Key Takeaways
- • Goldman Sachs analyst Alexander Blostein maintains a Buy rating on Ares Management (ARES) while cutting the price target by 20.61%, from $165.00 to $131.00, on April 7, 2026.
- • Ares Management operates as a top-tier alternative asset manager with $622.5 billion in total assets under management as of end-2025, including $384.9 billion in fee-earning AUM.
- • The price target reduction reflects broader analyst pressure across major investment banks, with BMO Capital, RBC Capital, and Deutsche Bank all making downward adjustments to ARES valuations in recent weeks.
- • Multiple analyst firms have lowered ARES price targets between 3.89% and 20.61% since early February 2026, though rating consensus remains mixed with Buy and Outperform ratings still in place.
Summary
Goldman Sachs analyst Alexander Blostein reaffirmed a Buy rating for alternative asset manager Ares Management (ARES) on April 7, 2026, while simultaneously reducing the firm's price target by more than one-fifth. The new $131.00 target represents a significant markdown from the prior $165.00 level, indicating a 20.61% downward revision.
The adjustment comes amid a broader wave of analyst repricing for Ares Management across the Street. On March 24, 2026, BMO Capital Markets analyst Brennan Hawken maintained a Market Perform rating while cutting the price target from $140.00 to $112.00—a 20% reduction. Prior to that, in February, both RBC Capital and Deutsche Bank lowered their ARES projections. Deutsche Bank's Brian Bedell upgraded his rating to Buy on February 9, but simultaneously trimmed the price target from $182.00 to $155.00 (14.84% decrease). RBC Capital made two adjustments during the same period: Kenneth S. Lee reduced the target from $200.00 to $180.00 on February 9 (10% cut), while Bart Dziarski maintained an Outperform rating but cut from $180.00 to $173.00 on February 24 (3.89% reduction). Raymond James' Wilma Burdis provided a contrarian voice with an upgrade to Strong Buy and a $157.00 price target on February 9.
Ares Management is one of the world's largest alternative asset managers, with $622.5 billion in total assets under management as of the end of 2025. The firm's fee-earning AUM stood at $384.9 billion, reflecting its substantial presence across multiple alternative investment strategies. The company operates through four main business segments, with credit strategies representing the largest component at $406.9 billion in total AUM and $249 billion in fee-earning AUM. Goldman Sachs' maintained Buy rating, despite the target reduction, suggests the analyst sees fundamental value in ARES even as near-term valuation appears stretched relative to revised assumptions.
The adjustment comes amid a broader wave of analyst repricing for Ares Management across the Street. On March 24, 2026, BMO Capital Markets analyst Brennan Hawken maintained a Market Perform rating while cutting the price target from $140.00 to $112.00—a 20% reduction. Prior to that, in February, both RBC Capital and Deutsche Bank lowered their ARES projections. Deutsche Bank's Brian Bedell upgraded his rating to Buy on February 9, but simultaneously trimmed the price target from $182.00 to $155.00 (14.84% decrease). RBC Capital made two adjustments during the same period: Kenneth S. Lee reduced the target from $200.00 to $180.00 on February 9 (10% cut), while Bart Dziarski maintained an Outperform rating but cut from $180.00 to $173.00 on February 24 (3.89% reduction). Raymond James' Wilma Burdis provided a contrarian voice with an upgrade to Strong Buy and a $157.00 price target on February 9.
Ares Management is one of the world's largest alternative asset managers, with $622.5 billion in total assets under management as of the end of 2025. The firm's fee-earning AUM stood at $384.9 billion, reflecting its substantial presence across multiple alternative investment strategies. The company operates through four main business segments, with credit strategies representing the largest component at $406.9 billion in total AUM and $249 billion in fee-earning AUM. Goldman Sachs' maintained Buy rating, despite the target reduction, suggests the analyst sees fundamental value in ARES even as near-term valuation appears stretched relative to revised assumptions.
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