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Company

Ares Management Corp

Ticker
ARES
Sector
Industry
Report date
November 7, 2026
Valye AI Score

93

Very high visibility
Recent developments
Recent developments summary

Recent news highlights Ares Management's Q3 2026 earnings surpassing expectations with year-over-year growth in assets under management. The company held detailed earnings calls providing insights into business performance. Additionally, Ares shares crossed the 4% dividend yield mark in early November 2026.

Recent developments:
  • Ares Management reported Q3 2026 earnings that surpassed expectations, with assets under management rising year-over-year [N6][N7].
  • The company held a Q3 2026 earnings call on October 29, 2026, providing detailed commentary on results and business conditions [N4][N5][N8].
  • Ares shares crossed the 4% dividend yield mark as of early November 2026 [N3].
Overview

Ares Management Corp is an asset management firm that earns revenues primarily through fees associated with fund management and investment activities. Its fee streams include administrative fees, transaction fees from loan arrangements, capital markets transaction fees, and various property-related fees such as acquisition, development, leasing, and property management fees. The company also earns sales and distribution fees from perpetual wealth vehicles. Compensation expenses are significant and include salaries, bonuses, incentive-based pay linked to operating performance, and equity compensation designed to align employee interests with shareholders. Ares consolidates entities where it has controlling interests, including Consolidated Funds which contribute a portion of assets under management and revenues. The company manages structured financing vehicles to transfer certain financial interests, which are consolidated in its financial results. As of the third quarter of 2026, Ares reported revenues of approximately $1.26 billion and net income of $85.3 million, with cash and cash equivalents totaling $152.2 million. Recent developments indicate growth in assets under management and positive earnings performance in Q3 2026.

Executive summary

Financial figures (if any) are summarized from the latest available SEC filings and are provided for informational purposes only — not financial advice. Ares Management Corp operates as an asset manager generating revenues from a diversified fee structure including administrative, transaction, capital markets, property-related, and sales-based fees. The company consolidates certain funds where it holds control, impacting reported revenues and expenses. For the quarter ended September 30, 2026, Ares reported revenues of approximately $1.26 billion and net income of $85.3 million, with cash and equivalents of $152.2 million. Recent news highlights rising assets under management and Q3 earnings surpassing expectations, alongside a dividend yield crossing 4%.

Scenarios for ARES

Bull case model:

Ares Management benefits from diversified revenue sources including performance income, administrative fees, and transaction fees across various asset classes. The company's consolidation of funds where it holds control enhances financial reporting and operational efficiency. Recent increases in assets under management and positive earnings results in Q3 2026 demonstrate ongoing business momentum. The firm's structured financing vehicles provide flexibility in capital management and investor solutions. Compensation alignment with shareholder interests supports sustained talent engagement and performance.

Bear case model:

Risks include potential clawback or contingent repayment obligations under fund agreements, which could impact financial results. Consolidation of funds introduces complexity and potential volatility in reported revenues and expenses. The company's performance related compensation is tied to carried interest and incentive fees, which may fluctuate with market conditions. Changes in regulatory or tax environments could affect operations and effective tax rates. Market volatility and economic conditions may impact assets under management and fee income. The firm's reliance on key personnel and the competitive asset management landscape present ongoing challenges.

Moat:

Ares Management's moat is supported by its diversified fee-based revenue streams across multiple asset classes and investment strategies, including direct lending, real estate, and capital markets transactions. Its ability to consolidate funds where it holds control provides operational leverage and financial reporting advantages. The company's structured financing vehicles and transfer of financial interests enable capital raising and risk management tailored to investor needs. Additionally, Ares' compensation structure aligns employee incentives with long-term shareholder value, supporting talent retention and performance. The firm's scale and breadth of investment offerings contribute to competitive positioning in the asset management industry.

Risks overview
Risks summary
The most significant risks relate to financial obligations under fund agreements, variability in performance-based compensation, and the impact of market and regulatory changes on assets under management and revenues.
Risks details:

• Clawback and Contingent Repayment Obligations: Ares may need to pay clawback or contingent repayment obligations under governing agreements with its funds, which could affect financial results [S1].
• Consolidation Complexity and Volatility: Consolidation of funds where Ares holds control can cause fluctuations in reported revenues and expenses, adding complexity to financial reporting [S1].
• Performance Related Compensation Variability: Compensation tied to carried interest and incentive fees may vary significantly with fund performance and market conditions [S1].
• Regulatory and Tax Risks: Changes in U.S. federal, state, local, or foreign tax laws and regulations could impact effective tax rates and operations [S1].
• Market and Economic Conditions: Market volatility and economic downturns may reduce assets under management and fee income, impacting revenues and profitability [S1].
• Key Personnel Dependence: The firm's success depends on retaining key professionals whose compensation is linked to performance and ownership interests [S1].

FINAL FORECAST FOR ARES

Final take one line
Ares Management Corp exhibits very high visibility through detailed SEC disclosures and extensive recent news coverage highlighting diversified fee revenues, fund consolidation, and rising assets under management.
Final take 12 to 24 month view

Business trends: Continued growth in assets under management and diversified fee income streams supported by multiple asset classes and investment strategies.
Execution milestones: Ongoing consolidation of funds under control, detailed earnings calls providing transparency, and maintaining dividend yield above 4%.
Key risks: Potential clawback obligations, variability in performance-based compensation, regulatory and tax changes, and market volatility impacting assets under management.

Valye AI Visibility Research Score

Very high visibility

Visibility score reflects the breadth and consistency of available disclosure across SEC filings, recent public reporting, and baseline business context (research-only; not investment advice).

93
LLM visibility overview
LLM Visibility known facts
  • Ares Management Corp is an asset management company that earns revenues from various fees including administrative fees, transaction fees, capital markets transaction fees, property-related fees (acquisition, development, leasing, property management), and sales and distribution fees related to perpetual wealth vehicles [S1].
  • The company recognizes performance income which includes carried interest and incentive fees from funds with stated investment periods [S1].
  • Compensation expenses include salaries, bonuses, payroll taxes, incentive-based compensation correlated to operating performance, equity compensation aligned with shareholder interests, and performance related compensation tied to carried interest and incentive fees [S1].
  • Ares consolidates entities where it has significant economic interest and control, including Consolidated Funds which represented approximately 6% of AUM as of December 31, 2025, and 3% of total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2025 [S1].
  • Consolidated Funds' assets and liabilities are held in separate legal entities with liabilities typically non-recourse to Ares [S1].
  • The company transfers certain financial interests to structured financing vehicles it manages, which are consolidated in its results [S1].
  • For the quarter ended September 30, 2026, Ares reported revenue of $1,257,968,000 and net income of $85,330,000 [S2].
  • As of September 30, 2026, Ares held cash and cash equivalents of $152,203,000 [S2].
  • Recent news indicates that Ares Management's assets under management (AUM) rose year-over-year as of Q3 2026, and the company reported Q3 earnings that surpassed expectations [N6][N7][N4][N5][N8].
  • The company held a Q3 2026 earnings call on October 29, 2026, providing detailed commentary on results and business conditions [N4][N5][N8].
  • Ares shares crossed the 4% yield mark as of early November 2026 [N3].
Sources
Sources - Context summary

Generated 2026-11-07

Sources - Earning calls
  • N4
  • N5
  • N8
Sources - Other context
Sources - SEC Filings
  • S1 | 2026-02-25 | 10-K
  • S2 | 2026-11-06 | 10-Q
Sources - News headlines
  • N1 | 2026-11-06 | www.nasdaq.com | Franklin Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates on Higher Revenues, AUM Rises Y/Y | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/franklin-q4-earnings-beat-estimates-higher-revenues-aum-rises-y-y
  • N2 | 2026-11-05 | www.nasdaq.com | Franklin Q4 Earnings on the Deck: What's in Store for the Stock? | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/franklin-q4-earnings-deck-whats-store-stock
  • N3 | 2026-11-03 | www.nasdaq.com | Apollo Global Stock Dips 3.5% on Q3 Earnings Miss, Expenses Rise Y/Y | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/apollo-global-stock-dips-35-q3-earnings-miss-expenses-rise-y-y
  • N4 | 2026-10-30 | www.nasdaq.com | What Ares Management (ARES) Said on Its Q3 Earnings Call | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/what-ares-management-ares-said-its-q3-earnings-call
  • N5 | 2026-10-29 | www.nasdaq.com | Ares (ARES) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/ares-ares-q3-2026-earnings-call-transcript
  • N6 | 2026-10-29 | www.nasdaq.com | Ares Management Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates, AUM Rises Y/Y | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/ares-management-q3-earnings-beat-estimates-aum-rises-y-y
  • N7 | 2026-10-29 | www.nasdaq.com | Ares Management (ARES) Reports Q3 Earnings: What Key Metrics Have to Say | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/ares-management-ares-reports-q3-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-say
  • N8 | 2026-10-29 | www.nasdaq.com | Ares Management Q3 26 Earnings Conference Call At 9:00 AM ET | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/ares-management-q3-26-earnings-conference-call-9-00-am-et
Important legal disclaimer

This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal or tax advice, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security. The Valye AI Score is a model-based estimate derived from public information and is subject to change without notice. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information herein. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should conduct their own research and consult a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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