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Artisan Partners (APAM)
NYSE:APAM

Artisan Partners (APAM) AI Stock Analysis

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APAM

Artisan Partners

(NYSE:APAM)

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Neutral 65 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:65Neutral
Price Target:
$45.00
▲(9.73% Upside)
Action:DowngradedDate:02/21/26
APAM’s score is primarily capped by financial statement quality concerns—especially the sharp 2025 free cash flow deterioration and meaningful leverage—despite strong reported profitability. Valuation is a clear positive (low P/E and high dividend yield), while the earnings call was constructive (record AUM and margin expansion) but tempered by equity outflows and higher expected 2026 expense levels. Technically, the stock looks range-bound with mixed momentum signals.
Positive Factors
High, Consistent Profitability
Artisan reports persistently high margins (EBIT/EBITDA ~40%, net margin ~20% range) and revenue growth, indicating durable operating leverage and pricing power in active management. These sustained profits support reinvestment, product development and recurring fee generation over the medium term.
Scale: Record AUM and Strong Returns
Record AUM combined with strong multi-year investment performance broadens the fee base and strengthens distribution credibility. Scale drives stable management fees, supports institutional mandates and increases resilience to client churn, underpinning durable revenue streams and market position.
Diversifying Growth in Credit & Alternatives
Material growth in credit and alternatives diversifies revenue beyond public equities, often at higher and stickier fee rates. Expansion into these asset classes reduces sensitivity to equity outflows and positions the firm to capture structural demand for yield and private markets over the medium term.
Negative Factors
Severe Free Cash Flow Collapse
A near-total collapse in 2025 free cash flow creates a material quality‑of‑earnings concern: it weakens the link between reported profits and actual cash, strains ability to sustain dividends or seed investments, and raises reliance on financing if cash conversion doesn't normalize.
Meaningful Balance Sheet Leverage
Higher leverage reduces financial flexibility and increases vulnerability to AUM outflows or earnings weakness. With a relatively small equity base driving high ROE, a levered balance sheet magnifies downside risk and could constrain capital deployment during market stress.
Rising Fixed Costs from Large LTI Program
Material upcoming LTI amortization and higher fixed compensation will raise operating expenses and reduce operating leverage. If revenue or performance‑driven flows slow, these fixed costs could compress margins and limit free cash flow recovery, pressuring shareholder returns.

Artisan Partners (APAM) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Artisan Partners Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionArtisan Partners Asset Management Inc. is publicly owned investment manager. It provides its services to pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, endowments, foundations, charitable organizations, government entities, private funds and non-U.S. funds, as well as mutual funds, non-U.S. funds and collective trusts. It manages separate client-focused equity and fixed income portfolios. The firm invests in the public equity and fixed income markets across the globe. It invests in growth and value stocks of companies across all market capitalization. For fixed income component of its portfolio the firm invests in non-investment grade corporate bonds and secured and unsecured loans. It employs fundamental analysis to create its portfolios. Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. was founded in 1994 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with additional offices in Atlanta, Georgia; New York City; San Francisco, California; Leawood, Kansas; and London, United Kingdom.
How the Company Makes MoneyArtisan Partners generates revenue primarily through management fees charged on the assets it manages for clients. These fees are typically a percentage of the total assets under management (AUM) and vary based on the investment strategy and fund type. In addition to management fees, the company may also earn performance fees from certain investment products when they exceed benchmark returns. Significant partnerships with institutional investors, pension funds, and financial advisors contribute to its AUM, ultimately driving revenue growth. The firm also benefits from a diversified client base, which helps mitigate risks associated with market volatility.

Artisan Partners Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
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Revenue by Type
Revenue by Type
Chart Insights
Data provided by:The Fly

Artisan Partners Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 03, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 28, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call emphasized strong investment performance, record AUM, revenue and margin expansion, significant growth in credit and alternatives, and a conservative balance sheet that supports shareholder returns and strategic investment (including the Grandview acquisition). Key challenges include sizable equity outflows concentrated in several large strategies, short-term underperformance in two prominent equity strategies, regional institutional/regulatory headwinds (notably Europe) and expected near-term increases in compensation-related fixed expenses. Overall, positive operating momentum and diversified growth initiatives appear to outweigh the near-term flow and expense headwinds.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Assets Under Management and Strong Absolute Returns
AUM reached an all-time high of $180 billion at year-end, up ~12% year-over-year. Firm-wide asset-weighted investment returns exceeded 20% net of fees and investment strategies generated over $33 billion in absolute returns for clients.
Revenue and Profitability Expansion
Fourth-quarter revenue hit a record $336 million, up 11% quarter-over-quarter and 13% year-over-year. Full-year 2025 revenues were up 8% versus 2024. Adjusted operating income increased 23% versus both the prior quarter and prior year; adjusted operating margin improved to 40.2%, a 400 basis-point increase quarter-over-quarter. Adjusted net income per adjusted share rose 24% QoQ and 20% YoY.
Broad-Based Multi-Year Investment Outperformance
Strong long-term performance across the platform: 79% of AUM outperformed benchmarks for the 3-year period, 74% for 5-year, and 92% for 10-year (gross of fees). Notable strategy outperformance: Global Equity +2,422 bps, Global Value +1,188 bps, Select Equity +1,175 bps (all net of fees).
Material Growth in Credit and Alternatives
Credit AUM grew 29% year-over-year to $17.9 billion with $2.8 billion of net inflows and organic growth exceeding 20% for the third consecutive year. Alternatives AUM increased ~20% to $4 billion, driven by strength in global unconstrained and related products.
Meaningful Performance Fees and Fee Profile
Fourth-quarter performance fees totaled approximately $29 million across six strategies. The firm's weighted average fee rate for the quarter was 74 basis points, while recurring management fee rates remained consistent with recent quarters.
Strong Balance Sheet and Shareholder Returns
Year-end cash balance of ~$214 million, modest leverage (~0.4x), and an undrawn $100 million revolver. Dividends declared totaled $3.87 per share for 2025 (98% payout ratio vs adjusted earnings), an 11% increase vs 2024, implying a ~9.5% dividend yield as of Dec 31. Approximately $80 million of excess capital retained after dividends and near-term initiatives.
Strategic Expansion via Grandview Acquisition
Closed acquisition of Grandview Property Partners (real estate private equity) on Jan 2; Grandview manages ~ $880 million in institutional assets. The acquisition broadens alternatives/private real estate capabilities and management expects to prioritize fundraising for a larger Fund IV in 2026 (Fund III ~ $150 million).
Seed Investments and Realizations Supporting Capital
Firm has ~$152 million of seed capital invested in emerging products and realized $20 million of gains from seed investment redemptions during the year, providing capital for dividends and future growth initiatives.
Negative Updates
Large Equity Outflows
Public equity platform experienced higher-than-expected outflows totaling $15.6 billion, concentrated in Global Opportunities, U.S. Mid‑Cap Growth and Non‑U.S. Small‑Mid Growth strategies. Management attributes outflows to short-term performance, changing asset allocation preferences and profit taking.
Short-Term Underperformance in Key Large Equity Strategies
Trailing 1-year performance was weighed down by underperformance in two of the firm's largest equity strategies—International Value and Global Opportunities—contributing to recent outflows despite strong long-term track records.
Regional Institutional Headwinds (Europe / Regulatory Effects)
Institutional flows in Europe are at greater risk due to regulatory changes and the active versus passive debate; Europe is cited as more challenged relative to the U.S. institutional market.
Rising Compensation and Operating Expense Pressures
Adjusted operating expenses rose (quarter: +7% YoY; quarter vs prior quarter +4%), driven primarily by higher variable incentive compensation on elevated revenues and the January 2025 long-term incentive award. Board-approved 2026 LT incentive awards (~$72 million) imply expected amortization expense of ~ $85 million in 2026 and low-single-digit increases in fixed expenses.
Near-Term Funding and AUM Timing Effects from Grandview
Grandview AUM was lower than some anticipated at close due to realizations and distributions from Fund I (harvesting phase) and Fund III (~$150 million), which reduced immediate AUM contribution despite being a normal fund lifecycle event.
Concentration of Performance Fee Exposure
Only ~3% of AUM is subject to performance fee arrangements and the majority are annual measurement dates at year-end, indicating that incremental performance fee upside is concentrated in a small portion of AUM (Q4 performance fees ~ $29 million).
Company Guidance
Guidance for 2026 includes a Board‑approved Annual Long‑Term Incentive award of about $72 million (roughly $51M cash‑based franchise capital and $21M restricted stock) with estimated long‑term incentive amortization expense of approximately $85 million for 2026 (excluding mark‑to‑market); fixed expenses are expected to increase low single‑digits in 2026, including roughly $20 million of incremental fixed expenses from the LTI grant and Grandview and about $6 million higher fixed compensation & benefits in Q1 2026 versus Q4 2025. The Grandview acquisition (closed Jan 2; Grandview manages ≈$880M) is expected to be immaterial to 2026 earnings and mildly accretive to EPS after the final close of its next flagship fund (Fund IV first close targeted early‑to‑mid summer; Fund III was ~ $150M). The firm enters 2026 with ~ $214M of cash, ~0.4x leverage, a $100M revolver undrawn, ~ $80M of excess capital after dividends and near‑term growth initiatives, ~$152M of seed capital invested (with $20M of realized gains), and plans to maintain consistent capital returns (2025 dividends declared were $3.87/share, a 98% payout ratio and ~9.5% yield on 12/31 price); for context, year‑end AUM was $180B, Q4 revenues were $336M (Q4 performance fees ~$29M), the weighted average fee rate in Q4 was 74 bps, and ~3% of AUM is subject to performance fee arrangements.

Artisan Partners Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Income statement strength (78) reflects high and fairly consistent profitability with ~40% EBIT/EBITDA margins and revenue growth in 2024–2025. This is offset by balance sheet leverage that is meaningful for the model (63) and, most importantly, a severe 2025 cash flow break (cash flow score 29) that raises quality-of-earnings and durability concerns despite solid reported margins.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Profitability is strong and fairly consistent: net profit margin held in the low-to-mid 20% range across 2023–2025, with EBIT/EBITDA margins around ~40% in 2023–2025. Revenue rebounded in 2024 and accelerated further in 2025 (after a down year in 2023), but the multi-year top-line path is choppy (notably the sharp contraction in 2022), which tempers the score despite healthy margins.
Balance Sheet
63
Positive
Leverage is meaningful for the business model: debt-to-equity has generally been near ~0.8–1.6 over 2020–2025 and moved up again in 2025. Equity has improved versus earlier years, and returns on equity are very high, but that strength is partly driven by a relatively small equity base versus earnings—so the balance sheet reads as profitable but more levered than ideal and somewhat sensitive if earnings soften.
Cash Flow
29
Negative
Cash generation shows a major recent break: operating cash flow and free cash flow fell to about $2.0M in 2025 versus hundreds of millions in prior years, with free cash flow down ~99% year over year. Earlier periods (2020–2024) showed strong cash conversion with free cash flow close to net income, but the 2025 collapse raises a clear quality-of-earnings and durability flag.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.20B1.11B975.13M993.28M1.23B
Gross Profit547.10M517.68M445.74M482.88M664.18M
EBITDA488.89M459.02M401.61M329.54M569.29M
Net Income290.32M259.75M222.29M206.75M336.52M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.58B1.62B1.41B1.23B1.21B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments255.51M268.22M178.47M143.25M200.14M
Total Debt410.21M300.71M312.66M319.90M299.75M
Total Liabilities794.87M868.84M802.10M819.97M801.05M
Stockholders Equity438.83M388.92M324.15M262.22M276.20M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow2.02M368.09M369.07M293.05M392.58M
Operating Cash Flow2.02M372.84M377.71M312.61M398.55M
Investing Cash Flow35.25M-24.87M-67.18M-63.73M-26.97M
Financing Cash Flow0.00-254.22M-270.63M-306.40M-335.43M

Artisan Partners Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price41.01
Price Trends
50DMA
41.59
Negative
100DMA
41.24
Negative
200DMA
41.50
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.28
Positive
RSI
44.18
Neutral
STOCH
14.81
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For APAM, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 41.01 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 42.40, below the 50-day MA of 41.59, and below the 200-day MA of 41.50, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.28 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 44.18 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 14.81 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for APAM.

Artisan Partners Risk Analysis

Artisan Partners disclosed 39 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Artisan Partners reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Artisan Partners Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$3.55B12.9818.35%8.93%-12.92%
76
Outperform
$4.95B18.6918.61%3.00%33.03%-3.55%
74
Outperform
$4.30B10.8034.09%2.46%9.32%53.51%
73
Outperform
$2.35B22.2526.69%0.95%12.05%120.13%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
65
Neutral
$3.23B9.8863.64%8.72%5.46%2.10%
63
Neutral
$3.42B22.5531.53%3.92%12.73%19.01%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
APAM
Artisan Partners
41.01
3.21
8.49%
AB
AllianceBernstein
39.82
5.41
15.73%
CNS
Cohen & Steers
67.61
-16.04
-19.18%
FHI
Federated Hermes
56.38
19.28
51.96%
WT
WisdomTree
17.31
8.47
95.75%
VCTR
Victory Capital Holdings
77.27
15.65
25.39%

Artisan Partners Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Artisan Partners Reports January 2026 Assets Under Management
Neutral
Feb 10, 2026

Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc., a global active investment manager offering multi-asset strategies across equities, credit, emerging markets and real assets, reported preliminary assets under management of $185.3 billion as of January 31, 2026. The firm serves sophisticated clients worldwide through Artisan Funds, Artisan Global Funds, separate accounts, collective investment trusts and private funds.

In its February 10, 2026 release, the company detailed that $90.2 billion of AUM resided in Artisan Funds and Artisan Global Funds, while $95.1 billion was held in separate accounts and other vehicles, underscoring the significance of institutional and customized mandates. The breakdown shows substantial scale in international value, global value and high income credit strategies, highlighting the breadth of its platform and the diversified sources of fee-generating assets for stakeholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (APAM) stock is a Buy with a $50.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Artisan Partners stock, see the APAM Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesDividendsFinancial Disclosures
Artisan Partners Announces Q4 Results and Special Dividend
Positive
Feb 3, 2026

On January 29, 2026, Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. appointed Ryan G. Von Hoff, previously the company’s Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Corporate Controller, as Chief Accounting Officer and principal accounting officer, drawing on his experience as Corporate Controller since July 2022 and earlier roles at the firm and Deloitte & Touche LLP. On February 3, 2026, the company reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025, and declared both a quarterly and special annual dividend, underscoring its continued capital return to shareholders, and scheduled a management-led conference call for February 4, 2026 to discuss performance and related updates.

The most recent analyst rating on (APAM) stock is a Buy with a $51.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Artisan Partners stock, see the APAM Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesFinancial DisclosuresM&A Transactions
Artisan Partners Reports Strong Year-End Assets Under Management
Positive
Jan 12, 2026

On January 9, 2026, Artisan Partners Asset Management expanded its board from eight to nine members and appointed Clarence Kane Brenan, CEO of TIFF Investment Management and a former senior Goldman Sachs executive, as a director and member of the Compensation Committee, reinforcing its governance bench with deep institutional investing and private equity experience. Earlier in the month, on January 2, 2026, a company subsidiary closed the previously announced acquisition of Grandview Property Partners, LLC, while on January 12, 2026 the firm reported preliminary assets under management of $179.9 billion as of December 31, 2025, with a nearly even split between its Artisan-branded funds and separate accounts and other vehicles, underscoring the scale and diversification of its platform despite typical year-end distribution-related outflows.

The most recent analyst rating on (APAM) stock is a Buy with a $51.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Artisan Partners stock, see the APAM Stock Forecast page.

Financial Disclosures
Artisan Partners Reports November AUM and December Redemption
Neutral
Dec 9, 2025

On December 9, 2025, Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. reported its preliminary assets under management (AUM) as of November 30, 2025, totaling $180.8 billion. The report highlighted that Artisan Funds and Artisan Global Funds accounted for $87.2 billion, while separate accounts and other AUM comprised $93.6 billion. The announcement also noted the impact of $800 million in Artisan Funds distributions not reinvested in November, with an additional $400 million expected in December. Additionally, a $2.7 billion redemption from a non-U.S. institutional client in early December was attributed to local pension-market dynamics, affecting three Growth team strategies.

The most recent analyst rating on (APAM) stock is a Buy with a $48.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Artisan Partners stock, see the APAM Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 21, 2026