Investors Favor ETFs and Alternatives, Says BlackRock CEO Larry Fink

Investors are increasingly favoring low-cost exchange traded funds (ETFs) and alternative assets over traditional bond funds, creating a “barbell effect” in fixed income markets, according to BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink. Speaking on Monday, Fink highlighted the trend as BlackRock announced it had reached a record $10.6 trillion in assets under management (AUM). He noted the significant inflows into BlackRock’s ETF products and high levels of client interest in infrastructure investments, including energy and data centers.

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Fink explained that investors are moving assets in anticipation of a potential US rate cut as early as September, while also recognizing they missed out on this year’s substantial equity rally. He pointed out that equity investors have long been divided between passive index funds and high-fee private equity funds. This bifurcation is now extending into fixed income markets.

He described the current investment landscape as one where people are shifting out of cash and heavily into fixed income, particularly through ETFs and alternative income-oriented products like private credit and infrastructure debt funds. BlackRock is well-positioned for this shift due to its substantial iShares ETF business and its pending acquisition of Global Infrastructure Partners, expected to close by the end of September.

Fink’s comments came as BlackRock reported $4.81 billion in revenue for the quarter ending June 30, an 8% year-on-year increase driven by higher AUM, though slightly below the $4.84 billion forecast by analysts polled by Bloomberg. Improved margins boosted net income by 9% from the previous year to $1.5 billion, with an adjusted figure of $1.56 billion surpassing expectations of $1.47 billion.

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AUM rose by 1.7% quarter-on-quarter, with net inflows of $82 billion, missing the anticipated $112 billion. Equity inflows were limited to $6 billion, impacted by institutional clients rebalancing their portfolios. Fixed income inflows were reduced by the withdrawal of $20 billion by a single institutional client.

Two weeks prior, BlackRock announced the acquisition of Preqin, a private markets data provider, as part of its ongoing push into alternative assets and technology. The company’s ETF inflows have also benefited from strong interest in its bitcoin product.

Edward Jones analyst Kyle Sanders noted that BlackRock’s investments in private markets will reduce its reliance on low-fee iShares ETFs and position the firm to take advantage of long-term growth opportunities in private assets.

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Despite its traditionally higher earnings multiple compared to its asset management peers, BlackRock’s shares have lagged behind the broader financial sector in recent months, rising only 1.4% since the start of the year compared to about 12% for financial companies in the S&P 500.

Martin Small, BlackRock’s chief financial officer, stated that the company is on track to achieve its long-term goal of 5% annual organic fee growth, with expenses expected to increase by a low single-digit percentage, excluding acquisitions.

Key Points:

• Investors are shifting towards low-cost ETFs and alternative assets, creating a “barbell effect” in fixed income markets, as noted by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.
• BlackRock’s AUM reached a record $10.6 trillion, with significant inflows into ETF products and high client interest in infrastructure investments.
• The firm reported $4.81 billion in quarterly revenue, slightly below expectations, but net income rose 9% year-on-year to $1.5 billion.
• BlackRock’s ongoing expansion into alternative assets includes the acquisition of Preqin, and strong interest in its bitcoin ETF has boosted inflows.
• Despite its traditionally high earnings multiple, BlackRock’s shares have underperformed the broader financial sector, rising only 1.4% year-to-date.

James Kravitz – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News