Keefe analysts lift Ares Management stock target to $180

Published 07/05/2025, 12:46
Keefe analysts lift Ares Management stock target to $180

On Wednesday, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a financial services specialist firm, increased its price target on shares of Ares Management, L.P. (NYSE:ARES) from $164.00 to $180.00 while reiterating an Outperform rating. The adjustment followed Ares Management’s first-quarter earnings that surpassed both Keefe’s expectations and the consensus.

Ares Management reported an earnings beat of $0.11 over Keefe’s estimates and $0.15 over the consensus. The positive variance was attributed to various factors including increased fee-related earnings (FRE) by $0.01, higher performance-related earnings (PRE) by $0.03, a lower tax rate contributing $0.05, and a reduced share count adding another $0.02 to the beat. However, the firm noted that fundraising during the quarter did not meet the expectations set by Keefe or the consensus. Despite this, InvestingPro analysis reveals strong fundamentals with revenue growing at 21% and a robust market capitalization of $52 billion. Get access to 10+ additional ProTips and comprehensive financial metrics with InvestingPro.

In response to the quarterly performance, Keefe analysts have adjusted their forward-looking estimates for Ares Management. The revisions take into account a decrease in management fees, particularly Part 1 fees, and updated projections for interest income and interest expense. Additionally, they have introduced their estimate for the year 2027.

The Keefe analyst elaborated on the rationale behind the price target increase, stating, "We are tweaking our forward estimates driven by lower management fees, along with updated assumptions around interest income & interest expense, and rolling out our 2027 estimate. We raise our PT to $180 from $164, migrating to valuing on discounted 2027E." This statement indicates that the new price target is based on a discounted cash flow model extending to the year 2027, reflecting the firm’s future earnings potential as perceived by the analysts.

In other recent news, Ares Management reported impressive first-quarter 2025 financial results, exceeding Wall Street expectations. The company announced earnings per share of $1.09, surpassing the forecasted $0.98, and revenue of $922 million, which also outperformed expectations of $912.36 million. Ares Management’s strong financial performance was further highlighted by a significant increase in management fees, up 18% year-over-year. Additionally, the firm completed the acquisition of GCP International, which contributed to its robust performance and enhanced infrastructure capabilities. Analysts from TD Cowen and JPMorgan responded to these developments by raising their price targets for Ares Management to $184 and $163, respectively, while maintaining positive ratings. Both firms cited the company’s strong fundamentals and growth potential as reasons for their optimistic outlooks. Ares Management’s resilience in the face of market volatility and its strategic positioning in the alternative and private credit markets have positioned the company well for future growth.

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