BX's Q3 Earnings Decline Y/Y Despite Record AUM Amid Tough Environment

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BX's Q3 Earnings Decline Y/Y Despite Record AUM Amid Tough Environment

Blackstone’s BX third-quarter 2026 distributable earnings of $1.32 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.26. However, the bottom line declined 13% from the prior-year quarter.

Results benefited from a rise in the assets under management (AUM) balance to record levels and higher fee-related earnings. However, a decline in segment revenues was the undermining factor.

Net income attributable to Blackstone was $662.4 million, rising 6% from the year-ago quarter.

BX’s Segment Revenues Decline, GAAP Expenses Fall

Total segment revenues for the reported quarter were $3.22 billion, declining 3% year over year. On a GAAP basis, revenues were $3.06 billion, which declined 1%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues was $3.12 billion.

Total expenses (GAAP basis) were $1.63 billion, down 7% year over year.

Fee-related earnings were $1.57 billion, up 6% year over year. Management and advisory fees, net, increased 6% to $2.16 billion, while fee-related performance revenues rose 19% to $540.1 million.

As of Sept. 30, 2026, Blackstone had $13.2 billion in total cash, cash equivalents, corporate treasury and other investments, and $23.5 billion in cash and net investments. The company has a $4.3-billion credit revolver, of which $3.6 billion was undrawn.

Blackstone’s AUM Balance Rises to Record Levels

Fee-earning AUM grew 9% year over year to $989.7 billion as of Sept. 30, 2026.

The total AUM amounted to $1.37 trillion, up 10%. The rise in total AUM was supported by $63.3 billion in inflows in the reported quarter.

As of Sept. 30, 2026, the total dry powder available for future investments was $228.9 billion.

BX’s Share Repurchase Update

During the reported quarter, Blackstone repurchased 0.2 million shares. The remaining share repurchase authorization was $1.6 billion as of Sept. 30, 2026.

Our Take on Blackstone

BX’s AUM growth and continued inflows across its investment strategies support its fee-related earnings. However, lower segment revenues, a decline in distributable earnings and weakness in real estate opportunistic fund performance remain concerning.

Blackstone Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Blackstone Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Blackstone Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Blackstone Inc. Quote

Currently, Blackstone carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Earnings Dates & Expectations of Blackstone’s Peers

KKR & Co. Inc. KKR is set to report third-quarter 2026 results on Nov. 9.

Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for KKR’s quarterly earnings has been revised lower to $1.59. The estimated figure indicates a 12.8% rise from the prior-year quarter.

Ares Management ARES is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 29.

Over the past week, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ares Management’s quarterly earnings has been revised lower to $1.25. The estimated figure indicates a 5% rise from the prior-year quarter’s actual.

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Blackstone Inc. (BX): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Ares Management Corporation (ARES): Free Stock Analysis Report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research