Record Fee-Related Earnings and Profitability
Fee-related earnings (FRE) per share of $1.13, up 23% year-over-year; total operating earnings of $1.47 per share, up 18% YoY; adjusted net income (ANI) of $1.39 per share, up 20% YoY. FRE margin ~69% at March 31. Management described these as among the highest figures in firm history.
Strong Management Fee Growth and Diversification
Management fees of $1.2 billion in the quarter, up 30% YoY (excluding catch-up fees growth a touch north of 20%). Fee base diversified: private equity, real assets and credit each contributed roughly one-third of total fees over the trailing 12 months.
Robust Monetization and Realizations
Realized performance income >$750 million and realized investment income ~ $120 million, bringing total monetization to ~ $880 million (up >50% YoY). Realized carried interest $720 million (up 120% YoY). Recent exits included OneStream (4.5x cost), CoolIT Systems (~15x cost), Hyundai Marine Solution (7+ x), and two 2021 investments expected to sell at ~2x and ~3x.
Capital Raising Momentum
Raised $28 billion of new capital in Q1 and $127 billion over the trailing 12 months. Credit fundraising was a bright spot with $15 billion raised in the quarter; asset-based finance now >$90 billion AUM. Final close of North America 14 at $23 billion (prior $19 billion). Across recent flagship vintages (Americas + Europe + Asia) $46 billion of capital to invest.
Elevated Embedded Gains and Investment Performance
Total embedded gains (gross carry + gains across asset management and strategic holdings) of $18.3 billion, representing embedded value within total assets of $331 billion, up 11% YoY. Management reported healthy investment performance across asset classes despite volatility.
Insurance Economics and Strategic Holdings Progress
Insurance segment operating earnings of $260 million in Q1; on a marks-included basis would be slightly north of $300 million. Total insurance economics over the LTM were $1.9 billion (net of compensation), up 14% vs prior period. Strategic holdings operating earnings $48 million in Q1, tracking toward an expected $350+ million for 2026 (back-end weighted).
Disciplined Capital Allocation and Share Repurchases
Repurchased/retired $317 million of stock through May 1 at an average price of ~$91; Board authorized an additional $500 million repurchase program. Management & directors purchased shares personally. Strategic M&A: closed acquisition of Arctos (approx. $16 billion AUM / $10 billion fee-paying AUM).
Dividend Increase and Broad Employee Ownership
Annualized dividend increased to $0.78 beginning this quarter (7th consecutive annual increase since corporate structure change; from $0.50 to $0.78 over that period). Employee ownership programs in ~85 portfolio companies with ~200,000 non-management equity owners; highlighted CoolIT employee outcomes (~8x annual base salary for tenured employees at exit).
Direct Lending and Credit Positioning
Direct lending platform size $39 billion (5% of AUM) and private BDC footprint ~$3 billion (0.4% of AUM). Asset-based finance remains large (> $90 billion AUM). Management noted renewed institutional inbound interest in direct lending given dislocations.
Digital Infrastructure & Data Center Investment Track Record
KKR has deployed over $40 billion across digital infrastructure themes, operates six global data center platforms and is pursuing disciplined, location- and terms-focused investing in the sector.