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Carlyle Group (CG)
NASDAQ:CG

Carlyle Group (CG) AI Stock Analysis

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CG

Carlyle Group

(NASDAQ:CG)

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Neutral 59 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:59Neutral
Price Target:
$63.00
▲(22.21% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:11/27/25
Carlyle Group's overall stock score reflects strong earnings call performance and strategic growth plans, but is tempered by financial challenges such as high leverage and cash flow pressures. Technical indicators and valuation concerns further moderate the score.
Positive Factors
Recurring Fee-Related Earnings (FRE) Growth
Sustained growth in fee-related earnings indicates stronger recurring revenue that is less dependent on one-off realizations. Higher FRE supports predictable cash generation for operations, management fees and distributions, improving resilience across market cycles and enabling reinvestment in products and capabilities.
Scale of Assets Under Management
Large and growing AUM provides structural advantages: steady management fee income, economies of scale, and stronger negotiating leverage with deal counterparties. Persistent inflows signal investor trust and create a durable base for fee generation and cross-selling across strategies.
Diversified Fee Streams and Fundraising Success
Material growth in secondaries, AlpInvest and credit reduces reliance on a single strategy, smoothing fee cycles. Successful large fund closes demonstrate distribution capability and investor demand, strengthening long-term fee diversity and lowering revenue volatility across market environments.
Negative Factors
High Financial Leverage
Elevated leverage raises interest expense sensitivity and limits financial flexibility to pursue opportunistic investments or absorb valuation stresses. In downturns, high debt amplifies risk to distributions and capital return policies and can compel asset sales or curtailed reinvestment.
Negative Operating and Free Cash Flow Trends
Persistently negative operating and free cash flow undermines the firm's ability to self-fund debt reduction, sponsor capital returns, or invest organically. Large negative FCF growth suggests reliance on external financing or asset monetizations, reducing resilience to prolonged market stress.
Declining Revenue Growth and Realization Volatility
Sharp revenue decline and lighter realizations reflect timing and market sensitivity of exits, which can depress fee and performance income. If realizations remain volatile, earnings and distributable cash will be less predictable, complicating capital planning and return metrics over coming quarters.

Carlyle Group (CG) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Carlyle Group Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionThe Carlyle Group Inc. is an investment firm specializing in direct and fund of fund investments. Within direct investments, it specializes in management-led/ Leveraged buyouts, privatizations, divestitures, strategic minority equity investments, structured credit, global distressed and corporate opportunities, small and middle market, equity private placements, consolidations and buildups, senior debt, mezzanine and leveraged finance, and venture and growth capital financings, seed/startup, early venture, emerging growth, turnaround, mid venture, late venture, PIPES. The firm invests across four segments which include Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies, and Solutions. The firm typically invests in industrial, agribusiness, ecological sector, fintech, airports, parking, Plastics, Rubber, diversified natural resources, minerals, farming, aerospace, defense, automotive, consumer, retail, industrial, infrastructure, energy, power, healthcare, software, software enabled services, semiconductors, communications infrastructure, financial technology, utilities, gaming, systems and related supply chain, electronic systems, systems, oil and gas, processing facilities, power generation assets, technology, systems, real estate, financial services, transportation, business services, telecommunications, media, and logistics sectors. Within the industrial sector, the firm invests in manufacturing, building products, packaging, chemicals, metals and mining, forestry and paper products, and industrial consumables and services. In consumer and retail sectors, it invests in food and beverage, retail, restaurants, consumer products, domestic consumption, consumer services, personal care products, direct marketing, and education. Within aerospace, defense, business services, and government services sectors, it seeks to invest in defense electronics, manufacturing and services, government contracting and services, information technology, distribution companies. In telecommunication and media sectors, it invests in cable TV, directories, publishing, entertainment and content delivery services, wireless infrastructure/services, fixed line networks, satellite services, broadband and Internet, and infrastructure. Within real estate, the firm invests in office, hotel, industrial, retail, for sale residential, student housing, hospitality, multifamily residential, homebuilding and building products, and senior living sectors. The firm seeks to make investments in growing business including those with overleveraged balance sheets. The firm seeks to hold its investments for four to six years. In the healthcare sector, it invests in healthcare services, outsourcing services, companies running clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies, managed care, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical related services, healthcare IT, medical, products, and devices. It seeks to invest in companies based in Sub-Saharan focusing on Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Botswana, Nigeria, Uganda, West Africa, North Africa and South Africa focusing on Tanzania and Zambia; Asia focusing on Pakistan, India, South East Asia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan; Australia; New Zealand; Europe focusing on France, Italy, Denmark, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Benelux , Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, and Russia; Middle East focusing on Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and UAE; North America focusing on United States which further invest in Southeastern United States, Texas, Boston, San Francisco Bay Area and Pacific Northwest; Asia Pacific; Soviet Union, Central-Eastern Europe, and Israel; Nordic region; and South America focusing on Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru. The firm seeks to invest in food, financial, and healthcare industries in Western China. In the real estate sector, the firm seeks to invest in various locations across Europe focusing on France and Central Europe, United States, Asia focusing on China, and Latin America. It typically invests between $1 million and $50 million for venture investments and between $50 million and $2 billion for buyouts in companies with enterprise value of between $31.57 million and $1000 million and sales value of $10 million and $500 million. It seeks to invest in companies with market capitalization greater than $50 million and EBITDA between $5 million to $25 million. It prefers to take a majority or a minority stake. It typically holds its investments for three to five years. Within automotive and transportation sectors, the firm seeks to hold its investments in for four to six years. While investing in Japan, it does not invest in companies with more than 1,000 employees and prefers companies' worth between $100 million and $150 million. The firm originates, structures, and acts as lead equity investor in the transactions. The Carlyle Group Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia with additional offices in 21 countries across 5 continents (North America, South America, Asia, Australia and Europe).
How the Company Makes MoneyCarlyle Group generates revenue primarily through management fees and performance fees from its investment funds. Management fees are typically charged as a percentage of the assets under management (AUM), providing a steady income stream. Performance fees, also known as carried interest, are earned when the funds exceed a predetermined return threshold, allowing Carlyle to share in the profits generated by its investments. Additionally, Carlyle engages in co-investment opportunities with its investors, which can lead to additional sources of revenue. The firm also benefits from strategic partnerships and alliances that enhance its investment capabilities and broaden its market reach, further contributing to its earnings.

Carlyle Group Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 06, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 30, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveyed strong, broad-based operating momentum across Carlyle: record FRE, margins, AUM, inflows, deployment, and realized proceeds, with standout growth at AlpInvest and Global Credit and notable IPO leadership (e.g., Medline). Management acknowledged recent short-term market volatility and the dependency of future realizations on market conditions, but emphasized durable franchise positioning, strong balance sheet, and strategic investments (wealth, credit, secondaries). Overall positives materially outweigh the manageable near-term market and timing risks.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Financial Results and FRE Growth
Fee-related earnings (FRE) were a record $1.24 billion in 2025, up 12% year over year, with a record FRE margin of 47% (from 46% prior year). Total fee revenues were a record $2.6 billion for the full year, up 10% organic.
Strong Distributable Earnings and Per-Share Metrics
Distributable earnings (DE) for 2025 were $1.7 billion, or $4.20 per share, up 11% year over year; Q4 DE was $436 million ($1.01 per share).
Outstanding Fundraising and Inflows
Inflows totaled $54 billion in 2025, well above the $40 billion target and up 32% year over year; Q4 inflows were $9.2 billion.
Record Deployment and Realizations
Deployments were a record $54 billion in 2025, up more than 25% versus last year; realized proceeds were $34 billion (almost +20% year over year). Q4 realizations for fund investors were $12 billion.
Record AUM and Strong Performance
Assets under management (AUM) reached a record $477 billion, driven by strong investment performance and fundraising. Selected fund performance: latest vintage U.S. Buyout +17% for the year; Japan buyout funds +60% and +30%; European technology fund +20%.
Market-Leading IPO Activity
Since 2024 Carlyle was the number one sponsor globally by IPO proceeds (~$10 billion over two years). Medline IPO raised >$7 billion and traded >50% above IPO price. Multiple region-first/record sponsor-backed IPOs noted (e.g., Rigaku, Hexaware).
Carlyle AlpInvest Outstanding Momentum
AlpInvest had a record year: invested $14 billion, returned >$10 billion, closed largest-ever secondary strategy at $20 billion. AlpInvest FRE was $274 million (+~60% YoY) and DE was $319 million (almost +70% YoY); net accrued carry $656 million (+21% YoY).
Global Credit Strength and CLO Leadership
Global credit FRE was a record $402 million (+21% YoY) with FRE growing at a ~20% organic CAGR over three years. Carlyle priced a record 39 CLOs in 2025, with CLO inflows of $7 billion (+~20% YoY); realized credit losses averaged just 10 bps per year over the past decade.
Wealth Channel Acceleration
Global wealth saw record inflows in 2025, with evergreen wealth AUM nearly doubling year over year. Wealth headcount grew ~50% and Carlyle soft-launched CPAP (private equity solution for individual investors) in the U.S.
Capital Position and Shareholder Returns
Strong balance sheet at year-end with $2 billion cash, >$3 billion investments, nearly $3 billion net accrued carry (up 9% sequential in Q4). Carlyle returned a record $1.2 billion to shareholders via dividends and buybacks in 2025 and returned $18 billion of capital to investors.
Negative Updates
Near-Term Market Volatility and Fragility
Management noted recent market volatility and 'jitters' over the last few days, with credit spreads moving somewhat wider and potential fragility after record-high equity markets, creating short-term uncertainty for exit markets and monetization momentum into 2026.
Q4 Fee Revenue Moderate Growth
Quarterly fee revenues were $670 million in Q4, up only 2% year over year, indicating some near-term variability in fee growth despite strong full-year performance.
Dependence on Market Conditions for Realizations
Management acknowledged that sustainability of monetization momentum into 2026 could depend on market receptivity (equity IPOs vs. M&A) and that recent volatility could affect timing and magnitude of future exits.
Concentration Risk: Software/Tech Exposure
Software exposure is ~6% of total AUM (broad definition) and, while management asserts it is not overweight, recent AI/software-driven market stress was discussed as an area of attention for CLOs and credit exposures.
Some Fee Timing and Catch-Up Dynamics
AlpInvest benefitted from catch-up fees earlier in the year; management highlighted catch-up/timing items when discussing quarter-to-quarter comparisons, indicating some earnings timing effects that can obscure underlying trends.
Limited Forward Quantitative Guidance on 2026 in Call
Management deferred detailed multi-year / 2026 financial targets and segment-level margin guidance to a shareholder update, leaving near-term investors with limited forward quantitative detail from this call.
Company Guidance
Management said they enter 2026 with “strong momentum” and expect continued growth, expanding FRE margins and a more active monetization backdrop, with multi‑year financial targets to be disclosed at a shareholder update on Feb 26; they pointed to 2025 results that underpin that guidance — record FRE of $1.24B (up 12% organic), FRE margin 47% (from 46%), total fee revenues $2.6B (up 10% organic), DE $1.7B ($4.20/sh, +11%), inflows $54B (vs. original $40B target, +32% YoY), deployment $54B (+25%+ YoY), realized proceeds $34B (~+20% YoY), $88B of available capital, returned $18B to investors and $1.2B to shareholders, AlpInvest FRE $274M (+~60%) with net accrued carry $656M (+21% YoY), Global Credit FRE $402M (+21%) with CLO inflows $7B (≈+20%) and 39 CLOs priced, Evergreen wealth inflows and AUM more than doubled with wealth headcount up ~50%, a balance sheet with $2B cash and >$3B investments and ~ $3B of net accrued carry (≈$23/share pretax) — all driving management’s expectation of continued fundraising, deployment, realizations and margin expansion in 2026.

Carlyle Group Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Carlyle Group shows strong profitability with healthy margins, but faces challenges with declining revenue growth and high leverage, impacting financial flexibility. Cash flow pressures are evident, requiring strategic focus on improving cash generation and managing debt levels.
Income Statement
65
Positive
The Carlyle Group's income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM data indicates a decline in revenue growth rate by 16.06%, reflecting challenges in maintaining top-line growth. However, the company maintains a solid gross profit margin of 80.96% and a reasonable net profit margin of 17.92%, suggesting effective cost management. EBIT and EBITDA margins are also healthy at 26.08% and 31.23%, respectively, indicating operational efficiency. Despite these strengths, the negative revenue growth trend is a concern.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals a high debt-to-equity ratio of 1.85, indicating significant leverage, which could pose risks in a volatile market. The return on equity (ROE) is moderate at 11.08%, reflecting decent profitability relative to shareholder equity. The equity ratio stands at 25.31%, suggesting a balanced capital structure but with room for improvement in reducing debt levels.
Cash Flow
50
Neutral
Cash flow analysis shows challenges, with negative operating cash flow and free cash flow in the TTM period. The free cash flow growth rate is significantly negative at -383.07%, indicating cash flow pressures. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio is positive at 1.03, suggesting that the company is generating cash relative to its net income, albeit at a declining rate.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue4.90B4.09B1.87B3.68B5.82B
Gross Profit3.23B3.40B1.32B3.36B5.53B
EBITDA1.34B1.58B-420.30M1.72B4.08B
Net Income808.70M1.02B-608.40M1.23B2.97B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets29.12B23.10B21.18B21.40B21.25B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments3.21B2.10B1.79B1.57B2.62B
Total Debt14.36B9.50B9.26B8.68B8.50B
Total Liabilities22.06B16.76B15.39B14.58B15.54B
Stockholders Equity7.06B5.61B5.19B6.22B5.28B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow0.00-837.20M138.30M-419.90M1.75B
Operating Cash Flow0.00-759.50M204.90M-379.30M1.79B
Investing Cash Flow0.00-77.60M-43.60M-828.80M-32.20M
Financing Cash Flow0.00682.80M-99.60M114.80M-242.50M

Carlyle Group Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price51.55
Price Trends
50DMA
59.14
Negative
100DMA
57.30
Negative
200DMA
56.63
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-2.37
Positive
RSI
36.81
Neutral
STOCH
21.26
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CG, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 51.55 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 55.61, below the 50-day MA of 59.14, and below the 200-day MA of 56.63, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -2.37 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 36.81 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 21.26 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for CG.

Carlyle Group Risk Analysis

Carlyle Group disclosed 71 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Carlyle Group 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

Carlyle Group Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
70
Outperform
$143.04B30.0835.78%3.02%33.12%19.86%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
67
Neutral
$85.33B40.919.12%0.56%-33.80%-24.81%
66
Neutral
$16.68B103.973.64%5.45%27.24%-59.82%
64
Neutral
$38.30B59.762.65%50.70%7.32%
63
Neutral
$16.56B95.9013.14%3.03%25.02%235.70%
59
Neutral
$18.34B23.3412.77%2.30%-24.62%437.16%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CG
Carlyle Group
51.55
3.22
6.65%
KKR
KKR & Co
96.63
-35.23
-26.72%
BX
Blackstone Group
118.22
-35.99
-23.34%
ARES
Ares Management
119.18
-45.25
-27.52%
OWL
Blue Owl Capital
11.35
-9.21
-44.78%
TPG
TPG
44.68
-9.55
-17.61%

Carlyle Group Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
Carlyle Group Announces General Counsel’s Retirement
Neutral
Dec 5, 2025

On December 5, 2025, Carlyle Group announced the retirement of Jeffrey W. Ferguson, its General Counsel since 1999, effective in 2026. Ferguson will transition to a Senior Advisor role to assist with the succession process and ongoing matters, while Carlyle begins the search for his successor. His departure marks the end of over 25 years of service, during which he significantly contributed to the firm’s legal framework and governance capabilities. The announcement highlights Carlyle’s strong executive team and Ferguson’s professionalism and dedication.

The most recent analyst rating on (CG) stock is a Hold with a $56.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Carlyle Group stock, see the CG 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: Nov 27, 2025