On Monday, TD Cowen demonstrated confidence in Ares Management, L.P. (NYSE: NYSE:ARES) shares, by increasing its price target from $158.00 to $162.00, while reiterating a Buy rating on the stock. The firm's optimism follows Ares Management's second-quarter performance, which showed a surge in crucial operational metrics.
The company's growth trajectory appears to align well with the key performance indicators (KPIs) set forth during its May Investor Day, suggesting a robust path toward its 2028 targets. Ares Management has witnessed an acceleration in deployment and has modestly raised its gross inflow outlook for 2024. Wealth management flows have been robust, supported by positive leading indicators.
TD Cowen's analysis also noted that the credit environment remains benign, referencing observations from the end of July. While there is a long-term watch point regarding the retail sector, the current trends seem to favor large-scale players in the industry.
The price target adjustment represents a modest $4.00 increase, underscoring a continued bullish stance on Ares Management's financial prospects. The firm's analysis suggests that Ares Management is on a promising trajectory, with strong inflows and a favorable credit landscape supporting its growth.
In other recent news, Ares Management Corporation reported a robust second-quarter performance, marked by a significant increase in assets under management and strong fundraising results. The company declared a third-quarter common dividend of $0.93 per share, up 21% from the previous year, and invested $26 billion in Q2, marking its second-highest quarter on record. Ares Management's total assets under management have surged to a record $447 billion, an 18% increase year-over-year.
Fee-related earnings saw a growth of 22% due to active deployment and fundraising activities. The company raised $43 billion in the first half of the year and is optimistic about surpassing the $74.5 billion raised in 2023. Ares Management's insurance affiliate, Aspida, also secured $600 million in additional institutional equity, with robust flows from new retail annuity sales.
In terms of future expectations, the firm anticipates solid economic growth and improvements in transaction volume. However, the company also expects a slight increase in default rates and some structural deterioration in the upper middle market credit sector.
As part of its growth strategy, Ares Management plans to launch new products in the private wealth channel, particularly in infrastructure, and is open to exploring merger and acquisition opportunities to scale up in large addressable markets.
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