BlackRock quarterly profit rises on active ETFs, performance fees
Total assets under management at the world’s largest asset manager comes in at US$13.89 trillion
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[BENGALURU] BlackRock reported a rise in first-quarter profit on Tuesday (Apr 14), as the asset manager saw strong inflows into its exchange traded funds and earned more from performance fees, sending its shares up 2.8 per cent in trading before the bell.
The company’s active ETFs have attracted investors looking to capitalise on market dispersion through its low cost products, at a time when macroeconomic pressures from global geopolitics have pressured the broader market.
BlackRock saw total net inflows of US$130 billion in the first quarter of the year, with the lion’s share going into its iShares ETFs. Its private markets business drew inflows of US$9 billion in the quarter.
The company’s assets under management (AUM) have also remained resilient due to strong inflows that have helped the investment manager counter the impact of a falling market.
Total AUM at the world’s largest asset manager came in at US$13.89 trillion, up from US$11.58 trillion in the year ago period.
Shares of the company have declined 4.4 per cent so far in 2026, underperforming its smaller peer State Street. The S&P 500 index lost 4.6 per cent in the first three months of the year.
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Performance fees grow
BlackRock’s expansion into private markets have also helped the company, as these vehicles generate higher yields and trigger performance payouts even when the broader market is volatile.
The strategies – active ETFs and alternative investments – have allowed the asset manager to diversify during times of market trouble. During the first quarter of 2026, it helped BlackRock earn more from performance fees.
The asset manager’s investment advisory performance fees came in at US$272 million in the first the months of 2026, a significant spike over the US$60 million in the year ago period.
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The company reported a net profit of US$2.21 billion, or US$14.06 per share, for the three months ended Mar 31. That compares with US$1.51 billion, or US$9.64 per share, a year earlier. REUTERS
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