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Introduction & Market Context
KKR & Co (NYSE:KKR) showcased strong financial performance in its first quarter 2025 presentation, highlighting how its diversified business model continues to drive growth across multiple segments. The private equity giant, which recently reported earnings that exceeded analyst expectations, has leveraged its three-pronged approach to achieve significant gains in assets under management (AUM) and profitability.
The company’s stock has responded positively to these results, trading near $121 after rising 0.85% in premarket trading on June 18, 2025. While still below its 52-week high of $170.40, KKR’s shares have shown resilience despite market volatility, reflecting investor confidence in the firm’s strategic direction.
Quarterly Performance Highlights
KKR delivered impressive year-over-year growth across key financial metrics in the first quarter of 2025. The company reported a 37% increase in both Fee Related Earnings and Adjusted Net Income compared to the same period last year, while Management Fees grew by 15%.
As shown in the following chart detailing KKR’s performance metrics for Q1 2025:
These strong results align with KKR’s official earnings report, which showed an EPS of $1.15 against a forecast of $1.13, and revenue of $3.11 billion significantly outperforming the expected $1.71 billion. The company’s fundraising momentum remained robust, with $114 billion raised in the last twelve months, while capital deployment reached $88 billion. Monetizations also showed strength, increasing 49% year-over-year to $2.6 billion.
Strategic Growth Engines
KKR’s presentation emphasized its three interconnected growth engines: Asset Management, Insurance, and Strategic Holdings. This diversified approach has enabled the firm to expand its AUM from $218 billion in 2019 to $664 billion as of Q1 2025, representing a compound annual growth rate of 18%.
The company’s strategic positioning for future growth is illustrated in this comprehensive model:
The Asset Management segment continues to be a cornerstone of KKR’s business, with diversified AUM across Credit & Liquid Strategies ($284 billion), Private Equity ($209 billion), and Real Assets ($171 billion). The firm’s global presence spans 28 offices across four continents, allowing it to capitalize on investment opportunities worldwide.
The evolution and growth of KKR’s business across its three segments is clearly demonstrated in this comparative analysis:
Global Atlantic Integration
A significant driver of KKR’s recent growth has been its acquisition of Global Atlantic, a leading insurance company with a 20-year track record. In January 2024, KKR completed the acquisition by purchasing the remaining stake in Global Atlantic, increasing its ownership to 100%.
The following overview highlights Global Atlantic’s scale and strategic importance to KKR:
With $197 billion in Assets Under Management, Global Atlantic has established itself as a top-tier player in the insurance industry, ranking among the top 6 in Fixed Annuities. The company operates through two complementary channels: Individual Markets (annuity and life insurance products) and Institutional Markets (reinsurance for insurance companies).
The integration of Global Atlantic has created what KKR calls a "multiplier effect," with each business helping to scale the other. Global Atlantic’s originations have more than doubled since the acquisition, while KKR’s existing platforms serving insurance clients have grown sixfold.
Future Growth Potential
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of KKR’s presentation was the emphasis on untapped growth potential. The company revealed that more than 50% of its AUM is not yet scaled, and over 80% of its strategies remain in early development stages.
This growth potential is visualized in the following product lifecycle analysis:
KKR’s private wealth strategy represents another significant growth opportunity. The firm’s K-Series AUM more than doubled from $9 billion in April 2024 to $22 billion in April 2025, demonstrating strong traction in this segment. Additionally, KKR launched a partnership with Capital Group in April 2025, introducing two public-private fixed income investment solutions.
Core Private Equity Strategy
KKR’s Core Private Equity strategy, which forms the foundation of its Strategic Holdings segment, has shown impressive growth since 2018. The strategy focuses on long-duration investments in high-quality businesses with lower leverage and strong cash generation.
The diversification and performance of KKR’s Core PE portfolio is illustrated here:
The portfolio has achieved approximately 16% annualized like-for-like revenue growth and 18% annualized like-for-like EBITDA growth since 2018, demonstrating the effectiveness of KKR’s investment approach in this segment.
Forward-Looking Statements
Looking ahead, KKR remains optimistic about its growth trajectory. The company’s presentation highlighted over 30 strategies targeted to raise capital in the next 12-18 months, including major flagship funds across Private Equity, Real Assets, and Credit.
During the earnings call, Co-CEO Scott Nuttall emphasized that "volatility brings opportunity," while CFO Rob Lewin noted that the company is "using that to lean in and source attractive investment opportunities." These comments align with KKR’s historical approach of capitalizing on market dislocations to generate long-term value.
The company projects continued growth in management fees and expects EPS to reach $1.25 in Q2 2025 and $1.39 in Q3 2025, according to forecasts cited in recent earnings coverage. With its diversified business model, global footprint, and significant untapped growth potential, KKR appears well-positioned to navigate market challenges while pursuing its long-term strategic objectives.
Full presentation:
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