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Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) reported its second quarter 2025 financial results on July 16, showcasing record Assets Under Supervision (AUS) of $3.29 trillion while delivering mixed performance across its business segments. The banking giant announced a 33% increase in its quarterly dividend despite sequential declines in several key metrics compared to the strong first quarter.
Quarterly Performance Highlights
Goldman Sachs reported net revenues of $14.58 billion for Q2 2025, down 3% quarter-over-quarter but up 15% year-over-year. Net earnings came in at $3.72 billion, translating to earnings per share (EPS) of $10.91, representing a 23% decline from Q1’s $14.12 but a 27% increase year-over-year.
The firm’s return on equity (ROE) stood at 12.8%, down from the 16.9% reported in Q1 2025, while return on tangible equity (ROTE) was 13.6%. Book value per share increased to $349.74, reflecting 3.9% growth year-to-date.
As shown in the following comprehensive results snapshot:
In premarket trading following the release, Goldman Sachs shares were up 1.65% to $714.10, indicating a positive initial market reaction despite the sequential earnings decline.
Global Banking & Markets Performance
The Global Banking & Markets segment continued to be the firm’s primary revenue driver, generating $10.12 billion in net revenues, down 5% quarter-over-quarter but up 24% year-over-year. This segment accounted for approximately 69% of the firm’s total revenue.
Advisory services showed remarkable strength with revenues of $1.17 billion, up 48% quarter-over-quarter and 71% year-over-year, reflecting Goldman’s continued dominance in M&A activity. Equities revenues reached a record $4.30 billion, up 3% quarter-over-quarter and 36% year-over-year, driven by both intermediation and financing activities.
The financial overview by segment illustrates these trends:
FICC (Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities) revenues declined 21% quarter-over-quarter to $3.47 billion but were still up 9% year-over-year. The segment’s detailed performance breakdown shows:
Asset & Wealth Management Highlights
The Asset & Wealth Management segment reported revenues of $3.78 billion, up 3% quarter-over-quarter but down 3% year-over-year. The standout achievement was reaching record Assets Under Supervision of $3.29 trillion, an increase of $120 billion during the quarter, primarily driven by market appreciation in equity and fixed income assets.
Management and other fees, which provide a stable revenue stream, increased 4% quarter-over-quarter and 11% year-over-year to $2.81 billion, demonstrating continued client engagement and trust.
The following chart details the segment’s financial performance:
The growth in Assets Under Supervision represents a significant milestone for Goldman Sachs, with net inflows of $5 billion during the quarter. The AUS breakdown by asset class and client channel shows the firm’s diversified asset management business:
Alternative investments, a high-margin business for Goldman Sachs, saw AUS increase by $14 billion to $355 billion. The firm reported $18 billion in gross third-party alternatives fundraising across strategies during the quarter, including $7 billion in corporate equity and $6 billion in credit.
Platform Solutions Challenges
The Platform Solutions segment continued to face challenges, reporting a pre-tax loss of $57 million despite revenue growth. Net revenues increased 1% quarter-over-quarter and 2% year-over-year to $685 million, but provision for credit losses jumped 51% quarter-over-quarter to $307 million, indicating potential deterioration in consumer credit quality.
The segment’s financial performance is illustrated below:
Capital Position and Shareholder Returns
Goldman Sachs maintained a strong capital position with a Standardized CET1 capital ratio of 14.9%. The firm’s balance sheet showed total assets of $1.79 trillion and shareholders’ equity of $124 billion.
In a significant move for shareholders, Goldman Sachs announced a 33% increase in its quarterly dividend to $4.00 per common share for the third quarter of 2025, signaling confidence in its financial outlook despite the mixed quarterly results.
The firm’s loan portfolio totaled $217 billion, with approximately 85% secured. The allowance for loan losses and lending commitments stood at $5.29 billion, representing 2.1% of total gross loans at amortized cost.
Forward Outlook
While Goldman Sachs did not provide specific forward guidance in the presentation, the substantial dividend increase suggests management confidence in future performance. The firm’s continued leadership in M&A advisory services, record equities revenues, and growing asset management business provide multiple avenues for growth.
However, the increased credit loss provisions in the Platform Solutions segment and the sequential decline in several key metrics compared to the strong first quarter may indicate some headwinds in the consumer-facing business and potentially more challenging market conditions in the second half of 2025.
The premarket stock price increase of 1.65% to $714.10 suggests investors are focusing on the positive aspects of the results, including the dividend hike and year-over-year growth, rather than the sequential declines from Q1.
Full presentation:
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