Key Takeaways
- • Ares Management raised $31 billion in fundraising in the three months ended Sept. 30, 2026, down slightly from a quarterly firm record of $36 billion in the prior quarter, according to the Wall Street Journal.
- • Firm executives say they remain confident that capital inflows will pick up by year-end, with the company expecting capital deployment and fundraising activity to accelerate in the fourth quarter.
- • The quarter-over-quarter decline is modest, roughly 14%, and follows a record quarter, suggesting the slowdown is a moderation from peak levels rather than a sharp reversal.
Summary
Ares Management reported that fundraising in the third quarter of 2026 eased from the prior quarter's record, according to the Wall Street Journal. The alternative asset manager raised $31 billion in the three months ended Sept. 30, compared with a quarterly firm record of $36 billion in the second quarter.
Despite the sequential decline, the firm's executives expressed confidence that capital inflows will rebound by the end of the year. The company expects both its capital deployment and fundraising activity to pick up in the fourth quarter, the article reports. The comments come amid a broader market slowdown, though the primary source does not provide further detail on the specific market conditions cited by management.
The third-quarter figure remains strong by historical standards for the firm, given that it follows a record quarter. Investors tracking Ares will likely watch fourth-quarter fundraising closes and deployment figures to determine whether management's year-end outlook materializes.
Despite the sequential decline, the firm's executives expressed confidence that capital inflows will rebound by the end of the year. The company expects both its capital deployment and fundraising activity to pick up in the fourth quarter, the article reports. The comments come amid a broader market slowdown, though the primary source does not provide further detail on the specific market conditions cited by management.
The third-quarter figure remains strong by historical standards for the firm, given that it follows a record quarter. Investors tracking Ares will likely watch fourth-quarter fundraising closes and deployment figures to determine whether management's year-end outlook materializes.
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