NEW YORK (Realist English). BlackRock, the world’s largest investment company, reported record results for the second quarter of 2026.
Assets under management (AUM) reached $15.34 trillion, up 22% from a year earlier ($12.53 trillion), exceeding analyst expectations of $15.19 trillion.
Quarterly profit rose 20% to $1.91 billion ($12.19 per share), compared to $1.59 billion a year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $13.91, beating the consensus estimate of $12.57.
Key Quarterly Figures
| Metric | Value | Change |
| Assets Under Management (AUM) | $15.34 trillion | +22% YoY |
| Revenue | $7.08 billion | +31% YoY |
| Net Income | $1.91 billion | +20% YoY |
| Adjusted EPS | $13.91 | +36% YoY |
| Net Inflows (Q2) | $192 billion | — |
| Net Inflows (12 months) | $868 billion | — |
Source: BlackRock earnings report
Growth Drivers: Markets, ETFs, and Technology
Asset growth was driven by two key factors: the rally in equity markets and record client inflows.
The US stock market showed impressive momentum: the S&P 500 rose 15% in the second quarter — the best quarterly performance since 2020. This automatically increased the value of assets already under management.
At the same time, clients actively entrusted BlackRock with new funds: inflows in the first six months of 2026 more than doubled compared to the same period last year. In the second quarter alone, the company attracted $192 billion in net new funds. Over the past 12 months, total net inflows reached $868 billion.
Particularly strong growth was seen in:
- iShares ETF division — assets exceeded $6 trillion, roughly doubling in about three years;
- Active strategies — $53 billion in net inflows, including a record $7 billion into liquid alternatives;
- Technology services — revenue growth of 15% driven by the Aladdin platform.
Larry Fink’s Commentary
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink called the current moment a “period of accelerating momentum” and stated that he has “never been more optimistic about future growth.”
“Market fundamentals are strong and well-supported, and higher margins and profit momentum are being catalyzed by new technologies,” Fink said. “The scale and depth of our client relationships around the world have never been greater. Clients are turning to BlackRock for insights and opportunities.”
According to Fink, the company is simultaneously “the leading manager of public markets, a scalable private markets platform, and a global technology company.”
Market Reaction and Buyback Plans
BlackRock shares rose 3% in pre-market trading on the day of the earnings release. The company announced share buybacks of $450 million for the quarter and intends to increase the quarterly pace to $550 million, with the total buyback for 2026 reaching $2 billion.
BlackRock continues to expand its presence in private markets and the technology sector. As Fink noted, the company aims to “help more and more people benefit from the long-term growth of capital markets,” which remains “the core of our strategy and our primary source of opportunity.”
The rise in adjusted operating margin to 45.9% — the highest in five years — reflects improving business efficiency. Analysts believe that diversification across public and private markets, as well as technology services, makes BlackRock less vulnerable to cyclical fluctuations than traditional asset managers.
