Acadian Asset Management Inc. Reports Record Results for Q1 2026

Exceptional Growth in Assets, Earnings, and Shareholder Returns

April 30, 2026 — Boston, MA — Acadian Asset Management Inc. (NYSE: AAMI) has released its financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, highlighting a number of record-breaking achievements and strategic developments that may be highly significant for current and prospective shareholders.

Key Financial Highlights

• Record quarterly net inflows: \$21.4 billion in Q1 2026, representing 12% of beginning assets under management (AUM).
• AUM Surges: AUM reached \$195.7 billion as of March 31, 2026, up 61% from Q1 2025.
• Management fees: Record quarterly management fees of \$159.3 million, up 41% year-over-year.
• Net Income: U.S. GAAP net income attributable to controlling interests was \$24.3 million, a 21% increase over Q1 2025.
• Earnings Per Share (EPS): U.S. GAAP EPS was \$0.68, up 26% year-over-year.
• Economic Net Income (ENI): \$37.6 million, an 85% increase from Q1 2025.
• ENI EPS: \$1.05, up 94% year-over-year.
• ENI Operating Margin: Expanded by 978 basis points to 38.1% from 28.3% in Q1 2025.
• Adjusted EBITDA: \$61.8 million, up 76% year-over-year.

Business Performance and Strategy

• Continued Positive Momentum: This quarter marks the ninth consecutive quarter of positive net inflows. Growth was driven by the company’s Enhanced, Extension, and Global equity strategies, with a notable large mandate from a leading UK wealth manager.
• Performance Excellence: More than 96% of strategies by revenue outperformed their benchmarks over 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods. Revenue-weighted and asset-weighted performance both showed strong long-term alpha generation.
• Global Expansion: Substantial growth in EMEA AUM, now accounting for 28.2% of total assets, up from 21.2% in Q4 2025. U.S. clients remain the largest group, but international diversification is increasing.

Capital Management and Shareholder Returns

• Dividend Declared: The Board declared a quarterly interim dividend of \$0.10 per share, payable on June 26, 2026, to shareholders of record as of June 12, 2026.
• Share Repurchases: In Q1 2026, Acadian repurchased 0.1 million shares, or \$4.7 million in common stock, at an average price of \$49.77 per share.
• Ongoing Shareholder Returns: Since the end of 2019, Acadian has returned \$1.4 billion in excess capital to shareholders via share buybacks and dividends. Diluted shares outstanding have declined by 58% since Q4 2019, now at 35.8 million.

Balance Sheet Strength and Liquidity

• Strong Liquidity: Cash and cash equivalents of \$129.0 million as of March 31, 2026.
• Leverage: Total debt of \$200 million (term loan) and \$85 million (revolver), resulting in a leverage ratio of 1.3x and net leverage ratio of 0.7x. The revolver balance is expected to be paid down by year-end.
• Seed Investments: \$96.7 million in seed investments on the balance sheet.

Additional Noteworthy Developments

• Conference Call: The company scheduled a webcast and conference call at 11:00 a.m. ET on April 30, 2026, to discuss these results, providing transparency for investors and analysts.
• Forward-Looking Statements: Management highlighted expectations for continued strong performance, positive net inflows, and ongoing capital returns, while cautioning that actual results may differ due to a number of risk factors and uncertainties.
• Non-GAAP Measures: The report includes reconciliations of U.S. GAAP and non-GAAP (ENI) measures for greater clarity on core operating performance.
• Segment Performance: The Quant & Solutions segment delivered substantial ENI growth, with segment ENI rising from \$34.9 million in Q1 2025 to \$61.4 million in Q1 2026.

Price-Sensitive and Shareholder-Relevant Information

• Record financial performance and net inflows may drive positive sentiment and could potentially move the share price upward.
• Dividend declaration and share buybacks reinforce the company’s commitment to returning capital to shareholders, supporting valuation.
• Significant international growth, especially in EMEA, signals successful global expansion and diversification of the client base.
• Strong liquidity and conservative leverage provide a solid foundation for future investments, organic growth, and continued shareholder returns.
• Guidance for continued free cash flow generation and capital returns positions Acadian as an attractive investment opportunity for income and growth investors.
• Potentially increasing Acadian LLC key employee distribution ratio (projected 12-14% for full year 2026) reflects rising profitability and performance-based payouts for key personnel.

Conclusion & Outlook

Acadian Asset Management Inc. delivered a record-setting quarter, with robust growth across assets, revenues, earnings, and returns to shareholders. The company’s continued momentum, strong balance sheet, and disciplined capital management suggest further potential for value creation. Investors should monitor ongoing net inflows, strategy performance, and capital allocation decisions, as these will remain key drivers for the stock’s performance in the coming quarters.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. Investors are encouraged to review all official filings and disclosures from Acadian Asset Management Inc. before making investment decisions.

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