Virtu Financial LLC Lowers Stake in Ares Management Corporation $ARES

Virtu Financial LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) by 38.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,618 shares of the asset manager’s stock after selling 6,098 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLC’s holdings in Ares Management were worth $1,554,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ares Management by 116.7% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 10,360 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $1,519,000 after purchasing an additional 5,579 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Ares Management by 5.5% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 1,344 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $197,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in shares of Ares Management by 42.7% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 6,197 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $909,000 after buying an additional 1,853 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth grew its stake in shares of Ares Management by 15.3% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 1,902 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $279,000 after buying an additional 252 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in Ares Management by 708.2% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 493 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $72,000 after buying an additional 432 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 50.03% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Ares Management from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, June 6th. TD Cowen cut their target price on Ares Management from $148.00 to $144.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Ares Management from $188.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 28th. Citizens Jmp lowered their price target on Ares Management from $205.00 to $190.00 and set a “market outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Ares Management in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $162.56.

Ares Management Trading Up 0.1%

NYSE:ARES opened at $129.41 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $42.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 60.19, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.51. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $122.70 and its 200-day moving average price is $134.13. Ares Management Corporation has a 52 week low of $95.80 and a 52 week high of $195.26.

Ares Management (NYSE:ARES) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 1st. The asset manager reported $1.24 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.32 by ($0.08). The firm had revenue of $1.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.28 billion. Ares Management had a return on equity of 22.14% and a net margin of 10.54%.During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.09 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Ares Management Corporation will post 6.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ares Management Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 16th will be issued a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 16th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.2%. Ares Management’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 251.16%.

About Ares Management

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a global alternative asset manager that provides investment solutions across credit, private equity and real estate. The firm originates and manages capital across a range of strategies including direct lending, syndicated and special situations credit, private equity buyouts and growth investments, and real estate equity and debt. Ares serves institutional investors, insurance companies, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and high‑net‑worth clients through both commingled funds and bespoke managed account structures.

Within credit, Ares offers strategies spanning leveraged loans, structured credit, opportunistic and distressed debt, and specialty finance, with an emphasis on underwriting, portfolio construction and active asset management.