurant in Mérida, Mexico, in June.
Field said Dog Haus’ founders, food and early investments in delivery and digital ordering helped convince the former Jersey Mike’s leaders that the brand was ready for a larger growth push.
"When you look at the assets that it has, it’s primed for success," Field said. "… When you look at what Dog Haus has been through over the last 15 years — different economic cycles, different crazes and fads and trends in the industry — not only has it survived, but it’s thrived."
Ticker Security Last Change Change % BX BLACKSTONE INC. 143.64 +0.26 +0.18% JMKE JERSEY MIKES SUBS INC 23.53 -0.33 -1.38% The company is now building the infrastructure it believes it will need before accelerating expansion.
Dog Haus plans to divide the country into 15 regions overseen by area directors responsible for maintaining quality and guiding local growth. The company is also building its corporate infrastructure before accelerating expansion.
PIZZA HUT MAKES SURPRISING CHANGE TO ICONIC NAME AHEAD OF NFL SEASON
A sign is posted in front of a Jersey Mike's shop in Petaluma, Calif. The moves followed Blackstone’s acquisition of Jersey Mike’s in a deal valued at around $8 billion. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
"We're thinking ahead and making sure that we have the right pieces in place in order to meet that demand that we're already seeing at scale," he said.
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Montagano said having executives who understand both the corporate and franchisee sides of the business gives Dog Haus an advantage as it pursues its expansion target.
"We believe that going 60 to 300 over the next few years is really a layup," Montagano said. "It's really about what we can do beyond that."
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO, Financials), a maker of chip and infrastructure software, is said to be preparing a financing deal that might be as large as $100 billion.B
Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.
The Zacks Premium service makes this easier. It features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter. All of these can help you quickly identify what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest industries.
It also includes the Focus List, a long-term portfolio of top stocks that have all the elements to beat the market.
Breaking Down the Zacks Focus ListIf you could get access to a curated list of stocks to kickstart your investment portfolio, wouldn't you jump at the chance to take a peek?
That's what the Zacks Focus List, a portfolio of 50 stocks, offers investors. Not only does it serve as a starting point for long-term investors, but all stocks included in the list are poised to outperform the market over the next 12 months.
What makes the Focus List even more helpful is that each selection is accompanied by a full Zacks Analyst Report, which explains the reasoning behind every stock's selection and why we believe it's a good pick for the long-term.
The portfolio's past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it as a starting point. For 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to the S&P 500's return of 9.38%. Cumulatively, the portfolio has returned 2,519.23% while the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period of February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.
Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Earnings estimates are expectations of growth and profitability, and are determined by brokerage analysts. Together with company management, these analysts examine every aspect that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.
Investors also need to look at what a company will earn down the road. This is why earnings estimate revisions are so important.
Stocks that receive upward earnings estimate revisions are more likely to receive even more upward changes in the future. For example, if an analyst raised their estimates last month, they're more likely to do it again this month, and other analysts are likely to do the same.
Utilizing the power of earnings estimate revisions is when the Zacks Rank joins the party. A unique, proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank uses changes to quarterly earnings expectations to help investors create a winning portfolio.
Four primary factors make up the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each is given a raw score that's recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank, and with this data, stocks are then classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."
The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.
Since stock prices respond to revisions, it can be very profitable to buy stocks with rising earnings estimates. By buying Focus List stocks, then, you're likely getting into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.
Focus List Spotlight: Blackstone Inc. (BX - Free Report) Headquartered in New York, Blackstone Inc. is a leading asset manager of alternative investments and a global provider of financial advisory services. In 2023, the company became the first major alternative asset manager to be included in the S&P 500 Index. As of June 30, 2026, total AUM balance was $1.35 trillion, fee-earning AUM was $961.6 billion and the Perpetual Capital AUM was $555.6 billion.
Since being added to the Focus List on July 8, 2026 at $120.89 per share, shares of BX have increased 16.92% to $141.35. The stock is currently a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank.
Seven analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.09 to $5.99. BX also boasts an average earnings surprise of 13.9%.
Earnings for BX are forecasted to see growth of 7.5% for the current fiscal year as well.
Reveal Winning StocksUnlock all of our powerful research, tools and analysis, including the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research Reports, Zacks Earnings ESP Filter, Premium Screener and more, as part of Zacks Premium. You'll quickly identify which stocks to buy, hold and sell, and target today's hottest industries, to help improve the performance of your portfolio. Gain full access now >>
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of GOOGL either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Blackstone Inc. (BX - Free Report) Headquartered in New York, Blackstone Inc. is a leading asset manager of alternative investments and a global provider of financial advisory services. In 2023, the company became the first major alternative asset manager to be included in the S&P 500 Index. As of June 30, 2026, total AUM balance was $1.35 trillion, fee-earning AUM was $961.6 billion and the Perpetual Capital AUM was $555.6 billion.
BX is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. BX has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 7.7% for the current fiscal year.
Seven analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.10 to $6.00 per share. BX also boasts an average earnings surprise of +14%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, BX should be on investors' short list.
Key Takeaways Cooling inflation and weak jobs data boosted hopes for a September Fed pause. AI financing plans and strong tech momentum lifted neocloud ETFs. Memory ETFs rallied as AI demand and fresh catalysts revived the sector. Wall Street delivered a moderate performance last week. The S&P 500 added about 0.5%, the Dow Jones lost about 0.6%, and the Nasdaq-100 surged about 1.1% last week as growth stocks rallied on hopes that the Fed will stay put in the September meeting, instead of prior apprehensions of a rate hike.
Easing Inflation Cools Fed Rate-Hike BetsExpectations of another Federal Reserve rate hike have cooled, following the latest inflation data. The annual inflation rate in the United States slowed for a second successive month to 3.4% in July 2026 from 3.5% in June, in line with expectations.
The impact of the energy shock caused by the war with Iran continued to ease. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.1% as expected, rebounding from a 0.4% decline in June. Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.2% sequentially (following a flat reading in June) and 2.5% year over year, down from 2.6% in June, per Trading Economics (read: 5 ETFs to Benefit From Cooling Inflation in the Near Term).
The chances of the Fed keeping interest rates unchanged at its September meeting have now risen to 66.9%, up from 51.5% a month ago, per CME FedWatchTool (at the time of writing).
The benign inflation report came shortly after July's disappointing jobs data, which showed an unexpected loss of 23,000 nonfarm jobs. The combination of softer inflation and a weakening labor market has reduced the urgency for the Fed to raise interest rates at its September meeting.
NVIDIA's $500B AI PushNVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) announced last week that it had entered into memorandums of understanding with Apollo Global Management (APO), BlackRock (BLK), Blackstone (BX), Brookfield (BAM), Goldman Sachs (GS) and KKR (KKR) to establish financing platforms aimed at supporting its customers, as quoted on CNBC (read: Does NVIDIA's $500B AI Push Open a New Opportunity for Financial ETFs?).
Winning ETFs in Focus Against this backdrop, below we highlight a few winning ETFs of last week.
Opportunistic Trader ETF (WZRD - Free Report) – Up 55.4%
The fund offers exposure to multiple option strategies aimed toward capturing upside and mitigating downside risk. Most ETFs currently in the market use just one option strategy (covered calls). The fund’s expense ratio is 1.07%, and it yields 28.08% annually.
The Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF provides long exposure to the crude oil tanker shipping market through a portfolio of near-dated futures contracts on indices that measure the cost of shipping crude oil. The fund’s expense ratio is 3.50%.
Roundhill Neocloud ETF (NCLD - Free Report) – Up 18.7%
GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) allows businesses and developers to access powerful GPUs through the cloud without buying and maintaining costly hardware. Specialized providers focused entirely on this model are known as neoclouds.
New neocloud ETF NCLD offers focused exposure to CoreWeave, Nebius and other AI players. CoreWeave surged 14.3% last week, boosting this new ETF (read: CoreWeave Surges on Upbeat Q2: ETFs in Focus).
Tema Memory ETF (DISK - Free Report) – Up 16.8%
Memory stocks bounced back lately, with SanDisk (SNDK - Free Report) gaining about 36.2% last week. Memory stocks have been bouncing back recently because investors are rotating back into AI-infrastructure plays after a sharp midsummer sell-off, and because of fresh catalysts — strong earnings/guidance from key memory names, and new AI-focused memory partnerships. AI-driven demand for DRAM/NAND (especially high-bandwidth memory) also remains tight.
Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM - Free Report) – Up 15.8%
The Roundhill Memory ETF seeks to provide capital appreciation. The fund is heavy on Micron, SK Hynix and Samsung. The memory market is moving toward a more contractually locked, proof-to-cyclicality, and higher sustained margins model. This is why memory ETFs have been gaining lately after a summer lull.
Blackstone is rated 'Buy' for its diversified growth, robust AUM expansion, and leadership in AI infrastructure investments. BX posted 20% YoY growth in fee-related earnings per share, driven by double-digit segment gains and 11% total AUM growth to $1.35 trillion. Management anticipates reacceleration of base management fees to double-digit growth in 2027, supported by strong fundraising in insurance and Asia.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT remained the clear leader in traffic and mobile app usage in July and regained ground against Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google’s Gemini, according to BNP Paribas.
The firm also highlighted inference spending surpassing training spending as evidence that AI investment is shifting toward deployment and real-world use, while growing infrastructure financing points to continued demand for AI capacity.
ChatGPT Regains Ground Against GeminiChatGPT remained the clear leader in web traffic and mobile app usage in July, BNP Paribas said. It also regained share across both visits and daily active users, or DAUs.
Gemini’s share of worldwide visits fell to 28.8% in July from 30.3% in June. Its share of DAUs remained unchanged at 19.8%.
Claude continued to gain ground. Its share of visits rose to 10.4% from 10%, while its DAU share remained flat. Grok lost ground, while Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) Meta AI remained stable to slightly improving.
Grok and Meta AI continued to trail ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude, BNP Paribas said.
Overall AI chatbot web traffic slipped about 1% from June. However, average monthly mobile DAUs and monthly active users each increased about 1%.
AI Spending Shifts Toward Real-World UseBNP Paribas also highlighted a shift in AI spending toward inference, which involves using trained models to run real-world applications.
The firm cited Gartner estimates showing global inference spending will reach $23.3 billion in 2026, surpassing the $19 billion expected for AI model training.
BNP Paribas said the trend highlights a shift toward deployment and real-world usage as AI adoption expands beyond frontier model development.
AI Infrastructure Demand BuildsThe firm also highlighted NVIDIA Corporation’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) partnerships with major private equity and asset management firms, including Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE:APO), BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK), Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) and Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM). The effort aims to mobilize more than $500 billion in third-party capital for AI infrastructure.
BNP Paribas said the financing push underscores significant and growing demand for AI infrastructure.
The firm also pointed to surging demand for high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, which has put pressure on memory supply and pricing.
Meanwhile, CME Group plans to introduce Compute futures with Silicon Data on Oct. 5. BNP Paribas said the launch highlights AI compute’s emergence as a commodity as companies seek ways to manage pricing and capacity.
GOOGL Price Action: Alphabet shares were down 0.34% at $345.18 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Photo via Shutterstock
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Asset manager Blackstone and Quebec's La Caisse pension fund have agreed to acquire a 25% stake in Air Canada's loyalty-points program for nearly US$2 billion, which the airline said would help in its pursuit of an investment-grade rating.
MONTRÉAL, Aug. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Air Canada today announced that funds managed by Blackstone and La Caisse, together with other leading Canadian institutions, are making a $2.5 billion minority equity investment in Aeroplan Inc. The transaction terms provide that the investor group is acquiring a 25% non-controlling equity interest in Aeroplan, valuing the program at $10 billion.1
Lending support to his choice, Transocean, on Aug. 5, posted better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and raised its FY2026 sales forecast. The company reported quarterly earnings of 3 cents per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 2 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $966.000 million, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $959.900 million.
Anastasia Amoroso, managing director and chief investment strategist at Partners Group, picked Invesco Global Listed Private Equity ETF (NYSE:PSP).
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Kari Firestone, Aureus Asset Management co-founder and chair emerita, named Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) as her final trade.
On the earnings front, Blackstone, on July 23, reported second-quarter results that topped Wall Street expectations, as strong fee-related earnings, fundraising and AI-driven investments boosted profitability.
Joseph M. Terranova, senior managing director for Virtus Investment Partners, recommended Twilio Inc. (NYSE:TWLO).
Supporting his view, Twilio, on Aug. 6, posted second-quarter revenue of $1.50 billion, beating analyst estimates of $1.43 billion, according to Benzinga Pro. The cloud-based customer engagement company reported adjusted earnings of $1.47 per share for the quarter, beating estimates of $1.32 per share.
Price Action Transocean shares gained 8.8% to close at $5.72 on Monday. Invesco Global Listed Private Equity ETF fell 0.6% during the session. Blackstone shares rose 3.3% to close at $141.66 on Monday. Twilio shares gained 3.6% to settle at $250.06. Photo via Shutterstock
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Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.
One of our most popular services, Zacks Premium offers daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter. All are useful tools to find what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest industries.
Also included in Zacks Premium is the Focus List. This is a long-term portfolio of top stocks that have all the traits to beat the market.
Breaking Down the Zacks Focus ListIf you could get access to a curated list of stocks to kickstart your investment portfolio, wouldn't you jump at the chance to take a peek?
That's what the Zacks Focus List, a portfolio of 50 stocks, offers investors. Not only does it serve as a starting point for long-term investors, but all stocks included in the list are poised to outperform the market over the next 12 months.
Additionally, each selection is accompanied by a full Zacks Analyst Report, something that makes the Focus List even more valuable. The report explains in detail why each stock was picked and why we believe it's good for the long-term.
The portfolio's past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it as a starting point. For 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to the S&P 500's return of 9.38%. Cumulatively, the portfolio has returned 2,519.23% while the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period of February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.
Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Brokerage analysts are in charge of determining a company's growth and profitability expectations, or earnings estimates. These analysts work together with company management to evaluate all factors that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.
Earnings estimate revisions are very important, since investors also need to take into consideration what a company will earn in the future.
When a stock receives upward earnings estimate revisions, it will likely get even more positive changes in the future. For instance, if an analyst raised their earnings outlook last month, they'll probably do so again this month, and other analysts will follow.
Harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions is where the Zacks Rank comes in. The Zacks Rank is a unique, proprietary stock-rating model that utilizes changes to a company's quarterly earnings expectations to help investors build a winning portfolio.
Four primary factors make up the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each is given a raw score that's recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank, and with this data, stocks are then classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."
The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.
It can be very profitable to buy stocks with rising earnings estimates, as stock prices respond to revisions. By adding Focus List stocks, there's a great chance you'll be getting into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, which can lead to price momentum.
Focus List Spotlight: Blackstone Inc. (BX - Free Report) Headquartered in New York, Blackstone Inc. is a leading asset manager of alternative investments and a global provider of financial advisory services. In 2023, the company became the first major alternative asset manager to be included in the S&P 500 Index. As of June 30, 2026, total AUM balance was $1.35 trillion, fee-earning AUM was $961.6 billion and the Perpetual Capital AUM was $555.6 billion.
On July 8, 2026, BX was added to the Focus List at $120.89 per share. Shares have increased 13.43% to $137.13 since then, and the company is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank.
Seven analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.1 to $6. BX also boasts an average earnings surprise of 13.9%.
Moreover, analysts are expecting BX's earnings to grow 7.7% for the current fiscal year.
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A logo of Blackstone is pictured in Manhattan, New York City, U.S. July 29, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
SummaryCompaniesSafe Harbor set to pay around $53 per share in cash, people familiar sayDeal could be announced as soon as this week, sources sayAuction ends months of pressure led by investment firm DonerailNEW YORK, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Blackstone Infrastructure's Safe Harbor Marinas, the world's largest owner and operator of marinas, is nearing a $1.5 billion deal to acquire MarineMax (HZO.N), opens new tab, people familiar with the matter said.
The agreement will cap a months-long battle to buy the recreational yacht retailer, which caters to a wealthy clientele through its 65 marinas and storage locations and 70 dealerships, mostly in the United States. Activist investor Donerail and private equity firm Centerbridge were also among bidders in the final round, Reuters reported last month.
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Safe Harbor is set to pay around $53 per share in cash to buy MarineMax, the sources said, a significant premium to its Friday closing price of $35.68. This would value MarineMax's equity at $1.17 billion, according to Reuters calculations. MarineMax held long-term debt of $335 million at the end of June, per data provider LSEG.
A deal could be announced as soon as this week, barring any last-minute complications, added the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.
MarineMax did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Blackstone declined comment.
It would be Safe Harbor's most significant deal since being acquired by Blackstone's infrastructure arm in a $5.7 billion buyout in April of last year.
Acquiring Oldsmar, Florida-based MarineMax will add further marina locations to Safe Harbor's existing network, which includes operations in the U.S., Caribbean and Mediterranean.
Safe Harbor will own and operate all of MarineMax's business segments, some of the sources said.
The bidding war for MarineMax underscores the growing investment appeal of the marina business, as lower interest rates have supported high-end consumers' spending on luxury items like yachts even as other economic brackets are forced to tighten their belts.
Donerail had ramped up pressure on MarineMax in October by publicly urging the company to sell itself or replace CEO Brett McGill.
MarineMax made some changes aimed at addressing investor concerns, including replacing board directors, but began formally soliciting buyer interest from April.
Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss and David French in New York; Editing by Echo Wang and Kevin Buckland
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Blackstone-owned AGS Health on Friday filed updated draft papers for a 48-billion-rupee ($504 million) initial public offering in India, nearly two months after securing the markets regulator's approval for a listing.
Ransom-seeking hackers who use phone calls to compromise their victims targeted dozens of prominent U.S. financial institutions and other businesses over the past month, according to Google and internet intelligence data reviewed by Reuters.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blackstone Digital Infrastructure Trust Inc. (NYSE: BXDC) today reported its second-quarter 2026 results. Net income for the quarter was $7.1 million, and net income per share was $0.14. Funds from Operations (“FFO”), and adjusted FFO (“AFFO”) per share were $0.07 and $0.08, respectively. Nick Pell, Chief Executive Officer and President said, “We are thrilled to have recently completed our initial public offering and are deeply grateful to our investors for their supp.
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Jon Gray and summer analysts ran through Central Park on Thursday. Blackstone Around 7:15 am on Thursday, a photographer in a golf cart trailed a gaggle of young runners in matching black shirts through the southern corner of Central Park. This wasn't some Instagram-ready Gen Z run club, but had potentially as much virality, if not more, since Jon Gray, Blackstone's president and unlikely short-form video star, was leading the pack.
I joined Gray and more than 110 interns, first-year analysts, and pre-MBA summer associates for a group run — and yes, it really was a run, since even those of us at the back kept a pace of 9:22 per mile, according to my Strava. The event was inspired by Gray's hugely popular running videos on LinkedIn, which are peppered with business advice and can rack up millions of views. Gray keeps the videos surprisingly casual, considering he's the heir apparent to a firm that manages more than $1 trillion in assets. He usually talks straight to the camera, wearing AirPods and shiny with sweat, which he told me is part of the appeal.
I felt that appeal firsthand on Thursday morning, when Gray brought much of the same energy and spent a few minutes mingling with employees outside the park. Before taking off, Gray paused to honor Wesley LePatner, a Blackstone real estate executive who was killed in the shooting at the firm's headquarters last year. He remembered her as someone committed to mentoring younger employees—a fitting note before spending the next 20 minutes running through Central Park with junior staff.
I wasn't at the front of the running pack with Gray and the associate holding a ginormous Blackstone flag, but everyone near me seemed pretty relaxed, apart from when we went uphill. (I, at an imposing 5'2, shared a quiet nod with the person who complained of the "long legs up front.")
Some New Yorkers were amused, like the older speedwalking gentleman who got stuck in the middle of our group, but told me he didn't mind. Another man and his very small, very upset dog weren't quite so generous, telling us that we were "not inconvenient at all!" And to all the bikers attempting to navigate our herd, consider this an official apology.
Few of the Blackstone employees wore headphones, opting instead to talk to each other throughout the two-mile loop. They didn't seem hyper-aware of running with Gray, a titan of finance and their ultimate boss, which proved how successful his affable running videos and vibe are.
By Gray's own admission, the videos have a business objective: they allow him to communicate Blackstone's goals and brand at scale, to investors and potential talent alike. He's by no means the only executive to lean into social media — remember the McDonald's CEO, anyone? — but is uniquely successful.
"The more human they are, the more they connect with people," he told me. "But it has to feel right. It has to be authentic. If it becomes overly produced or scripted, I don't think it works."
The same thing goes for this run, which got a slightly more polished video of its own, Gray said. He got to connect with analysts and associates, the latter were part of a program for military veterans, more intimately than when he spots them at the back of a big investment committee room.
"It's interesting — it's allowing you to communicate at scale, but the beauty of it is, it allows for this one-on-one communication," he said, though I couldn't tell if he was talking about the morning jog or the videos he films from all over the globe.
At least some of the young Blackstone employees knew of Gray's videos before joining the firm. Abigail Miles, a first-year analyst on the private credit strategies team, said she'd watch them "all the time," and that other executives should adopt a similar social media strategy.
"I think it's really important, especially at a junior level, to see senior leadership and recognize that they're people, too," she said.
Miles, 21, added that Thursday's run deepened her respect for Gray's hustle, since he finds time to run and film while working such a high-intensity job. Cy Aminzadeh, 22, and another first-year analyst, said the slight cringe factor actually helps the content.
"He's such a giant in the finance world, and for us young people at the beginning of our careers who look up to him in so many ways, seeing him being normal and so down to earth, and doing things that our dad would do, or that we would do — it humanizes him," he said.
The compliance team reviews all of Gray's videos, but he said younger talent has a tougher time navigating the thicket of social media rules at top firms. Earlier this year, a group of self-identified finance bros came under fire for a now-infamous photo shoot, raising the question of how Wall Street is handling the age of the influencer.
"I do think for young people it's harder because they grew up in a world where they post everything, and now they're working at a firm and there is a certain standard," Gray said. Typically, he said, young employees at Blackstone regulate their content to align with the firm's image and values.
When he left the park around 8 am, Gray had a big day ahead of him, since Blackstone was bringing Jersey Mike's public in one of the biggest restaurant IPOs. He assured me the office would likely be full of ginormous subs.
His post-cardio sandwich of choice? A turkey and provolone, "Mike's way."
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A Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) logo is displayed outside a bank branch in Sydney, Australia, August 19, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adams Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
SummaryCompaniesHSBC to wind down remaining Australian retail banking business over 18 monthsDeal expected to close in 1H 2027, subject to regulatory approvalsHSBC to focus on corporate, institutional banking franchise in Australia, NZJuly 31 (Reuters) - HSBC (HSBA.L), opens new tab, (0005.HK), opens new tab said on Friday it would sell its A$36 billion ($25.30 billion) Australian home and personal loan portfolio to investment giant Blackstone (BX.N), opens new tab, marking its phased exit from retail banking in the country.
The portfolio will be acquired by Virgo BidCo, wholly owned by funds managed by affiliates of Blackstone, in a deal expected to close in the first half of 2027. The final purchase price will be adjusted before completion to reflect factors including new loan originations.
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HSBC said the sale followed a strategic review as part of the group's efforts to simplify operations under CEO Georges Elhedery. The remainder of HSBC Australia's retail business would be wound down in phases over the next 18 months.
Since taking over in September 2024, Elhedery has reorganised the bank along East-West lines, exited sub-scale investment banking businesses in the U.S. and Europe, and reduced senior management ranks.
The bank said it would retain and grow its corporate and institutional banking, private banking and asset management operations in Australia following the retail exit.
In a separate statement, Blackstone said the transaction underscored its long-term commitment to Australia, where it has invested for nearly two decades, and reflected its interest in the country's housing market.
HSBC expects the disposal to result in an immaterial loss of less than $100 million by the first half of 2027. It also expects to incur about $300 million in restructuring costs and write-offs linked to the wind-down of the retail business.
After this, it expects to recycle about $300 million of foreign currency translation reserve losses to its income statement, with no incremental impact on common equity tier 1 capital ratio — one of the key metrics for a bank's financial strength and capital adequacy.
($1 = 1.4231 Australian dollars)
Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed and Shilpi Majumdar
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
NEW YORK & VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blackstone (NYSE: BX) today announced that funds managed by Blackstone Energy Transition Partners (“Blackstone”) have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire DarkVision Technologies Inc. (“DarkVision”), the leader in advanced ultrasound imaging technologies used for the inspection of critical industrial infrastructure, from Koch Engineered Solutions (KES), a unit of Koch, Inc. (“Koch”). Founded in 2013 and headquartered in North Va.
Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.
The Zacks Premium service makes this easier. It features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter. All of these can help you quickly identify what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest industries.
The service also includes the Focus List, which is a long-term portfolio of top stocks that boast a winning, market-beating combination of growth and momentum qualities.
Breaking Down the Zacks Focus ListBuilding an investment portfolio from scratch can be difficult, so if you could, wouldn't you take a peek at a curated list of top stocks?
That's what the Zacks Focus List, a portfolio of 50 stocks, offers investors. Not only does it serve as a starting point for long-term investors, but all stocks included in the list are poised to outperform the market over the next 12 months.
One thing that makes the Focus List even more advantageous is that each pick comes with a full Zacks Analyst Report. This helps explain why each stock was selected and why we believe it's a good pick for the long-term.
The portfolio's past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it as a starting point. For 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to the S&P 500's return of 9.38%. Cumulatively, the portfolio has returned 2,519.23% while the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period of February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.
Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Brokerage analysts are in charge of determining a company's growth and profitability expectations, or earnings estimates. These analysts work together with company management to evaluate all factors that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.
Earnings estimate revisions are very important, since investors also need to take into consideration what a company will earn in the future.
When a stock receives upward earnings estimate revisions, it will likely get even more positive changes in the future. For instance, if an analyst raised their earnings outlook last month, they'll probably do so again this month, and other analysts will follow.
Harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions is where the Zacks Rank comes in. The Zacks Rank, which is a unique, proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions to make it easier to build a winning portfolio.
There are four main factors behind the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each one of these features is then given a raw score that's recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank. Using this data, stocks are classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."
The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.
Since stock prices respond to revisions, it can be very profitable to buy stocks with rising earnings estimates. By buying Focus List stocks, then, you're likely getting into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.
Focus List Spotlight: Blackstone Inc. (BX - Free Report) Headquartered in New York, Blackstone Inc. is a leading asset manager of alternative investments and a global provider of financial advisory services. In 2023, the company became the first major alternative asset manager to be included in the S&P 500 Index. As of June 30, 2026, total AUM balance was $1.35 trillion, fee-earning AUM was $961.6 billion and the Perpetual Capital AUM was $555.6 billion.
On July 8, 2026, BX was added to the Focus List at $120.89 per share. Shares have increased 10.76% to $133.9 since then, and the company is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank.
For fiscal 2026, six analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.09 to $5.99. BX boasts an average earnings surprise of 13.9%.
Earnings for BX are forecasted to see growth of 7.5% for the current fiscal year as well.
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SummaryI detail two of the best risk-reward opportunities today.I explain the powerful macro tailwinds that should drive strong dividend growth alongside very attractive 6.5-10% current yields.I also outline the risks involved in each investment.Looking for a portfolio of ideas like this one? Members of High Yield Investor get exclusive access to our subscriber-only portfolios. Learn More » vittaya pinpan/iStock via Getty Images
I am primarily a fundamentals- and valuation-focused, bottom-up investor rather than a macro investor. What that means is I try to maintain adequate diversification across a broad swath of sectors and then, within each of those sectors, try to
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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of BAM, MPLX, ET, OWL either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kuwait Petroleum Corporation ("KPC"), the state-owned corporation overseeing Kuwait's oil and gas sector, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Kuwait Oil Company (“KOC”), responsible for the exploration, production and transportation of crude oil on behalf of the State of Kuwait, has signed a US$ 16.0 billion lease-and-lease-back agreement involving its entire domestic and export pipeline network with a consortium of international infrastructur.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) has signed a $16 billion deal involving its crude oil pipeline network with a consortium comprising global funds Blackstone , Brookfield and KKR , the state-owned Gulf firm said on Saturday.
A logo of Blackstone is pictured in Manhattan, New York City, U.S. July 29, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
SummaryCompaniesBidding for MarineMax has moved into third roundDonerail, Blackstone, Centerbridge among interested partiesInvestment firm Donerail began pushing for a sale last yearNEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters) - Investment firms Blackstone (BX.N), opens new tab and Donerail are among the final bidders to acquire MarineMax (HZO.N), opens new tab, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday, as the recreational yacht retailer explores selling itself.
The two, as well as private equity firm Centerbridge, are in the final round of bidding for the Clearwater, Florida-headquartered company, said the sources who are not permitted to discuss private deliberations.
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MarineMax, which has a market value of around $725 million, caters to a wealthy clientele through its 65 marinas and storage locations and 70 dealerships, mostly in the U.S. It has attracted significant interest at a time the marina business has become a popular investment area.
Donerail began pushing MarineMax to sell itself or replace its chief executive officer last year, intensifying pressure on the company after Levin Capital in 2024 urged management and the board to evaluate strategic alternatives.
Representatives for MarineMax, Blackstone, and Donerail declined to comment. A representative for Centerbridge did not immediately respond to a comment request.
The company has made some changes aimed at addressing concerns of disgruntled investors, including replacing board directors, but has never publicly acknowledged running a sales process including on Thursday when it reported quarterly earnings.
Reuters reported in February that Donerail submitted an all-cash offer which valued MarineMax at around $1 billion. Donerail subsequently raised its offer, while other buyout firms including Blackstone jumped into the mix as the company formally solicited buyer interest from April onwards.
Marinas and superyacht services have seen significant dealmaking in the last 18 months, with investment firms being particularly active.
Lower interest rates have supported high-end consumers' spending on luxury items like yachts even as other economic brackets are forced to tighten their belts.
Blackstone, through its infrastructure arm, bought Safe Harbor Marinas in 2025 for $5.7 billion. Fellow infrastructure investor Stonepeak acquired marina owner and operator Southern Marinas in April.
MarineMax was trading around $33.30 per share around midday on Friday, putting year-to-date gains around 37%. However, it is still trading at roughly half the value of its lifetime high hit in May 2021.
Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by David French and Sanjeev Miglani
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Key Takeaways Blackstone topped Q2 earnings estimates as distributable earnings rose 26% y/y to $2B.BX's assets under management climbed 11% y/y to a record $1.35T, with nearly $70B in inflows.Blackstone's data center platform reached $185 billion and could double over the next few years. Blackstone Inc. (BX - Free Report) emphasized artificial intelligence investments, accelerating capital inflows and expanding private market opportunities during its second-quarter 2026 earnings call. Management highlighted AI infrastructure as a major growth driver across data centers, energy, credit and investment platforms.
The firm reported earnings of $1.52 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.33. Revenues were $3.8 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.37 billion.
BX Positions AI as Long-Term Growth EngineCEO Stephen Schwarzman said that Blackstone’s investments across AI infrastructure, data centers, energy and AI companies are producing strong investment performance and creating growth opportunities.
Blackstone reported nearly $70 billion in inflows during the quarter, while assets under management increased 11% year over year to a record $1.35 trillion. Management linked much of the momentum to demand for capital solutions supporting AI expansion.
Schwarzman highlighted several AI-related initiatives launched during the quarter, including partnerships involving AI cloud infrastructure, enterprise AI adoption and financing for large-scale compute deployment.
Blackstone Expands Data Center FootprintBlackstone said that its data center platform reached $185 billion in total value, including facilities under construction, from $130 billion at the start of the year. Management expects the platform to double over the next few years if its pipeline develops as planned.
The company also launched BXDC, a stabilized data center REIT, which raised $2 billion through its initial public offering. Management said that the vehicle provides public market investors access to newly constructed data centers.
During analyst discussions, Jonathan Gray, president and COO, said that demand for compute remains ahead of available supply. He noted that shortages in data center capacity, energy availability and related infrastructure are supporting investment opportunities.
BX Sees Broad Fundraising MomentumPresident and COO Jonathan Gray said that Blackstone continues to see strong investor demand across institutional, insurance and individual investor channels.
The firm’s institutional business continued expanding, with infrastructure assets under management increasing 40% year over year to $90 billion. BXMA assets under management grew 21% to $108.6 billion.
Blackstone’s private wealth channel also remained a key growth area, with assets under management rising 16% year over year to $324 billion. Management highlighted improving flows and new products designed to broaden investor access.
United Credit Platform Gains ScaleBlackstone’s credit and insurance platform continued expanding, with assets under management increasing 15% year over year to $469.3 billion. The segment received $31 billion in inflows during the quarter.
Management pointed to growth in direct lending, infrastructure credit and insurance solutions as important contributors. The firm said that insurance assets under management reached $290 billion, supported by continued partnerships with insurers.
During the Q&A session, a Goldman Sachs analyst asked about wealth channel trends and BCRED redemption activity. Gray said that the overall wealth platform remained strong, with redemption requests for BCRED declining materially from the earlier levels.
Blackstone Highlights Earnings DriversChief financial officer Michael Chae said that distributable earnings increased 26% year over year to $2 billion, supported by growth in fee-related earnings and net realizations.
Fee-related earnings increased 22% year over year to $1.8 billion, whereas fee revenues rose 22% to $3 billion. Management cited growth across private equity, real estate, BXMA and credit businesses.
Net accrued performance revenues increased to $7.5 billion, reflecting appreciation across investment strategies. Management highlighted AI-related holdings as major contributors to second-quarter portfolio gains.
BX Maintains Focus on Capital DeploymentAnalysts also questioned Blackstone’s capital allocation approach, given the opportunity in AI and infrastructure. Management said that it remains committed to returning cash earnings to shareholders through dividend payments, while continuing to invest in growth opportunities.
The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.29 per share. Blackstone ended the quarter with $12.2 billion in total cash, corporate treasury and other investments.
Management’s message centered on expanding private market access, deploying capital into long-duration themes and leveraging its scale across investment strategies.
Zacks Rank & Style ScoresBX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions and is designed to help identify stocks with potential relative performance over the next one to three months. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The stock has a Value Score of C, a Growth Score of D, a Momentum Score of F and a VGM Score of F. Zacks Style Scores range from A to F, with higher scores representing stronger characteristics for their respective investment styles.
The combination of a Zacks Rank #3 and weaker Style Scores indicates mixed characteristics across value, growth and momentum factors. The Zacks Rank can change as earnings estimates are revised following the quarterly results.
SummaryBlackstone reported very strong Q2 results.However, it remains out of favor with Mr. Market.I take a look at the headwinds and share why I believe that the current stock price weakness presents a golden buying opportunity.Looking for a portfolio of ideas like this one? Members of High Yield Investor get exclusive access to our subscriber-only portfolios. Learn More » MicroStockHub/E+ via Getty Images
About three months ago, I wrote an analysis of Blackstone (BX) Q1 results and highlighted that I believed it was a great buy on the post-earnings dip. Since then, the stock has generated positive
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Stephen Schwarzman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone Group, attends the 55th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesNEW YORK, July 23 (Reuters) - Blackstone (BX.N), opens new tab is working to address the societal and environmental implications of artificial intelligence development, CEO Stephen Schwarzman said on Thursday, as opposition to data center construction mounts in the U.S.
Blackstone, opens new tab and other private capital firms are pouring tens of billions of dollars into businesses and infrastructure that aim to increase compute capacity and run power-hungry models.
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But the otherwise deeply divided American electorate is united across party lines when confronted by the pace of data center construction, and only 14% would support one being built in their community for technology firms, according to a June Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Blackstone is working closely with portfolio companies including data-center businesses "to address the workforce, environmental and community implications of development through the creation of union jobs, workforce training, water-free cooling systems, expanded power generation and significant local economic investment," Schwarzman said on a conference call.
While the impact of AI could echo the industrial revolution, which eventually raised living standards, Schwarzman said, "Major change of this type also creates anxiety due to the uncertainty of how the technology will evolve."
Data-center operator QTS, which Blackstone took private for $10 billion in 2021, said earlier this month that it had terminated a project in Virginia after years of planning. The project had faced strong local opposition and litigation, despite being approved by county authorities.
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration sees AI development as a race against China, but is also working to shield households from an attendant rise in energy costs.
Schwarzman, a longtime Trump donor, said he had personally been "spending a lot of time with leaders in the industry and various policymakers thinking about how to address these critical issues, while also preserving the advance of America's AI leadership."
Reporting by Isla Binnie; Editing by Nia Williams
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Isla Binnie reports on how company directors and executives manage stakeholder and shareholder interests, with a focus on compensation, corporate crises, dealmaking and succession. She also covers how politics, regulation, environmental issues and the broader economy affect boardroom discussions. Isla previously covered business, politics and general news in Spain and Italy. She trained with Reuters in London and covered emerging markets debt for the International Financing Review (IFR).
Basil writes stories across the U.S. finance file including banks, asset managers, payment firms, insurers, and exchange operators. He also covers initial public offerings on U.S. exchanges and venture capital funding.
AI Consolidation Begins: Blackstone & Google Forge an AI EmpireBlackstone NYSE: BX reported sharply higher second-quarter 2026 earnings as executives said the firm’s early and aggressive positioning around artificial intelligence infrastructure is driving investment performance, fundraising and new business formation across the platform.
Weston Tucker, Blackstone’s Head of Shareholder Relations, said the firm reported GAAP net income of $2.4 billion for the quarter. Distributable earnings were $2 billion, or $1.52 per common share, and Blackstone declared a dividend of $1.29 per share, payable to holders of record as of August 3.
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As Broadcom Eclipses $2 Trillion, Private Credit Giants Wants InChairman and CEO Steve Schwarzman said distributable earnings rose 26% year-over-year, while fee-related earnings increased 22% and net realizations rose 27%. Total inflows reached nearly $70 billion in the quarter and more than $260 billion over the last 12 months, bringing assets under management to a record $1.35 trillion, up 11% from a year earlier.
AI Infrastructure Remains Central to Blackstone’s Strategy Schwarzman said the largest driver of Blackstone’s recent momentum has been its investments in AI-related areas, including data centers, energy and power, and private AI companies. He said Blackstone has become “one of the largest private capital providers in the AI ecosystem,” giving investors access to opportunities that often cannot be replicated in public markets.
Sony's $4 Billion Bet on Rock & Roll RoyaltiesDuring the quarter, Schwarzman highlighted four AI-related initiatives. Blackstone teamed with Google to build a new AI cloud provider using Google’s TPU chips, with an initial investment of up to $5 billion. The firm also partnered with Anthropic to form a company focused on enterprise adoption of AI-powered solutions. In credit, Blackstone joined Broadcom and another manager to create a financing platform to support Broadcom’s deployment of large-scale AI compute for end customers, providing $35 billion initially for 1 gigawatt of compute. The company also launched BXDC, a Blackstone REIT designed to acquire stabilized, newly built data centers, in a $2 billion offering that Schwarzman described as the largest blind-pool REIT IPO in history.
Blackstone’s data center platform has grown to $185 billion of total value, including facilities under construction, up from $130 billion at the start of the year. Schwarzman said the firm expects to lease more than three times as much capacity this year as in any prior year in its history. He also said the platform could double over the next few years if Blackstone executes on its pipeline.
Executives acknowledged risks around AI. Schwarzman said Blackstone is mindful of “excessive exuberance” and is focusing on risk-adjusted returns and downside protection. He also discussed workforce, environmental and community considerations tied to data center development, including union jobs, workforce training, water-free cooling systems and expanded power generation.
Fundraising Broad-Based Across Institutions, Insurance and Wealth President and COO Jon Gray said Blackstone’s clients are responding to performance with strong inflows across institutions, insurance companies and individual investors, which he called the firm’s “three I’s.”
In infrastructure, Gray said AUM grew 40% year-over-year to $90 billion, supported by investments in digital and energy infrastructure. He said the commingled BIP strategy has generated an 18% net annual return since inception.
Gray also said Blackstone’s Multi-Asset Investing business, BXMA, reached a record $109 billion of AUM, up 21% year-over-year, and delivered 25 consecutive quarters of positive returns for its largest strategy. After the quarter ended, BXMA recorded $4.8 billion of monthly inflows on July 1, which Gray said was its best single month of fundraising.
In institutional drawdown funds, Gray said three strategies reached their hard caps so far in 2026: opportunistic private credit, life sciences and Asia private equity. He said Blackstone expects its new private equity energy transition flagship to reach its hard cap soon as well. Together, those four strategies represent nearly $40 billion.
Blackstone’s Asia private equity flagship closed at $13.1 billion in the quarter, more than double the prior vintage, backed by a 27% net annual return in the previous fund since inception. Gray said Blackstone’s focus on India and Japan has been a key driver of that performance.
Credit and Insurance Platforms Continue to Expand Gray said Blackstone’s combined corporate and real estate credit platform grew to nearly $550 billion, up 13% year-over-year, with $33 billion of inflows in the quarter. Credit represented nearly half of total firm inflows.
He said Blackstone is benefiting from a secular shift toward investment-grade private credit, particularly in insurance. Insurance AUM reached $290 billion, up 15% year-over-year. Gray highlighted a new partnership with Nippon Life, Japan’s largest life insurer, under which Blackstone expects to deploy approximately $10 billion in private credit over the next several years and invest in Nippon Life’s domestic real estate portfolio.
During the question-and-answer session, Gray said insurers are increasingly using private investment-grade credit to compete, because it can provide higher returns at similar or higher ratings levels. He said Blackstone now has 40 clients in its dedicated insurance solutions area, nearly double the number from two years ago, and emphasized that the firm operates with an open architecture model without taking on insurance liabilities.
Private Wealth Growth Offsets BCRED Redemptions Blackstone’s private wealth AUM grew 16% year-over-year to a record $324 billion. Gray said total sales were $8.6 billion in the quarter, with slower activity in April and May amid geopolitical concerns but a strong recovery in June that continued into the third quarter.
BXPE raised $2.4 billion in the quarter, bringing its NAV to more than $25 billion after 10 quarters. Gray said its largest share class has produced a 20% net annualized return since inception, including approximately 8% net in the second quarter. BXINFRA raised about $900 million, bringing its NAV to $6 billion after six quarters.
BREIT raised $1.2 billion, while repurchase requests declined 42% year-over-year and 33% sequentially from the first quarter. Gray said that produced the vehicle’s best “regular way” net flows in nearly four years, adding that BREIT is “clearly back in growth mode.”
BCRED saw $1 billion of gross sales, but repurchase requests exceeded its 5% limit, with roughly 50% fulfilled, leading to net outflows of $1.2 billion. Gray said early third-quarter redemption requests were down materially and attributed the improvement partly to a reduction in negative market commentary around private credit.
Executives Point to IPO Market and Realizations CFO Michael Chae said fee-related earnings rose 22% year-over-year to $1.8 billion, or $1.43 per share. Fee revenues increased 22% to $3 billion, with growth across all four segments: private equity, real estate, BXMA and credit. Transaction and advisory fees nearly doubled year-over-year to a record $321 million.
Chae said net realizations were $414 million, up 27% year-over-year, helped by dispositions including a data center sale and multiple energy portfolio realizations. He said Blackstone’s net accrued performance revenue stood at $7.5 billion, or $6 per share, the highest level in four years.
Executives said the IPO market has strengthened. Gray noted that U.S. IPO activity increased sixfold in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, while global issuance rose more than three-and-a-half-fold. Blackstone has executed three IPOs since May and has eight IPOs on file globally.
Chae said Blackstone expects net realizations to slow sequentially in the third quarter but anticipates a robust fourth quarter and 2027. He also said the firm expects base management fee growth to return to double digits in 2027, supported by drawdowns in private equity funds, growth in perpetual strategies, credit deployment and stabilization in real estate fee trends.
About Blackstone (NYSE:BX)Blackstone Inc NYSE: BX is a global investment firm focused on alternative asset management. Founded in 1985 by Stephen A. Schwarzman and Peter G. Peterson and headquartered in New York City, the firm organizes and manages investment vehicles that acquire and operate businesses, real estate and credit investments, as well as provide hedge fund solutions and other alternative strategies for institutional and individual investors.
Blackstone's business is organized around several principal investment platforms.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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Key Takeaways Blackstone's distributable earnings jumped 26% to $1.52 per share, beating the $1.33 estimate.BX's total AUM climbed 11% to a record $1.35 trillion, fueled by $68.3 billion in quarterly inflows.Blackstone's segment revenues rose 24% to $3.8 billion, while GAAP expenses increased 23%. Blackstone’s (BX - Free Report) second-quarter 2026 distributable earnings of $1.52 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.33. The figure soared 26% from the prior-year quarter.
Results benefited from a rise in assets under management (AUM) and higher revenues. An increase in GAAP expenses was the undermining factor.
Net income attributable to Blackstone was $1.23 billion, surging 61% from the year-ago quarter.
BX’s Segment Revenues Up, GAAP Expenses RiseTotal segment revenues for the reported quarter were $3.8 billion, jumping 24% year over year. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.37 billion. On a GAAP basis, revenues were $5.04 billion, which grew 36%.
Total expenses (GAAP basis) were $2.38 billion, up 23% year over year.
As of June 30, 2026, Blackstone had $12.2 billion in total cash, cash equivalents and corporate treasury investments, and $22.7 billion in cash and net investments. The company has a $4.3-billion credit revolver.
Blackstone’s AUM Balance RisesFee-earning AUM grew 8% year over year to $961.6 billion as of June 30, 2026.
The total AUM amounted to $1.35 trillion, up 11%. The rise in total AUM was primarily driven by $68.3 billion in inflows in the reported quarter.
As of June 30, 2026, the undrawn capital available for investment was $228.1 billion.
BX’s Share Repurchase UpdateDuring the reported quarter, Blackstone repurchased 0.2 million shares.
Our Take on BlackstoneBlackstone is well-positioned for top-line growth, supported by a continuous rise in AUM. The company is expected to keep gaining from its fundraising ability. However, elevated expenses, private credit-related concerns and a tough operating backdrop are headwinds.
Currently, Blackstone carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Earnings Dates & Expectations of Blackstone’s PeersKKR & Co. Inc. (KKR - Free Report) is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 30.
Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for KKR & Co’s quarterly earnings has been revised lower to $1.41. The estimated figure indicates a 19.5% rise from the prior-year quarter.
Ares Management (ARES - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 31.
Over the past week, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ares Management’s quarterly earnings has been revised lower to $1.29. The estimated figure indicates a 25.2% jump from the prior-year quarter.
For the quarter ended June 2026, Blackstone Inc. (BX - Free Report) reported revenue of $3.8 billion, up 23.7% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.52, compared to $1.21 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +12.7% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.37 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.33, the EPS surprise was +14.29%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Blackstone Inc. performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Fee-Earning Assets Under Management Rollforward - Private Equity: $267.82 billion versus $262.28 billion estimated by four analysts on average.Fee-Earning Assets Under Management Rollforward - Real Estate: $277.42 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $278.48 billion.Fee-Earning Assets Under Management Rollforward - Hedge Fund Solutions (Multi-Asset Investing): $98.11 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $92.81 billion.Fee-Earning Assets Under Management Rollforward - Credit & Insurance: $318.24 billion compared to the $323.02 billion average estimate based on four analysts.Segment Revenues- Realized Principal Investment Income: $27.5 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $40.06 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -6.5%.Segment Revenues- Credit & Insurance- Total Management Fees, Net: $572.76 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $516.72 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +21.7%.Segment Revenues- Private Equity- Base Management Fees: $681.44 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $684.56 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +12.6%.Segment Revenues- Multi-Asset Investing- Total Management Fees, Net: $155.88 million compared to the $152.81 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +18.3% year over year.Segment Revenues- Real Estate- Total Management Fees, Net: $727.08 million versus $682.51 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +2.2% change.Segment Revenues- Private Equity- Total Management Fees, Net: $794.58 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $776.89 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +12.5%.Segment Revenues- Total Management and Advisory Fees, Net: $2.25 billion compared to the $2.13 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +11.4% year over year.Segment Revenues- Base Management Fees: $1.96 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $1.99 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +4.5%.View all Key Company Metrics for Blackstone Inc. here>>>
Shares of Blackstone Inc. have returned +8.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Key Takeaways Oil Prices Are Back Up Near $100/bbl on Hostilities in IranWeekly Jobless Claims Drop to Near-60-Year LowsAAL, TMUS, BX and LMT Post Strong Q2 Beats Ahead of the Open Thursday, July 23rd, 2026
Hostilities heating up in the Strait of Hormuz are taking spot oil prices up 4-5% and pre-market futures down precipitously. With the Yemeni Houthis now involved bombing Saudi oil tankers and repeated U.S. air strikes in Iran, WTI oil prices have risen +4% to over $91 per barrel (/bbl) and Brent crude is up +5% to nearly $100/bbl.
The Dow, as a result, is down -560 points at this hour. The S&P 500 is -83 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq is -450. The small-cap Russell 2000 is -27 points at this hour. This, despite mostly positive data in earnings reports yesterday afternoon from Texas Instruments (TXN - Free Report) , Southwest Airlines (LUV - Free Report) and most especially Alphabet (GOOGL - Free Report) . All these stocks are down in today’s pre-market trading session.
Jobless Claims Back to 1960s Lows: 187K, 1.796M
Prior to the Covid pandemic, which pushed jobless claims up to record highs in the first half of 2020, we saw Weekly Jobless Claims reduce to lows not seen since Jimi Hendrix was on the album charts (album charts? ask your parents) in the late 1960s. We’re back there again this morning: Initial Jobless Claims reached 187K for last week, well below the 212K expected and the slightly upwardly revised 209K the previous week.
For Continuing Claims, more of the same: 1.796 million is below the downwardly revised 1.798 million from the prior week, the lowest print since the week of May 30th, which included the Memorial Day holiday. A year ago, we were well above 1.9 million longer-term jobless claims (without ever hitting the psychologically important 2 million jobless claims), but we haven’t touched 1.9 million at all in 2026 so far.
Q2 Earnings Results at a Glance
The world’s largest airline, American Airlines (AAL - Free Report) , posted a whopping +400% positive earnings surprise this morning, swinging to a positive earnings result from a year ago to $0.15 per share. Revenues of $16.74 billion also beat estimates, by a decidedly less eye-popping +0.22%, but up big from the $14.39 billion reported in the year-ago quarter. Fuel costs in upcoming quarters is weighing on the share price this morning, however. For more on AAL’s earnings, click here.
T-Mobile U.S. (TMUS - Free Report) shares are trading down -5% at this hour, despite reporting a +25.7% earnings beat to $3.13 per share this morning, well ahead of the $2.84 per share posted in the year-ago quarter. Revenues came in at $22.79 billion, a +0.21% improvement from estimates and the $21.13 billion from Q2 2025. For more on TMUS’ earnings, click here.
Investment bank Blackstone (BX - Free Report) shares are flattish this morning — considered good news in the current trading climate — after surpassing earnings expectations by +14.3% to $1.52 per share. Revenues surprised by a solid +12.7% to $3.8 billion in the quarter. Shares are still down -20% year to date, but it’s nice to see the stock not being further gutted in this morning’s selloff. For more on BX’s earnings, click here.
Aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin (LMT - Free Report) shares are up in today’s pre-market by +5.5%, partly on increased tensions in the Middle East which may push up demand for military operation products and services, and partly on a strong Q2 performance. Earnings of $7.94 per share outpaced estimates by +9.97%, up from the $7.29 per share reported a year ago. Revenues of $20.06 billion beat forecasts by +3.26% this morning. For more on LMT’s earnings, click here.
Blackstone Inc (BX) released its 8-K filing on July 23, 2026, presenting its second-quarter earnings results. The world's largest alternative asset manager repo
Bloomberg's Loukia Gyftopoulou joins Dani Burger and Scarlet Fu on "Bloomberg Deals." Blackstone is unveiling new funds to bring private markets to main street investors.
Blackstone Inc. (BX - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.52 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.33 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.21 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +14.29%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this investment manager would post earnings of $1.35 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.36, delivering a surprise of +0.74%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Blackstone Inc., which belongs to the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, posted revenues of $3.8 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.70%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $3.07 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Blackstone Inc. shares have lost about 20.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 9.6%.
What's Next for Blackstone Inc.?While Blackstone Inc. has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Blackstone Inc. was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.45 on $3.64 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $5.85 on $14.68 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Financial - Miscellaneous Services is currently in the bottom 25% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, PRA Group (PRAA - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026.
This debt collector is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.52 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -51.9%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
PRA Group's revenues are expected to be $313.07 million, up 8.8% from the year-ago quarter.
A logo of Blackstone is pictured in Manhattan, New York City, U.S. July 29, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
SummaryCompaniesInflows boost assets under management to $1.35 trillionNine of Blackstone's 10 best-performing holdings are tied to AIBlackstone is deepening ties with AI innovators - CEO SchwarzmanJuly 23 (Reuters) - Blackstone (BX.N), opens new tab, the world's largest alternative asset manager, reported rising income for the second quarter on Thursday, buoyed by growing assets under management and reaping profit from a mammoth bet on artificial intelligence.
The New York-based company said inflows in the quarter pushed total assets to $1.35 trillion, while distributable earnings, or profit available to shareholders, rose 26% on a per-share basis to $1.52.
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Blackstone shares rose 2.7% in premarket trading. The stock has slipped 20% this year through last close.
Deals to sell a stake in three data centers to Digital Realty and a majority holding in power infrastructure company Sabre Industries to TPG (TPG.O), opens new tab helped push its haul from monetizing assets to $31.8 billion.
Market volatility had hampered some deals in the first quarter, but Blackstone picked up the pace in the second.
It also benefited from the listings of advertising technology company Liftoff Mobile (LFTO.O), opens new tab, a data center investment vehicle called Blackstone Digital Infrastructure Trust (BXDC.N), opens new tab and Indian office REIT Bagmane (BAGM.NS), opens new tab.
Blackstone is betting heavily on the growth of AI and is joining peer Apollo (APO.N), opens new tab in a $35 billion financing for custom chips to be used by Claude Code creator Anthropic.
Nine of its top 10 best-appreciating investments are linked to AI, Blackstone said. These include a stake in Anthropic and its data center businesses. Blackstone took data center platform QTS private for $10 billion in 2021.
CEO Stephen Schwarzman said the firm had decided to "lean into the artificial intelligence megatrend". He said the company becoming "a trusted partner at scale to many of the key innovators" had positioned it well for the future.
Worries that AI will disrupt software businesses have weighed in recent months on private equity and credit firms that both invested in and lent to those companies in droves. This has contributed to scrutiny on how they value assets.
Amid the upset, wealthy individuals, whose assets represent almost a quarter of the total Blackstone manages, have sought to withdraw money from private credit funds in particular.
The retail flagship Blackstone Private Credit Fund BCRED raised $1 billion in the quarter, down from $1.9 billion in the previous quarter and $3.7 billion in the same period of 2025.
Net returns from private credit improved to 0.4% from flat in the first quarter, but remained below 2.2% from a year ago.
Blackstone Private Equity Strategies and infrastructure fund BXINFRA, which are also offered to wealthy individuals, raised $2.4 billion and $861 million, respectively. Real estate investment trust BREIT, which started exercising a right to block investor redemptions in 2022, pulled in $1.2 billion.
Reporting by Isla Binnie in New York and Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Isla Binnie reports on how company directors and executives manage stakeholder and shareholder interests, with a focus on compensation, corporate crises, dealmaking and succession. She also covers how politics, regulation, environmental issues and the broader economy affect boardroom discussions. Isla previously covered business, politics and general news in Spain and Italy. She trained with Reuters in London and covered emerging markets debt for the International Financing Review (IFR).
BOSTON & VALLEY FORGE, Pa. & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wellington Management (“Wellington”), Vanguard, and Blackstone (NYSE: BX) today announced the launch of two new investment solutions created as part of their recently formed strategic alliance and designed to give eligible investors simplified access to professionally managed portfolios that combine public and private markets.
WVB All Markets Fund, a multi-asset solution for investors who want to simplify the integration of public and private markets. The fund will integrate Wellington’s expertise in active public equities, Vanguard’s strengths in active fixed income and index strategies, with exposure to Blackstone’s leading perpetual private markets platform. The fund will trade under the tickers WVBIX, WVBAX, and WVBMX. WVB Blackstone All Privates Fund, a professionally managed solution providing a simple access point to Blackstone’s leading perpetual private markets platform, including private equity, private infrastructure, private real estate, and private credit in a single allocation. The new closed-end funds will be available at launch to Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank clients, providing advisors on one of the industry’s leading wealth management platforms with access to the first solutions from the strategic alliance. The alliance also anticipates broad participation and adoption from the RIA community, and will explore additional distribution opportunities across the wealth ecosystem over time.
The solutions aim to help advisors build more diversified portfolios for high-net-worth and mass-affluent clients in a simplified investment framework. The funds are intended to help advisors construct long-term portfolios that seek strong performance, long-term growth, and broad portfolio diversification.
A Powerful Alliance of Investment Leaders
The WVB All Markets Fund and WVB Blackstone All Privates Fund bring together:
Wellington’s nearly 100-year heritage of active management, fundamental research, and multi-asset allocation expertise; Vanguard’s 50-year legacy of delivering high-performing active strategies and index funds1 with a relentless focus on cost efficiency and investor outcomes; and Blackstone’s 40-year track record of cycle-tested performance and leadership position as the world’s largest alternative asset manager and number one provider of private markets solutions for individuals. Together, the firms are uniquely positioned to deliver integrated investment solutions that were historically available primarily to large institutions. To expand access to their collective strengths, Wellington, Vanguard, and Blackstone are actively exploring additional product structures to support retirement savers, financial advisors, and individual investors.
Mark Sutterlin, Head of Alternative Investments, Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank, said:
“Our clients are increasingly seeking broader access to private markets and for thoughtful ways to implement these strategies over time. Our scale and integrated platforms are expanding access to differentiated investment opportunities that can support more resilient long-term portfolios.”
Jean M. Hynes, CEO and Managing Partner, Wellington Management, said:
“The launch of the WVB All Markets and WVB Blackstone All Privates Funds reflects the strength of our strategic alliance with Vanguard and Blackstone. By combining our deep active management and asset allocation capabilities with Vanguard’s scale and expertise in fixed income and indexing and Blackstone’s leadership in private markets, we are delivering thoughtfully constructed solutions designed to meet investors’ evolving needs. We are particularly pleased to introduce these funds initially through the powerful Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank platforms.”
Greg Davis, President and CIO of Vanguard, said:
“For five decades, Vanguard has worked to improve investor outcomes through disciplined active management, low-cost index strategies, and a client-focused approach. Through this collaboration with Wellington and Blackstone, we are extending that mission into integrated public and private market solutions. Launching these funds with Bank of America Private Bank and Merrill is an important first step in expanding access to those solutions.”
Jon Gray, President and COO of Blackstone, said:
“Blackstone has delivered performance in private markets for individuals for more than two decades, helping them access the premium returns, lower volatility, and diversification that private markets can provide. These new solutions bring together the performance and scale of Blackstone’s private markets platform with the exceptional strengths of Wellington and Vanguard, creating simple and comprehensive access for advisors and their clients to help build long-term wealth.”
1 For the 10-year period ending June 30, 2026, 77% of Vanguard funds outperformed the average return of their peer group, or 260 of 336 Vanguard funds. Results will vary for other time periods. Only funds with a minimum ten-year history were included in the comparison. Source: LSEG Lipper. Note that the competitive performance data shown represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results, and that all investments are subject to risks. For the most recent performance, visit our website at www.vanguard.com/performance.
Wellington is the investment manager of the funds. Blackstone and Vanguard are not sponsors, promoters, investment advisers, sub-advisers, underwriters, or affiliates of the funds.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing in a Wellington fund. A prospectus containing this and other information about the Funds may be obtained by calling 888-287-3403 or by visiting http://www.wvbfunds.com/. Investors should read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. For US investors only.
About Wellington Management
Wellington Management is one of the world’s largest independent investment management firms, serving as a trusted adviser to over 2,500 clients in more than 60 countries. The firm manages more than US$1.35 trillion, as of April 30, 2026, for pensions, endowments and foundations, insurers, family offices, fund sponsors, global wealth managers, and other clients. Wellington aspires to provide excellent service to clients through a unique combination of independence enabled by its distinctive private partnership model, diverse perspectives through its unified, multi-asset investment platform, and relentless curiosity and intellectual rigor fostered by its enduring collaborative culture. For more information, visit wellington.com.
About Vanguard
Founded in 1975, Vanguard is one of the world's leading investment management companies. The firm offers investments, advice, and retirement services to tens of millions of individual investors around the globe—directly, through workplace plans, and through financial intermediaries. Vanguard operates under a unique, investor-owned structure and adheres to a simple purpose: to give investors the best chance for investment success. For more information, visit vanguard.com.
About Blackstone
Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which the firm invests. Blackstone’s over $1.3 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, credit, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com.
Important disclosures
Wellington Management, Vanguard and Blackstone are not affiliated. The firms maintain a strategic alliance to deliver public-private investment solutions to investors. Statements in support of each party are made in this capacity and not as a current client or investor. While there is no direct compensation provided for these statements, each party has a conflict of interest in making statements in support of the other parties as a result of the firms’ alliance, including expense sharing thereunder.
All investing is subject to risk, including possible loss of the money you invest. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. Private investments involve a high degree of risk and, therefore, should be undertaken only by prospective investors capable of evaluating and bearing the risks such an investment represents. Investors in private investments generally must meet certain minimum financial qualifications that may make it unsuitable for specific market participants.
An investment in the Funds involve a high degree of risk and other considerations and, therefore, should be undertaken only by investors capable of evaluating the risks of the Funds and bearing the risks they represent. Prospective investors should carefully consider the following factors, in addition to the matters set forth elsewhere in the prospectus, prior to investing in the Funds. Below is a summary of some of the risks of investing in the Funds. For a more complete discussion of the risks of investing in each Fund, see “Types of Investments and Related Risks.” in each Fund’s prospectus. Investors should consider carefully the following risks and those risks set forth in the “Types of Investments and Related Risks” section before investing in the Funds.
There is not expected to be any secondary trading market in either Fund’s Shares. Thus, an investment in the Funds may not be suitable for investors who may need the money they invest within a specified timeframe.
Unlike many closed-end funds, the Shares are not listed on any securities exchange. Liquidity for the Shares is expected to be provided only through quarterly tender or repurchase offers, as applicable, of the Shares at net asset value (“NAV”) per share. There is no guarantee that repurchases will occur or that an investor will be able to sell all the Shares that the investor desires to sell in a tender or repurchase offer, as applicable, nor will the Shares be exchangeable for shares of any other fund. Due to these restrictions, an investor should consider the Funds to offer limited liquidity. Investing in the Shares may be speculative and involves a high degree of risk, including the risks associated with leverage. Underlying Exposure to private markets, passively managed equities and public fixed income assets shall be obtained through allocations of the Funds’ assets by the Adviser to investment vehicles (each, an “Underlying Fund”) managed by affiliates of Blackstone Inc. (together with its affiliates, “Blackstone”) or by The Vanguard Group, Inc. or its affiliates (together with its affiliates, “Vanguard”), as applicable. Interests in certain Underlying Funds are illiquid and may only be redeemed during periodic repurchase offers pursuant to which such Underlying Funds repurchase limited amounts of their outstanding shares at the Underlying Fund’s discretion. An Underlying Fund may accept less than the amount of Underlying Fund shares that the Fund tenders in a repurchase offer. There is no regular market for interests in such Underlying Funds, which typically must be sold in privately negotiated transactions. Any such sales would likely require the consent of the Underlying Fund’s manager and could occur at a discount to the stated NAV. If the Advisor determines to cause the Fund to sell its interest in an Underlying Fund, the Fund may be unable to sell such interest quickly, if at all, and could therefore be obligated to continue to hold such interest for an extended period of time, or to accept a lower price for a more expeditious sale. This document may contain certain statements deemed to be forward-looking statements. All statements, other than historical facts, contained within this document that address activities, events or developments that Wellington Management expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Wellington Management in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances, many of which are detailed herein. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks, uncertainties, many of which are beyond Wellington Management's control. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
Wellington Management, Vanguard and Blackstone are launching two funds that will offer investments in both public and private markets for a growing cohort of wealthy individuals, the companies said on Wednesday.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blackstone Digital Infrastructure Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BXDC) (the “Company”) announced today that it will host its second-quarter 2026 investor conference call via public webcast on August 4, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. E.T. The Company will report its second-quarter results prior to the call the morning of August 4, 2026. To register for the investor call, please use the following link: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1767809&tp_key=25f3f3efbf For those unable to.
Key Takeaways Blackstone's Q2 revenues are estimated at $3.34 billion, up 8.7% year over year.BX's total AUM is projected to rise 10.2% to $1.34 trillion, supported by higher inflows.Blackstone estimated realization revenues topped $500 million from April 1 through June 23. Blackstone (BX - Free Report) is scheduled to announce second-quarter 2026 results on July 23, before the opening bell. As the world’s leading alternative asset manager, the company's results are likely to be closely watched for insights into how it and its peers deployed capital amid macroeconomic volatility.
In the first quarter, BX delivered a decent performance, with assets under management (AUM) and revenue growth despite private credit concerns. This time, the company is expected to have recorded a similar performance. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $3.34 billion, which implies an 8.7% year-over-year improvement.
In the past seven days, the consensus estimate for the company’s earnings has been revised 1.5% lower to $1.31. This indicates 8.3% growth.
Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BX has an impressive earnings surprise history. The company’s earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average beat being 12.63%.
Earnings Surprise History
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Major Factors to Impact BX’s Q2 EarningsBlackstone has been recording an increase in fee-earning AUM and total AUM on the back of its diversified product and revenue mix, superior position in the alternative investments space and net inflows. Given the high market volatility and increased client activity in the second quarter, the company is expected to have witnessed a rise in the AUM balance as inflows grew. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total AUM of $1.34 trillion indicates growth of 10.2% from the prior-year quarter. The consensus estimate for total fee-earning AUM of $962.3 billion suggests a rise of 8.5%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total management and advisory fees (segment revenues) is pegged at $2.12 billion, which indicates a 5.2% increase. The consensus estimate for fee-related performance revenues (segment revenues) of $514.7 suggests a jump 9% because of robust market performance during the second quarter.
Additionally, Blackstone expects profits from deal exits to have been solid in the to-be-reported quarter. Per the company’s preliminary estimate, revenues from realization activities were more than $500 million between April 1 and June 23, 2026.
The consensus estimate for realized performance revenues and realized principal investment income is pegged at $705.7 million and $40.1 million, respectively. In the second quarter of 2025, Blackstone generated $553.1 million of realized performance revenues and $29.4 million of principal investment income.
Blackstone’s expenses have been increasing over the past few years, mainly because of higher general, administrative and other expenses. As the company has continued to invest in franchises, expenses are expected to have risen to some extent in the second quarter.
What Our Model Unveils for BlackstonePer our proven model, the chances of Blackstone beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings this time are high. This is because it has the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold), which is required to be confident of an earnings beat.
BX has an Earnings ESP of +0.16%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Blackstone carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
BX’s Price PerformanceBlackstone shares have gained 2.3% in the second quarter compared with the industry’s rally of 4%. The stock has underperformed Apollo Global (APO - Free Report) , but outpaced KKR & Co. (KKR - Free Report) .
2Q26 BX Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Apollo Global is slated to report quarterly results on Aug. 4, before the opening bell, while KKR & Co. is scheduled to report results on July 30.
Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Apollo Global’s second-quarter 2026 earnings has been unchanged at $2.21. The consensus estimate for KKR & Co.’s second-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised upward to $1.43 over the past week. At present, both APO and KKR also carry a Zacks Rank #3.
In its upcoming report, Blackstone Inc. (BX - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $1.31 per share, reflecting an increase of 8.3% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $3.34 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 8.7%.
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.4% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.
Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.
While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.
That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Blackstone Inc. metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.
Analysts expect 'Segment Revenues- Realized Principal Investment Income' to come in at $40.06 million. The estimate points to a change of +36.1% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus among analysts is that 'Segment Revenues- Credit & Insurance- Total Management Fees, Net' will reach $516.85 million. The estimate indicates a change of +9.8% from the prior-year quarter.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Segment Revenues- Private Equity- Base Management Fees' of $684.68 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +13.2%.
Analysts forecast 'Segment Revenues- Multi-Asset Investing- Total Management Fees, Net' to reach $152.81 million. The estimate suggests a change of +15.9% year over year.
Analysts predict that the 'Fee-Earning Assets Under Management Rollforward - Private Equity' will reach $267.57 billion. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $232.16 billion in the same quarter of the previous year.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Fee-Earning Assets Under Management Rollforward - Real Estate' will likely reach $278.73 billion. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $285.83 billion in the same quarter last year.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Fee-Earning Assets Under Management Rollforward - Hedge Fund Solutions (Multi-Asset Investing)' should arrive at $92.81 billion. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $80.20 billion in the same quarter of the previous year.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Fee-Earning Assets Under Management Rollforward - Credit & Insurance' will reach $323.59 billion. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $288.93 billion.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Fee-Earning Assets Under Management' reaching $962.31 billion. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $887.11 billion in the same quarter last year.
The consensus estimate for 'Total Assets Under Management - Hedge Fund Solutions (Multi-Asset Investing)' stands at $103.36 billion. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $90.01 billion.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Total Assets Under Management - Credit & Insurance' should come in at $469.39 billion. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $407.30 billion in the same quarter last year.
The average prediction of analysts places 'Total Assets Under Management - Real Estate' at $318.42 billion. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $324.99 billion.
View all Key Company Metrics for Blackstone Inc. here>>>
Over the past month, shares of Blackstone Inc. have returned +2.5% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. Currently, BX carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggesting that its performance may align with the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Blackstone has invested in Futronic, a supplier of high-precision actuators serving automotive and industrial robotics sectors, the world's largest alternative asset manager said on Monday.
