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GCM Grosvenor (GCMG)
NASDAQ:GCMG
US Market

GCM Grosvenor (GCMG) AI Stock Analysis

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GCMG

GCM Grosvenor

(NASDAQ:GCMG)

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Neutral 62 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:62Neutral
Price Target:
$12.50
▲(8.70% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/20/26
The score is driven primarily by improving profitability and strong cash generation, but is held back by high leverage and a thin equity cushion. Earnings-call commentary was a meaningful positive (record fundraising, AUM growth, margin expansion, and shareholder returns/deleveraging), while technicals are only moderately supportive and valuation appears somewhat rich despite the solid dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Strong cash generation
Consistently strong operating and free cash flow, including a step-up in 2025, provides durable internal funding for growth, buybacks and debt paydown. Reliable cash conversion reduces dependence on external financing and supports capital allocation even if fee timing is lumpy.
Record fundraising and AUM growth
Record $10.7B fundraising and double-digit AUM growth reflect durable distribution and product capabilities across channels. Growing fee-paying and contracted not-yet-fee-paying AUM creates a multi-period pipeline that should support sustainable management-fee revenue expansion.
Margin expansion & operating leverage
Improving FRE margins show the scalable nature of the business: fixed-cost dilution on rising AUM and higher-margin private markets should lift long-run profitability. Structural margin gains increase free cash flow per dollar of revenue, aiding reinvestment and shareholder returns.
Negative Factors
High leverage, thin equity cushion
Elevated debt and a recently restored but small equity base limit financial flexibility and increase vulnerability to market or fee shocks. High leverage raises refinancing and covenant risk, constraining capacity for opportunistic M&A or sustained buybacks during downturns.
Revenue and earnings volatility
Historically uneven top-line and episodic profitability weaken predictability of fee income and carried interest. For an alternatives manager, this variability complicates forecasting, erodes reliability of distributable earnings, and can hinder consistent capital allocation decisions.
Carry timing and limited near-term fees
Performance-fee and carried interest are inherently lumpy; near-term light realizations and limited catch-up fees reduce fee visibility and compress short-term FRE. Persistent timing uncertainty on carry can meaningfully swing cash flow and reported earnings across periods.

GCM Grosvenor (GCMG) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

GCM Grosvenor Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionGCM Grosvenor Inc. is global alternative asset management solutions provider. The firm primarily provides its services to pooled investment vehicles. It also provides its services to investment companies, high net worth individuals, pension and profit sharing plans and state or municipal government entities. The firm invests in equity and alternative investment markets of the United States and internationally. The firm invests in multi-strategy, credit-focused, equity-focused, macro-focused, commodity-focused, and other specialty portfolios. It focuses in hedge fund asset classes, private equity, real estate, and/or infrastructure, credit and absolute return strategies. It also focuses in primary fund investments, secondary fund investments, and co-investments with a focus on buyout, distressed debt, mezzanine, venture capital/growth equity investments. The firm seeks to do seed investments in small, emerging, and diverse private equity firms. The firm seeks to make regionally-focused investments in middle-market buyout. It prefers to invest in aerospace and defense, advanced electronics, information technology, biosciences, and advanced materials. It focuses on Ohio and the Midwest region. The firm employs fundamental and quantitative analysis. GCM Grosvenor Inc. was founded in 1971 and is based in Chicago, Illinois with additional offices in North America, Asia, Australia and Europe.
How the Company Makes MoneyGCM Grosvenor generates revenue primarily through management fees and performance fees associated with the assets under management (AUM). The management fees are typically charged as a percentage of AUM, providing a steady income stream based on the total capital managed for clients. Performance fees, on the other hand, are contingent on the investment performance exceeding a predefined benchmark, allowing the company to capitalize on successful investments. Additionally, GCMG may earn advisory fees for providing investment consulting services and may engage in co-investment opportunities alongside clients, further enhancing its revenue. Strategic partnerships with institutional investors and a strong track record in alternative investments also contribute significantly to its earnings.

GCM Grosvenor Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 10, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 12, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call was strongly positive overall: record fundraising, double-digit AUM growth, robust investment performance (notably ARS and Infrastructure), margin expansion, significant dry powder, growing carried interest NAV, and targeted shareholder-return and debt-reduction actions. Notable challenges included softer-than-expected carried interest realizations in Q4, a likely smaller Advance fund successor, and limited catch-up fees in 2026, but these lowlights are relatively limited compared with the breadth and magnitude of the positives.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Fundraising in 2025
Raised a firm-record $10.7 billion in total capital in 2025 (including ~$3.5 billion in Q4), with broad-based contributions across all verticals, investor channels, and geographies.
Assets Under Management Growth
Ended 2025 with $91 billion of AUM, a 14% increase vs. 2024; fee-paying AUM increased 12% YoY to $72 billion; contracted not-yet-fee-paying AUM rose 27% YoY to $10 billion (a leading indicator of future revenue).
Strong Investment Performance — ARS and Infrastructure
Absolute Return Strategy multi-strategy composite generated a ~15% gross return in 2025; Infrastructure returned approximately 11% for the year; all other verticals were positive and competitive.
Fee-Related and Earnings Growth
Fee-related earnings grew 11% YoY; adjusted EBITDA increased 15% YoY; adjusted net income rose 18% YoY. Total fee-related revenue for 2025 was $416 million, up 6% YoY.
Margin Expansion and Operating Leverage
Fee-related earnings margin expanded to 44% for 2025, an improvement of 200 basis points vs. 2024; management expects continued operating leverage and further margin expansion through 2028.
Performance Fees and Carried Interest Accretion
Generated $68 million of ARS performance fees in 2025 (one of four years in last six with >$50M from ARS). Gross unrealized carried interest balance reached an all-time high of $949 million, up $113 million (14%) vs. 2024, with ~$478 million (≈50%) attributable to the firm.
Significant Dry Powder
Firm holds approximately $12 billion of dry powder, providing capacity to deploy into attractive private markets opportunities.
Wealth/Individual Investor Channel Momentum
Individual investor channel AUM increased 18% YoY; launched Grove Lane Partners (wealth distribution JV), an infrastructure interval fund now raising daily, and filed registration for a registered private equity fund supported by Grove Lane.
Private Markets Fee Growth
Private markets fee-paying AUM and management fees grew ~106% YoY (driven by fundraising and conversion of contracted not-yet-fee-paying AUM). ARS fee-paying AUM and management fees grew 155% YoY.
Balance Sheet and Shareholder Returns Actions
Warrant exercises in Q4 issued ~10 million shares for ~$110 million in proceeds; repurchased 2.8 million shares for ~$31 million in Q4; Board approved an additional $35 million buyback authorization (bringing remaining repurchase capacity to ~$91 million); prepaid $65 million of term loan to reduce leverage and save >$3 million/year in interest.
Negative Updates
Light Carried Interest Realizations in Q4
Carried interest realizations were light in the fourth quarter and softer than expected; management emphasized carry is hard to predict timing-wise despite an increasing carried interest NAV (gross unrealized carry $949M).
Advance Fundraising Challenged — Smaller Successor Expected
Successor Advance fund is likely to be smaller than the prior fund due to a tougher fundraising slope for emerging/diverse manager-focused strategies; management indicated this is baked into guidance.
Limited Catch-Up Fees Expected in 2026
Given timing and fee structures of specialized funds in market, management expects limited catch-up fees in 2026, which could constrain near-term fee upside.
Stock and Market Volatility Impact
Recent market stress driven by AI-related valuation concerns led to stock multiple compression (company trading at lower earnings multiple than S&P 500 and peers) and near-term volatility; management increased buyback authorization in response but acknowledged share-price headwinds.
Company Guidance
Guidance for 2026: management expects private‑markets management fees to be relatively consistent with Q4 2025 (with limited catch‑up fees this year) and ARS management fees to increase ~5% from Q4; fee‑related earnings (FRE) compensation and benefits are expected to remain about $148M for the year (≈$37M/quarter) and about $1M higher in Q1 2026 versus Q1 2025; non‑GAAP G&A was just over $20M in Q4 and is expected to be in line with or slightly above 2025 in 2026. On capital allocation, the board added $35M to buybacks leaving $91M available, the firm repurchased 2.8M shares in Q4 for ~$31M (avg $11.11), issued ~10M shares from warrant exercises for just over $110M of proceeds, and is prepaying $65M of term loan (saving >$3M/year). Management reiterated targets to more than double 2023 FRE to >$280M and to grow adjusted net income per share to >$1.20 by 2028, noted a pipeline larger than a year ago with a bottom‑up fundraising build that could rival or exceed 2025’s record $10.7B (but the current budget is in line with last year), and called out upside from incentive fees.

GCM Grosvenor Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Profitability rebounded meaningfully in 2025 and cash generation is consistently strong (good cash conversion and higher 2025 operating/FCF). The major offset is balance-sheet risk: high leverage and only recently positive equity leave a thin capital cushion and below-average financial flexibility.
Income Statement
67
Positive
Profitability improved meaningfully in 2025, with much stronger operating and net margins versus 2024 and a return to solid operating earnings after a weaker 2023. Revenue also grew in 2024 and 2025, supporting the earnings rebound. Offsetting this, the multi-year revenue path is uneven (including a sharp decline in 2022) and earnings quality has been volatile historically, with losses/very weak operating performance in 2020 and 2023.
Balance Sheet
38
Negative
Leverage is the key concern: debt is high relative to equity, and equity was negative for several years before turning slightly positive in 2025, which signals a thinner capital cushion than peers. Total debt has risen over time, while equity remains small versus the balance sheet size, leaving the company more exposed to downturns or fee pressure. A positive inflection in 2025 helps, but overall balance-sheet strength remains below average.
Cash Flow
74
Positive
Cash generation is a relative strength, with strong operating cash flow and free cash flow in each year shown, including a step-up in 2025. Cash flow has generally tracked (and often exceeded) reported earnings, indicating good cash conversion. The main weakness is volatility in free cash flow growth (notably a decline in 2023 and 2025 after growth in 2024), suggesting variability in underlying cash drivers.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue557.57M523.47M451.99M452.52M577.56M
Gross Profit553.14M235.40M95.94M175.21M243.73M
EBITDA182.15M77.64M4.93M116.26M177.17M
Net Income45.37M18.70M12.77M19.82M21.48M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets813.76M612.73M504.94M488.93M581.62M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments242.12M89.45M44.35M85.16M96.19M
Total Debt480.23M485.92M426.21M403.15M390.52M
Total Liabilities686.33M703.07M616.17M582.94M637.42M
Stockholders Equity26.99M-27.62M-27.63M-19.82M-25.71M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow183.54M132.04M88.30M215.73M178.23M
Operating Cash Flow183.54M148.77M92.06M216.51M178.80M
Investing Cash Flow-26.51M-31.83M-18.84M-10.07M-28.11M
Financing Cash Flow-4.86M-70.38M-113.66M-215.07M-251.27M

GCM Grosvenor Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price11.50
Price Trends
50DMA
11.30
Positive
100DMA
11.23
Positive
200DMA
11.59
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.13
Negative
RSI
52.42
Neutral
STOCH
39.59
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GCMG, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 11.5 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 11.17, above the 50-day MA of 11.30, and below the 200-day MA of 11.59, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.13 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 52.42 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 39.59 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for GCMG.

GCM Grosvenor Risk Analysis

GCM Grosvenor disclosed 82 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. GCM Grosvenor 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

GCM Grosvenor Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
69
Neutral
$1.99B23.0915.57%3.78%22.09%58.98%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
66
Neutral
$1.03B8.897.96%17.34%-16.58%65.24%
65
Neutral
$3.49B22.8331.53%3.92%12.73%19.01%
65
Neutral
$3.23B9.8763.64%8.72%5.46%2.10%
62
Neutral
$2.33B27.603.91%18.33%109.57%
62
Neutral
$2.67B7.8316.02%10.00%-15.32%-12.29%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
GCMG
GCM Grosvenor
11.50
-1.40
-10.85%
CNS
Cohen & Steers
67.90
-13.01
-16.08%
HTGC
Hercules Capital, Inc.
14.52
-2.59
-15.15%
APAM
Artisan Partners
40.00
1.56
4.05%
GSBD
Goldman Sachs BDC
9.17
-1.67
-15.41%
PAX
Patria Investments
12.51
1.82
17.03%
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 20, 2026